52 Weeks of Fun

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Vernon Parish

Vernon Parish Tourism Commission

Adventures In Vernon Awaits

Local Attractions

Vernon Parish is proud of its history as a part of "No Man's Land" along what was the disputed border with Mexico. Outlaws and bandits as well as heroes and soldiers made their mark on this fertile soil. This region, sometimes described as a place filled with an outlaw culture, is filled with hearty pioneers. It served as a bastion for cultural groups who wished to find a home where they could preserve a way of life they cherished.

Vernon Parish features historic sites which tell the stories of its adventurous past, from Kisatchie's ancient caves to Civil War embankments, along with more recent heroes and outlaws. Take a stroll down our historic Main Street area in Leesville and venture further out into the region beyond to take in all there is to see in the parish.

Leesville and Vernon Parish are proud to be the home of Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center. In 1941, Camp Polk opened by order of the United States Army to make training space for the Louisiana Maneuvers and as a result, the population soared. Today it is now Fort Polk and the largest Military Base in the state of Louisiana. Named after the first Episcopal Bishop in Louisiana, Leonidas Polk, the Army Base serves as home to more than 24,000 Active Duty Military and their families. Fort Polk quickly became an economic force in the City of Leesville previously known for its timber and logging industries.

Here in Vernon Parish, visitors will find hills, creeks and bayous, and prairies and pinelands. Each is rich in history and tradition. Whether someone is a nature lover hiking in Kisatchie National Forest, fishing on its beautiful lakes and rivers, or a history buff scouting Civil War sites, visitors will love the time spent in Vernon Parish. They will find quality accommodations, good restaurants, historic homes, and cultural events where Southern hospitality lives on.

Visit Louisiana
Trip Advisor

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Leesville

The town, originally known as Vernon, was an area known as "Neutral Strip," or “No Man’s Land,” disputed territory between Spain and the United States.

Upcoming Events

Trip Advisor

The Museum of Western Louisiana, located in Leesville, offers a look at Louisiana since humans arrived, and includes several historical buildings as part of its curation.
Wikipedia

The First National Bank in Leesville is one of its many structures on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Trip Advisor

Leesville has been the home of Fort Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center since 1941. Its military museum offers a look into its history since World War II.
Vernon Parish

One of the most interesting sites in Vernon Parish includes the Talbert-Pierson Cemetery and its 13 “grave houses,” typical burial structures for this area of Louisiana.

Coming Soon: To do, see, stay, etc

  • Vernon Parish Tourism Commission
  • Leesville
  • LA
  • (337) 238-0783