Family-friendly New Orleans suburb by the Mississippi River
Just 20 miles from the hopping downtown area of New Orleans, Destrehan is a quickly growing suburb known for being family-friendly. Locals love this small portion of St. Charles Parish sitting along the banks of the Mississippi River for its unique mix of "a smalltown community that's safe and has great schools with the convenience of having all the entertainment and attractions of the city just down the road," says Michelle Rousse, a Destrehan local who has been a Realtor since 2015 at Mirambell Realty. Destrehan is the kind of place where "people see their neighbors around, like at the grocery store, and everyone's kids go to school together," says Rousse, adding that "I raised my family here and it's great to have a supportive community and feel like it's safe for kids to hang out or ride bikes outside and just be kids." Outside the city, life in Destrehan is a bit more laid-back, which makes it a great place for families or simply those wanting to keep things simple. With great schools, a tightly-knit community that knows each other well and access to all the perks of New Orleans nearby, Destrehan blends small-town living with big-city amenities.
Get a bang for your buck with homes in Destrehan
With an average sales price of $313,000, homebuyers get "more land and home for their money in Destrehan," says Rousse. Most homes here are single-family homes, with many having been built in the 1980s and many more continuing to be built in new subdivisions today. Destrehan homes come in various styles, sizes and ages, and its even possible to see early 19th-century homes on the market. Wooden cottages are popular here, as are ranch, Acadian and French Colonial styles. Brick is a popular building material, and custom-built houses are becoming more popular as planned communities are built. Two and three-bedroom homes can be found starting in the mid $200,000s to $400,000, while larger, classicly-inspired homes featuring stone facades, four to five bedrooms and up to 5,000 square feet can cost anywhere from $500,000 to $800,000.
Destrehan Line of Live Oaks with Spanish Moss
Large Home near Cypress Lakes Country Club in Destrehan, LA
Ranch style homes in Destrehan, LA
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A's across the board for St. Charles Parish Public Schools
Thanks to St. Charles Parish Public Schools, students have access to top-rated schools. Students in pre-K through second grades can attend New Sarpy Elementary, while Ethel Schoeffner Elementary serves students in third to fifth grades. Both of these schools emphasize art and creativity with their young students and receive a rating of A from the educational review site, Niche. Harry M. Hurst Middle also receives an A and is known dor hosting a STEM club and a step team. Older students can attend Destrehan High, which receives a rating of A-minus from Niche, and offers a School-to-Career Center meant to help students explore career paths and find job-shadowing opportunities.
Parks near the Mississippi River
Thanks to local parks in the area, getting outside in Destrehan is never hard. Within walking distance from most homes is the Mississippi River Trail, a path that traverses the levy between the Mississippi River and town which locals enjoy walking along to take in views of the water. East Bank Bridge Park sits in the community's southern portion and serves as a popular green space for sports like baseball, basketball and tennis and also offers a playground for kids to play in. Another popular park is Ormond Community Park, which features a spray park for children to cool off in during the summer, areas to gather like picnic tables and pavilions as well as baseball fields, a volleyball net and paths for walking along.
Another popular choice in the area is Cypress Lakes Country Club. Near Ormond Estates, Cypress Lakes has an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis and pickleball courts as well as a swimming pool and state-of-the-art fitness center.
Destrehan East Bank Bridge Park Exercise Equipment on Walking Path
Destrehan-local shopping and dining
With plenty of high-end and trendy options for shopping and dining in nearby in the city, locals in Destrehan also enjoy having a small, local scene. For dinner, residents often stop by spots such as Taste of Tokyo, which offers sushi, hibachi and teriyaki dishes, or The Seafood Pot Destrehan, where residents can enjoy po'boys, fresh seafood and creative, family-friendly dishes
Fans of the movie Pitch Perfect might recognize Destrehans's local pizza chain, Rotolo's Pizzeria, from the franchise’s first film where Anna Kendrick’s character uses the iconic Rotolo’s cup while auditioning for the Barden Bellas.
For a mix of sweet and savory, Honeydoux Cafe + Bakery is a woman-owned, farm-to-fork spot serving classic fare such as basil tomato soup and hearty sandwiches. Save room for a lemon Danish, a cake pop or another goodie.
For shopping, Residents can meet all their grocery needs at the Winn-Dixie supermarket, right next to Rotolo’s. To support a locally owned business, stop by River Road Market & Deli for fresh produce and meat in the community's southwestern end.
Twenty minutes west of New Orleans
Sports fans and commuters alike will love that Destrehan is only about twenty minutes from the heart of New Orleans, where they can find businesses, shopping and, most importantly for sports fans, national sports stadiums like the Superdome and the Smoothie King Center. When going to the city, Interstates 310 and 10 make for a quick trip and also connect residents with surrounding areas like the state's capital, Baton Rouge. For most things locally, like traveling to nearby towns or areas where people work, like nearby Shell and Valero plants, River Road takes residents where they need to go. Louis Armstrong International Airport is also close by, at just 13 miles away, and the closest hospital, the Ochsner Health Center, is about just as far.
Aerial of Destrehan, LA Looking towards Downtown New Orleans on the Horizon
Destrehan's community events
Destrehan's community also comes together at various events, like the German Coast Farmers' Market which meets every Saturday morning at the East Regional Library.
Destrehan Plantation's Annual Fall Festival is another event where the community comes together for a weekend of fun. In addition to live music, Cajun and Creole food and grassy lawns to sit and enjoy the atmosphere, the festival offers residents opportunities to explore handcrafted goods, distinctive antique pieces displayed by dealers, and children's activities like pony rides, stuffed-animal-making and fall-themed arts and crafts.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
