Is Hodges Gardens Open? (Shreveport, Parks: spring break, live in, shop)

[lesliegrace]

Since the 1980s, some members of our extended family have a tradition of visiting Hodges Gardens during spring break each year. (We live in Southeast Texas.) We love this beautiful place! While planning the trip this year we learned, much to our dismay, that it closed in September, 2006!

According to the website, the state of Louisiana has taken it over, and it will reopen.

Does anybody know when and/or if Hodges Gardens will reopen?

Thanks!
Leslie

[SBCmetroguy]

Great question! I wanted to go there last year, but the weekend I'd planned to go was RIGHT at the time it closed. I'd love to make it down there this year if it's reopened or reopening.

[lesliegrace]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

Great question! I wanted to go there last year, but the weekend I'd planned to go was RIGHT at the time it closed. I'd love to make it down there this year if it's reopened or reopening.

Thanks for your response, SBCmetroguy! I was hoping that people who live in Louisiana would have heard something about plans for the gardens and whether or not they will reopen; I wasn't even aware that this beautiful place had closed until last week, when we started planning our yearly visit! I am obviously very much out of the loop!

We have some great memories of Hodges Gardens: the beautiful flowers and waterfalls, lakeside picnics with slightly pushy ducks, and visits to the gift shop, nursery, and Flag Island. I really hope plans for reopening are in the works!

[ajhivlaw]

The Foundation that operates the Gardens donated the entire facility to the state so that it would remain open to the public for years to come. The deal was to be inked in Setember 2005, but the state had more important matters with which to deal. The deal is rumored to be signed in the very near future, at which time the State will re-open the gates. The Gardens also had some damage from storms, so the Foundation closed in September to make some needed repairs and facilitate the state transition (hiring of staff... new and old, etc).

[lesliegrace]

Originally Posted by ajhivlaw

The Foundation that operates the Gardens donated the entire facility to the state so that it would remain open to the public for years to come. The deal was to be inked in Setember 2005, but the state had more important matters with which to deal. The deal is rumored to be signed in the very near future, at which time the State will re-open the gates. The Gardens also had some damage from storms, so the Foundation closed in September to make some needed repairs and facilitate the state transition (hiring of staff... new and old, etc).

Thanks so much for this information, ajhivlaw! I'm glad to hear that plans are still in the works to reopen the Gardens.

Wow!! The State of Louisiana has definitely had to cope with much more important matters! I hope that people are recovering; I am sad that Hurricane Katrina will probably haunt many people for years to come.

[SBCmetroguy]

According to the Shreveport Times today, Hodges Gardens will reopen on Easter Sunday!

Here's the URL to the article:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/...WS01/703180317

[lesliegrace]

Thank you so much for the update, SBCmetroguy!

[lesliegrace]

I found out that April 30 is the new date for the reopening of Hodges Gardens. In case anyone is interested, the url for the Louisiana State Parks website is http://www.crt.state.la.us/ . This site states that a Hodges Gardens webpage is coming soon.

We hope to visit the park in June to see the roses in bloom.

[SBCmetroguy]

I hope this new opening date is solid. I know someone whose son works for the state parks and supposedly someone told the media wrong about Easter. When everyone found out what the media was reporting, they all freaked out because they were FAR from ready to open.

[jread]

Thanks for the news. My dad's side of the family has their family reunion there every June, though they're having to go somewhere else this year. I haven't been in a long time but I may try to go next year. It really is a nice place.