Introduction / Description
Fontainebleau State Park is located in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The park is 2,800 acres in size and was once the site of a sugar cane plantation and brickyard operated by Bernard de Marigny and later by his son Armand Marigny.
The crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville, founder of the nearby town of Mandeville, suggest an interesting history for this site, and indeed there is. The wealthy Marigny developed this area across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans as a sugar plantation until 1852. The plantation income helped support his lavish lifestyle. He named his large landholding Fontainebleau after the beautiful forest near Paris, a favorite recreation area of the French kings.
The 2,800-acre park is located on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. On a clear day, visitors can see the lake dotted with multi-colored sailboats of all sizes and types. The sandy beach also is a delight for sunbathers. An old railroad track that runs through the park has been converted into the Tammany Trace as a part of the Rails to Trails program. It is a wonderful route for cycling, hiking and in-line skating. After a full day of activities, overnight guests can enjoy the rustic charm of the campground or the scenic setting of the lakefront cabins.
The park's nature trail is a favorite of nature lovers. Interpretive signs along the trail will help you identify many of the common trees and shrubs. Always be on the lookout for birds and other animals, as over 400 different species live in and around Fontainebleau. Bordered on three sides by water – Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou Cane and Bayou Castine – and characterized by a convergence of diverse ecosystems, it has a multitude of habitats for birds.
Accessible Rooms & Bathrooms / Accessibility
The twelve cabins are situated on piers seven feet above the lake, with boardwalk access out to them. Cabins 1, 2 and 4 are the accessible models, and they each offer barrier-free access from the accessible parking area. These three cabins all boast the same access features, but Cabin 1 affords more privacy, as it only has a neighboring cabin on one side.
Cabin 1 has wide doorways, good pathway access, and tile floors for easy rolling. The great room is furnished with a 14-inch high queen-sized sleeper sofa, an easy chair and a dining table with six chairs. The adjacent kitchen has plenty of room for a wheelchair or scooter, and is equipped with a stove, oven, roll-under sink, dishwasher, microwave and a full-size refrigerator. It also has a more than ample selection of dishes, glasses, pots, pans and utensils.
The two-bedroom cabin can sleep up to eight people. One bedroom is furnished with a 27-inch high double bed with wheelchair access on both sides, and the other features two sets of 22-inch high bunk beds with an access aisle in the middle.
The bathroom has a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a portable shower bench. The toilet grab bars are located on the left and back walls (as seated), and the well-designed bathroom is also equipped with a roll-under sink and an angled mirror.
But the good access doesn’t end on the inside, as there’s level access to the side screened porch as well as the spacious front porch. Both porches are a great place to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset over Lake Pontchartrain.
