The remote community of Hackberry sits on the western bank of the Calcasieu Ship Channel. To learn how residents spend their free time, all it takes is a drive down Main Street, where one sign after another points to a fishing charter or seafood market down the road. "People that are looking at Hackberry, they like to fish," says Realtor Steve Rackley of R Home Real Estate. Residents of this swampy, soggy community adhere to a Southern outdoorsman's way of life, enjoying immediate access to open water, plus unpretentious local businesses and community events. But it all comes with a cost: Hurricanes — and worse, tidal surges — are common when storms roll through.
Hackberry is home to about 988 full time residents.
Fishing is the heartbeat of Hackberry, and has been for generations.
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Fishing in the Gulf and Black Lake
Crabbing, trawling and deep-water fishing are Hackberry's great pastimes. Boaters gas up and fill their coolers with ice to hit the Gulf for tuna, red snapper and mackerel. Other anglers head west to Black Lake, which is especially popular in spring as a prime spot for spotted trout. Multiple marinas scattered around Hackberry provide water access for those who don’t own a home with a private slip. When they aren't out on open waters, residents spend hot summer days poolside at the Hackberry Recreation Center, which boasts two waterslides, a splash park, a shallow kiddy pool, a diving board and a cafe. The center also includes two baseball fields, a playground, and indoor facilities for classes and events.
Black Lake is a vast, open marshland that borders Hackberry.
Fishermen prepare to launch their boat to explore the vast marshlands of Hackberry.
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Resilient new builds with private boat slips
Narrow inlets of water reach into Hackberry and separate quarter- to 1-acre lots, creating small communities with places for homeowners to anchor their skippers, whalers and other small craft. These are found east of Main Street, where most of Hackberry's population is concentrated. Listings for the ranchers that sit beside or west of Main Street come few and far between. Most lots in Hackberry sell for between $25,000 to $150,000 and share the trait of homes raised a few feet above the ground, although some residents simply park their RVs there. Many residents live in manufactured and Acadian-style homes, most built post-Hurricane Rita in 2005. Most homes are raised, offering extra protection against the elements — a vital asset in a watery environment like Hackberry. "As an observer of construction here, I noticed that structures built after Rita tended to withstand the onslaught of Laura-Delta a lot better than buildings built between the 1950s and the late 1990s," says local historian Adley Cormier. Further inland, home styles and amenities are mostly the same, although they typically feature more yard space minus the waterfront access. Manufactured homes in Hackberry typically sell for between $165,000 to $300,000, while the larger Acadian-style homes sell for between $500,000 and $650,000.
Large porch space is a popular home amenity in Hackberry, offering great views and breezes.
A row of acadian style beach homes sit on a canal in Hackberry, LA.
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Hackberry Seafood and dino burgers
Family-owned since 1978, Brown's Food Center is the true anchor for this secluded angler's hideaway, offering a place in town to purchase frozen foods, fresh produce and other groceries. The only other place locals can sit down for a meal is the Hackberry Recreation Center's cafe, which serves a "dino burger" locals swear is the best in Cameron Parish. Hackberry's most common type of business takes customers out of town rather than keeping them local. Dozens of fishing charters offer multiple ways to cast a line in the Gulf, Black Lake or other nearby bodies of water. Meanwhile, seafood vendors like Hackberry Seafood share the spoils with the community. After a day in the salt and sun, anglers return to shore and make their way to Bucks & Ducks Sports Bar to close out the day with a frosty beer.
Shrimpers cull their catch from the day at sea in Hackberry.
Residents stop by Browns Food Center in central Hackberry for everyday essentials.
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Fully car dependent
Life in Hackberry requires a car. The community is spread out over 34 square miles, and few roads have sidewalks. The trade-off is that traffic is pretty much non-existent. LA-27 (also Main Street) is the only direct route toward Lake Charles, making Hackberry a one-way-in, one-way-out community.
Hackberry is a small, coastal town located about twenty minutes from Sulphur, LA.
Hackberry is prone to flooding due to its proximity to the bay and gulf.
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The Grand Ole Opry comes to town
Public events are less common in Hackberry than in communities a few miles north, like Lake Charles proper. However, municipal facilities in Hackberry do provide special activities, like the Hackberry Library, which hosts Lego building groups, bimonthly bingo games and an end-of-summer party. The Hackberry Community Center throws a country-style party, often doubling as fundraisers for local initiatives. In April 2024, country music stars T.G. Shepard and T. Graham Brown — the latter a recent inductee to the world-famous Grand Ole Opry — came to Hackberry to perform at A Night on the Town, an annual fundraiser for the Hackberry Future Farmers of America. The event features a night of live music, dancing and a dinner of Southern delights like smoked brisket, potatoes au gratin and bread pudding.
Stop by the Hackberry Rec Center to exercise or grab a bite at their cafe.
The Hackberry Library offers a wide variety of books and computer access.
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Tiny class sizes at Hackberry High School
Hackberry belongs to the Cameron Parish School District, which does not follow a traditional pipeline. Instead, students attend grades K-12 all at the same school: Hackberry High School, which has a Niche score of C. Class sizes are extremely small across each grade level, with an average of 8 students per teacher.
Hackberry High earns a C rating from niche.com.
Hackberry High is a place where students can grow.
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Things to consider
No stranger to hurricanes, Hackberry has long weathered the strength of storms that sweep across the region. Most homes are elevated off the ground, and anything built after 2005 has generally better resiliency due to building codes that were updated following Hurricane Rita. Still, almost all of Hackberry is in a special hazard flood zone, and storm surges can easily inundate the low-lying area. Beyond safety, there are financial ramifications, too: Insurance companies increasingly deny home policies in Cameron Parish.
The Hackberry Ship Channel provides many commercial opportunities for fishermen.
The shrimping industry is thriving in the small town of Hackberry.
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2 lots conveniently located at the end of a canal in the heart of Hackberry. Easy access to the ship channel and salt water fishing. Ready for mobile home or RV - concrete lot in place. Water, electric, and sewer installed. Beautifully manicured with trees and a screened porch for entertaining. Perfect for home or camp! All measurements are more or less. Priced to sell! Bring your offer! Camper
**Your Dream Waterfront Retreat Awaits!** Step into the ultimate lakeside living with this stunning waterfront townhome, complete with your very own covered boat slip! Perfectly positioned next to the renowned Hackberry Rod & Gun Club, this property offers unparalleled access to the best fishing and hunting experiences. Just a mile from Calcasieu Lake and a mere three miles from Big Lake and West
JUST BRING YOUR FISHIN' POLE! FULLY FURNISHED READY TO ENJOY! Here's the best of fishing and hunting plus just plain relaxing on the water. Located on the canal, it has its own covered boat slip with lift large enough to accommodate most boats & is just up the street from the Hackberry Rod & Gun Club! By water, only mile to Calcasieu Lake, 3 miles to Big Lake or West Cove and 12 miles to the Gulf
Corporate Lease Opportunity – $7,000/Month | All Bills Paid! Don’t miss your chance to secure this unique and spacious 2-story home for your corporate housing needs! Available for \$7,000/month with all utilities included, this fully equipped and **furnished** property is ideal for companies seeking executive accommodations, short-term team housing, or a flexible lease solution in a high-demand
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Stephen Rackley,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
890
Median Age
45
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
23.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
22.8%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$73,676
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$80,719
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.8%
College Graduates
22%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
2.8%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
65.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
64''
Average Winter Low Temperature
42°F
Average Summer High Temperature
91°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
25/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
0/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
