View Obscura

I think that when I retire I will take up the hobby of finding, photographing and documenting old abandoned gas stations in Louisiana full time. There are just so many of them that I could fill up my days just finding them all. Last week I was exiting the Kansas City Southern Westlake Railyard when I spotted these gas pumps across the street. From what I could see these old pumps look like they have been abandoned since the 1970s. There were no signs of any kind of structure in the area so I can only assume that it was demolished and the remains carted off years ago. All that was left of this gas station was an island with three gas pumps. Once again I have no history to share about this location. I just wonder why whoever tore down the gas station left the pumps behind? If you love old gas stations as much as I do go to the bottom of this post and click on the links to discover more. Map: Here are my photos: Check Out: Abandoned Louisiana - Citgo Gas Station on LA-121 Vernon Parish ...

 Earlier this week I was parked at the Amtrak station in Lake Charles, Louisiana eating my lunch and hoping that a train might pass by when I noticed something odd across the street. I spied with my little eye something that resembled a horse drawn wagon or carriage of some sort. I peered further and I could make out several such objects in the tall grass. Being the curious type I drove across the tracks and parked by the field. I was surprised to find that my suspicions were indeed correct, it was a field full of old carriages.  I was curious to find out who would just leave a bunch of carriages out in field so I did a little research and discovered that I had happened upon the abandoned remains of  Lake Charles Carriages a company that up until a few years ago provide mule and horse drawn carriage tours of downtown Lake Charles. Apparently these carriage rides were a big tourist attraction and Lake Charles Carriages provided a plethora of tour packages including Th...

 Today my travels lead me to the shores of Lake Charles and walk from Veterans Memorial Park all the way to Bord du Lac Marina and back. Normally this rather pleasant stretch of adjoining parks along the lake are populated with people fishing, exercising and taking casual walks, but on this chilly December day the area was eerily desolate, quiet and still. You really can't blame people from avoiding the area on a day like this. A major winter storm is on it's way. It may not be here yet, but you can sense it's foreboding conditions aren't far away.  Very seldom can you sense both mood and temperature from a set of photographs, but upon reviewing these images I was pleased to know that I captured the true essence of what it was actually like to be there. Today may not have been the best day to walk along edge of Lake Charles for most people. As for me it was the kind of weather that I really enjoy. Yes, I love the cold and I really enjoyed the feel of the crisp air on m...

 The one thing I can say about the good folks down in Lake Charles, Louisiana is that they know how to do parks right. I have traveled all over the Pelican State and the best parks that I have seen are located on the shores of Prien Lake, Indian Bay and Lake Charles.  Prien Lake Park has well maintained walking trails, a splash pad for the kids and a majestic view of Indian Bay.  On this day I ventured out onto a natural outcropping that extends into the bay for these photos. This vantage point provides an unobstructed view of the lake, 210 freeway bridge and the shoreline casinos. From the City of Lake Charles: Prien Lake Park overlooks Indian Bay on the eastern shore of Prien Lake, a waterway where 19th century schooners once sailed. Visitors to the park can enjoy a haven of trees, grass, flowers, fountains, and streams, with a sweeping view of Prien Lake the I-210 bridge and magnificent sunsets over the water. With pavilions, picnic areas, playground, "spraygound" and ...

 Just off Interstate 10 and nestled on the shore of Lake Charles is a historic and vibrant downtown district. The area hosts several unique restaurants, antique stores, historic buildings and other various shops. Fans of historic buildings will delight in visiting the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse and adjacent City Hall as well as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The area is also a must see for fans of both street art and murals as well as eclectic shops and eateries.  As a California transplant I really enjoyed North Beach on Lake Charles with it's white sand and palm trees. It's not Newport Beach but it's as close as it gets in Louisiana and I was able to pretend that I was back on the West Coast for the moment. The Lake Charles area has been ravaged over the last couple of years by hurricanes and tornados and a large part of the area has not recovered. It is encouraging to see the downtown area flourishing under the adversity.   North Beach is t...