Jefferson Island, where Rip Van Winkle Gardens is located, was the home of 19th century stage actor Joseph Jefferson who became famous playing the character Rip Van Winkle. He acted in the play for 40 years. The gardens and his home, built in 1870, are open for tours. We thought the admission price ($10.00 no pass discount) was a bit high for the size of the gardens. We didn’t tour the house.
Jefferson Island is not an actual island but a dome of land pushed up by ancient salt deposits. The domes are an indication of oil deposits. In 1980 an oil rig out in the middle of Lake Peigneur punched through the roof of a salt mine which was located under the lake. All of the water rushed into the mine, pulling barges, the oil rig, land and buildings into a whirlpool. Fortunately no one was killed or even injured. We were hoping for exhibits about this event but it’s just touched on in the introductory film. A chimney and telephone poles are visible in the lake near the shoreline.
The gardens are not accessible due to hilly terrain and paths surfaced with small, loose stones.
Drive through the paved parking lot to the gravel area for RV parking. Garden
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