Grand Isle, French for Big Island.  This big island at the end of LA 1 is about 8 miles long and up to 1 ½ miles wide with a resident population of about 1500.  This big island may be small but it is rich and big in history.  The first documented settlements began in the 1780s.  Jean Lafitte and his privateers were based on neighboring Grand Terre from 1805 to 1814.  There are still stories of “pirate’s treasure” on Grand Isle.  In the late 1800s Grand Isle became a summer resort and it continues to be so today.  Although the island has been repeatedly damaged by hurricanes including land lost, the resilience of the island and its people should be apparent to any visitor.  On our third annual Mardi Gras on Grand Isle we saw new construction, familiar faces, beaches and open waters calling our fishing poles. Continue reading →