Discover Reserve

Reserve is suited to travelers who want to consider architecture, local history, and culture when choosing where to stay. If you’re looking for a hotel in Reserve, the city offers several historical perspectives: recognizable house types in the Reserve Historic District, the history of former sugarcane plantations, and cultural sites with their own distinct connections. These topics can help you decide before your trip whether you’re more interested in architectural history, social and religious history, or cultural subjects.

Reserve: Architecture and Historic Center

Historic house types and architectural features are still recognizable in the Reserve Historic District. Older house types and building styles are typically located close to the river and the former Godchaux Sugar Company. LA Highway 44 forms the main axis of the district and provides a geographic reference point for understanding the Historic District. These location references and the main axis describe different things: the former situates older architectural forms in relation to the river and the former company, while the highway identifies the district’s main axis. Those interested in the townscape and architecture will find a concrete framework here for understanding Reserve’s history.

Godchaux-Reserve House: Creole Architecture

The Godchaux-Reserve House is an exceptional example of Creole architecture. It was built in the late 18th century for the Laubel family as part of a sugarcane plantation and reached its present size around 1850. These two dates describe different stages: the house’s construction and the point at which it reached its present size. Its history therefore reflects both an early building context and the later development of the house. The house is currently being restored; check access options before visiting. Creole architecture remains the most immediately recognizable feature, while the family and plantation history provide the historical context.

Historic Riverlands: Local History and Music

Historic Riverlands offers a different focus, with a stronger emphasis on local and social history. The site is in Reserve on 4.5 acres of the former Cornland Plantation. Our Lady of Grace Historic Sanctuary was built in 1936 exclusively for African Americans and moved to its present location in Historic Riverlands in 1991. In 2005, the Sanctuary was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its local significance to religion, social history, and ethnic heritage. Its historical context thus differs from the architectural history of the Godchaux-Reserve House. For another cultural experience, the Soul River Musical Journey explores African American influence on world music.

St. John Theatre and Cultural History

The St. John Theatre adds a theater-history perspective. It opened in July 1981 with a performance of the musical “South Pacific.” The theater can be used as a venue for school performances, dance performances, and festivals. If you’re interested in using it for one of these purposes during your stay, contact the theater to confirm availability. Two distinct questions are central to this site: its historic opening and the practical possibility of using it as a venue.

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