How an eyesore and former garage was transformed into the Visitor Center

Morehouse Parish desperately needed a multipurpose facility to welcome their tourists and to provide a spacious, well equipped area for business meetings, social functions and other general community events.  Friends of Bastrop Main Street recognized that a former service station and garage, located in the historic district, had the potential to provide each of these needs.  With community support, Friends of Bastrop Main Street began the major task of converting the former service station and garage into the much needed Visitor Center in 2003.  Since the facility would reflect true southern hospitality, the pineapple, a colonial symbol of southern hospitality in America, was chosen to be the logo.

Funding from the State of Louisiana, the United States Department of Agriculture, along with proceeds from the Friends of Bastrop Main Street memorial brick sales were the primary sources of funding for the adaptive reuse of the old building which is filled with history.  Although the building, which is estimated to date back to the 1930’s, lacked a roof and was one of the worst eyesores in the historic district, visionaries soon began to convince others that the building was ideally located and would one day provide the conference room and tourism office that was so desperately needed. 

In March 2005, the ribbon cutting was held with elected and appointed officials attending from all over the state.  Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu joined Representative Charles McDonald and City of Bastrop Mayor, Clarence W. Hawkins in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the facility.