Rip Van Winkle Gardens
4.6(544)google
4.8(33)yelp
LakeHistory
Overview
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is the flagship brand of bourbon whiskey owned by the "Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery" company. It is distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is often regarded as one of the finest bourbons in the world, and its very low production and high demand can make it extremely difficult to find.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration2.5-4 hours
Best TimeHighly recommended during spring or autumn afternoons (2:30 PM - 5:00 PM). Situated on the high ground of the Jefferson Island salt dome, these romantic gardens house free-roaming exotic peacocks that perch on moss-draped branches. Catching the late afternoon sun rays from the glass veranda of Cafe Jefferson overlooking Lake Peigneur is unforgettable.
Getting ThereLocated at 5505 Rip Van Winkle Road on Jefferson Island, northwest of New Iberia. Driving is mandatory: from New Iberia downtown, drive west on LA-14 W for 5 miles, turn right onto LA-675 N, drive 2 miles, then turn left onto Rip Van Winkle Road, continuing to the end of the canopy road to find the expansive free gravel lot.
Travel Tips
- Set atop a salt dome, Lake Peigneur experienced a massive 1980 drilling collapse; off-path lakeside ground remains fragile, and crossing security chain-links is illegal.
- Dozens of free-roaming peacocks guard their territories aggressively during spring nesting; approaching or cornering them for close-up portraits is barred.
- The historic Jefferson Mansion enforces a hard headcount limit per hour; arriving 5 minutes late results in immediate forfeiture of the non-refundable pass.
Reviews
Positive
- This semi-tropical garden on Jefferson Island is pure paradise; hundreds of brilliant peacocks roam freely among historic oaks and blooming shrubs, a stunning sight.
- The Victorian-style Joseph Jefferson Mansion is incredibly charming with well-preserved antiques, backed by the calm waters of Lake Peigneur for amazing vistas.
- Cafe Jefferson on-site is a total ace; dining on delicious Cajun seafood on a terrace shaded by massive moss-draped trees is a heavenly experience.
- The estate is incredibly expansive, keeping crowd density comfortable and commercialism low; whether strolling or relaxing, you enjoy raw, peaceful nature.
Heads up
- Admission is pricier than other regional gardens, and house tours, garden access, and dining are billed separately, making family trips expensive.
- The lake environment means summer black mosquitoes and deer flies are rampant; you will get covered in bites without heavy-duty insect repellent.
- Many walking trails are unpaved dirt and gravel, becoming heavily flooded and muddy after downpours, making wheelchair and white sneaker travel difficult.
- The peacocks are beautiful but their mating calls are piercingly loud, and they occasionally fly onto car roofs, leaving scratches or droppings to watch out for.