Thread: For Mark Avery -- Photos of His Island

Here's some Avery Island photos Mark.

and more photos:

Wow! THAT'S a pretty place! Do people live out there, or is it a park area?

Thanks for posting those, Justin.

-whatever

-Lou

Lou I believe the whole "island" (one of the largest salt mines in the world) is owned by the Avery/McIlhenney family. It is both used for pepper growing (Tabasco sauce) and salt mining. I don't know who lives out there --- it's been a while since I've been there. It's a mixture of native/typical south Louisiana pants and animals and exotic imports. The island made the news about 20 years ago or so when a drilling platform on Lake Pigneure accidently drilled into the salt mine and caused a whirlpool which sucked in the platform and the local terrain. I think a couple of fisherman had the experience of their life. Visitors are charged a fee to see the Jungle Gardens and Bird Sanctuary (Bird City) on the island as well as tour the Tabasco plant. To get a full experience just imagine temperatures in the 90's with high humidity and slightly salty air coming off the gulf -- throw in visible deer, alligators (can walk up to them sometimes), peacock, all sorts of birds and plants, live oaks, etc and you get the idea. See the attachment for more info.

Justin

and a few more:

It takes my breath away!!!
Thank you Justin, you just made my day!!!



I should've been born on the rich side of the family!!!


Mark Avery

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

.... To get a full experience just imagine temperatures in the 90's with high humidity and slightly salty air coming off the gulf -- throw in visible deer, alligators (can walk up to them sometimes), peacock, all sorts of birds and plants, live oaks, etc and you get the idea. ...Justin

Justin -
Is there a foolproof, ironclad, never-fail way of determining EXACTLY which times are 'sometimes'???.....I think that would be kind of important.

Thanks for the pics - I see one outbuilding which seems to have an Asian influence in it's roofline. Are you aware of any Asian connection?

Thanks for the interesting information.

-whatever

-Lou

Lou, it's a Buddhist temple or shrine ---- I believe the story goes that in China (I don't know when) a Buddhist Temple was raided by one of the political gangs of the day and the Buddha was stolen and somehow ended up in the northern U.S. McIlhenney saw the Buddha, liked it and added it to his garden (Jungle Gardens) to add to the theme.

Alligators (especially on land) are really slow and dumb witted creatures ---- nothing like salt water crocodiles --- they aren't very aggressive. I wouldn't have any issue walking up to alligators 7ft long and shorter but bigger than that and I wouldn't approach them.
But the big gators wouldn't let you approach them anyway (there a little smarter). When I was a kid , I remember 2 gators laying out in the sun at Avery Island (they probably had signs out warning people) -- they were probably 5 to 7 ft long and I harassed them without much danger --- still kind of thrilling.

Here's a link to more info on the Buddha: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...3Doff%26sa%3DN

Originally Posted by JMS

It takes my breath away!!!
Thank you Justin, you just made my day!!!



I should've been born on the rich side of the family!!!


Mark Avery

You're welcome Mark --- a beautifully unique place for sure.


Justin