Historical Slidell Louisiana

Founded in the early 1880’s, the Slidell Railroad Station was named after the American politician and Confederate ambassador to France, John Slidell (1793 – July 9 1871). The station was located near to the creosote works nestled along the banks of famous Lake Pontchartrain. On October 15 1883, passengers embarked upon their very first steam engine locomotive trip from Slidell Station marking the beginning of what is now known as the City of Slidell. Shortly thereafter the town began to flourish and saloons and boarding houses were developed, followed by farmers riding into town to trade their livestock. In 1888, Slidell became a fully incorporated town and a government was founded, a mayor was elected and a town marshal appointed. Plenty more businesses were to follow with stores, a carpentry shop, an iron foundry, dress shops and an undertaker’s service all springing up within a short time. In those early days the town resembled any other town you might expect to see in an old Western movie. But whereas most towns have developed into the concrete jungles we have now come to expect, Slidell still harbors elements of those days of old, with the railroad station still taking a place of pride as a centerpiece in the town with the railroad tracks still running alongside the bayou.

One of the reasons that Slidell has flourished where many other railroad towns have slowly faded into obscurity is how it has embraced industry. From the growth of the creosote plant to a lumber mill and a ship yard which has hence given a substantial boost to the local economy. Slidell has embraced change while keeping its ties to its origins as a railroad town. The local ship yard helped sustain the economy during times of war, particularly in World War I and World War II. In the 1960’s, Slidell began to develop its modern profile, as a city of technology and became home to one of NASA’s 3 local sites for the lunar landing program.

Within easy driving distance of the beaches of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the glamour and intrigue of New Orleans, and the Lockheed Martin Manned Space Systems – there are opportunities to enjoy all that the area has to offer. Towering live oaks and stunningly picturesque egrets call Slidell Louisiana home and make for wonderful opportunities for any amateur or professional photographer.

For all you food junkies out there, a great shrimp boil is never far away. Slidell has some of the best restaurants in Louisiana, even a steakhouse so popular they don’t even need to have a sign – it’s that good! 🙂 From gourmet coffee to red beans and rice, there are plenty of culinary adventures to be had and the atmosphere at the local diners just can’t be beat. Grab a shrimp poboy, relax at Heritage Park, and enjoy free live music in the spring and in the fall – and don’t miss out on the Bayou Jam Concert Series. So much fun for the entire family, Slidell is a city that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Top Ten Slidell Restaurants

1. Southside Cafe – 3154 Pontchartrain Drive

2. Neely’s Pizzeria – 196 Audubon Drive

3. Yee Chinese Restaurant – 300 Pontchartrain Drive

4. Samurai Sushi – 3769 Pontchartrain Drive

5. Young’s Steakhouse – 850 Robert Boulevard

6. Creole Bagelry – 1337 Gause Boulevard

7. Tacos and Beer – 2142 1^st Street

8. Dante’s of Slidell – 3971 Pontchartrain Drive

9. Thai Orchid Restaurant – 785 Robert Boulevard

10. Michaels Restaurant and Lounge – 4820 Pontchartrain Drive

Shopping and Tourism

With holiday celebrations galore and plenty of places to shop, Slidell is one of the true gems of the South, not only for its family oriented atmosphere and small town charm, but for all the little things that will capture your heart; Christmas Under the Stars in Griffith Park and the Antique District Street Fair are just 2 examples which bring huge crowd of locals and tourists alike.

Slidell is endowed with loads of intriguing activities and attractions including swamp tours to find photo-friendly alligators, local festivals, delightful dinning and shopping, making it a great place to visit and a lively place to live. There is always an chance to get a little closer to the beauty of the swamp, and enjoy the climate, land, and wildlife which make Southern Louisiana famous.

The cultural festivities bring in a variety of live entertainment and great photo opportunities abound when watching the sunset across the calm waters of the lake. Slidell gives you a feeling as if you are discovering a hidden gem in a modern 21st century world. It is such an amazing place where you can literally shop till you drop. And for the kids we can recommend the indoor roller skating rink at Skaters Paradise, which is open throughout the year. As well a true swamp experience, highly recommended to adventurers, is the Bayou Country General Store with great gift merchandise and a whole lot more than you expected!

Just a few of the spectacular places to visit in Slidell are the Woodhouse Day Spa where you can withdraw from your hectic life and can re-invent your body and soul. Two thumbs up for the Slidell Rocks Climbing Gym which provides the gift of climbing to you and your family. As well the Pinewood Country Club, has already celebrated over 50 great years of providing beautiful wedding receptions, providing family swimming pool fun, and featuring a well maintained 18 hole golf course, lighted tennis courts and much more. For experienced fishing in the Slidell coastal waters, Angling Adventures of Louisiana takes you on a real fishing journey, and if you are not exhausted by this time, go charter fishing with  Charter Boat Charlie for hot Redfish and Speck action or go for a boat tour of the Honey Island Swamp. As well there are many well known, prominent chain restaurants in Slidell include Ruby Tuesdays, Outback Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel, and many many more for the more conservative diner. Over all, Slidell has plenty to offer!

Fort Pike (1819-1828)

Fort Pike was named after Brigadier General Zebulon Montgomery Pike and was designed to defend and resist attacks from sea or land. Its primary function was to defend the passage between Slidell and New Orleans AKA the Rigolets Pass. Fort Pike was a home site to some 400 confederate soldiers during the civil war. This fort is still preserving our nation’s history with the fact that it has remained standing for two centuries.

Honey Island Swamp Excursion

The Honey Island Swamp provides the visitor with a great opportunity to traverse through pristine wilderness with tales of pirate hideouts and possible sightings of the legendary Big Foot. Get a closer, more intimate, feel of your surroundings in these remaining preserve wetlands. This swamp is something truly unique as it is regarded as the least altered river swamp in the United States of America. This permanently protected wildlife area earned its name due to the presence of bountiful honeybees. Believe me when I say, once you get your first boat ride, you will be carried away by the primitive beauty of permanently protected wildlife habitat.

Slidell Old Town

The Old Town of Slidell was built over one hundred years ago and provides the local community with a nostalgic link to the old time soda shops from the past. If you are a fan of authentic shops, restaurants and antique markets you must visit the Slidell Old Town.

Slidell Museum

The Slidell museum has been recently renovated and now houses some brand new collections and dynamic displays. The original Slidell museum building was built over one hundred years ago and was situated in the old town building that also housed the mayor’s office and the jail which can still be seen downstairs in the museum. This historical building really takes you back to days gone by and is a great feature for lovers of history.

Slidell Little Theatre

Let members of the Slidell local community entertain you with their high quality productions and workshops. Featuring real dressing rooms, lobby concessions area, ramped seating and plenty of parking facilities, the Slidell Little Theatre is must see for visitors of the town.

Slidell Schools

If you have children and you are considering relocating to Slidell, you will
no doubt be looking for a good school for them to attend. There are plenty of
schools in Slidell, including 19 public schools and 7 private schools. All of
the Slidell public schools belong to one district; the St. Tammany Parish School
District.  Choosing the right school for your children is incredibly important,
which is why we have tried to include schools which will appeal to everybody and
hopefully inform you enough so you are able to make a better decision.

Below you will find a list of 17 Slidell Elementary schools, 9 Slidell Middle schools, 5 Slidell High schools.
There are also 39 Slidell Preschools. If you would like to learn more about the
St. Tammany Parish Public School System you can visit The St. Tammany Parish
Public School System website. The website helps provide a caring environment for
learning, a challenging and relevant curriculum, innovative instruction and
solid student achievement. Constant commitment to improvement and to achieving
high performance has helped Slidell are schools become a leader in the State of
Louisiana, by all major standards of educational excellence.

For further information please visit: http://www.stpsb.org

Elementary Schools

School Name	Type	Parent Rating Out of 5
Bonne Ecole Elementary School	Public	5
Carolyn Park Middle School	Public	5
Bayou Woods Elementary School	Public	4.5
Whispering Forest Elementary School	Public	4.5
Slidell Christian Academy	Private	4.5
Little Oak Middle School	Public	4
Florida Avenue Elementary School	Public	4
Our Lady of Lourdes School	Catholic	4
Alton Elementary School	Public	4
Cypress Cove Elementary School	Public	4
Honey Island Elementary School	Public	4
St Margaret Mary School	Catholic	3.5
Clearwood Junior High School	Public	3.5
First Baptist Christian School	Private	3.5
Glyn H Brock Elementary School	Public	3.5
Walter Abney Elementary School	Public	Unrated
Slidell SDA Education Center	Private	Unrated

 Middle Schools

 

School Name	Type	Rating
Boyet Junior High School	Public	4.5
Slidell Junior High School	Public	4.5
Slidell Christian Academy	Private	4.5
Our Lady of Lourdes School	Catholic	4
First Baptist Christian School	Private	3.5
St Margaret Mary School	Catholic	3.5
Clearwood Junior High School	Public	3.5
St Tammy Junior High School	Public	2.5
Slidell SDA Education Center	Private	Unrated

High Schools

School Name	Type	Rating
Northshore High School	Public	4.5
Pope John Paul II High School	Catholic	4.5
Salmen High School	Public	4
Slidell High School	Public	4
First Baptist Christian School	Private	Unrated

 

Whether you are travelling solo or with family and friends, Slidell is a great place to visit and to live. Come here and experience the beauty and adventure of Slidell yourself. At the main entrance of the old train depot, the tarmac has a proud monument of 8 flags standing tall… A reminder to the tourists and citizens of Slidell alike, of its rich history and quiet testament to the resiliency of the City of Slidell.

We hope you have a wonderful time.

Thank You

Marc Pellettiere marc@mmsre.com