Font Size: 
Certified Retirement Communities
City of Covington
Founded in 1813, Covington's small town charm and character are still enjoyed and treasured today. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, Covington's historic downtown cultivates a sense of community and place complimented by our weekly Farmer's Market, monthly musical concerts and art walks. Renowned as a thriving arts Mecca, Covington plays host each November to the annual Three River's Art Festival featuring local, national and international artists. 
Nestled amongst three rivers, the Bogue Falaya, the Tchefuncte, and the Little Tchefuncte, Covington's scenic natural surroundings provide quality recreational activities from picnicking to kayaking and fishing. Serving as the seat of the parish, today Covington's thriving historic downtown encompasses a vibrant shopping and entertainment district as well as a pulsating central business district.
Balancing preservation and progress is a priority in the Covington community. Who wouldn't want to retire in Covington, a place recognized by Warren R. Bland in his book, Retire in Style. 50 Affordable Places Across America?
Contact:
Pam Keller
317 N. Jefferson Avenue, Suite 120
Covington, LA 70433
866-892-1873
pkeller@covla.com
www.cityofcovingtonla.com
City of Crowley
Crowley - a great place to call home! The City of Crowley is a peaceful community rich in history and culture, with some of the best housing values in the nation. Enjoy performances and shows every weekend in our refurbished Crowley Rice Theater, which serves as our Civic Center. The City of Crowley has a close proximity to Interstate 10, Louisiana State Highway 90, and Louisiana State Highway 35 and there are three major airports located within 80 miles of the city. Crowley has over 200 structures on the Register of Historic Places with turn of the century Victorian homes nicely surrounded by majestic oak trees. The National Arbor Day Foundation, designating Crowley a "Tree City USA" recipient, recognized the beauty of our trees. Enjoy our national Main Street Community - a welcoming place where people know your name. We're a unique and thriving city in the heart of Cajun Country. From small-town family fun to big-city glitter, Crowley offers easy access to it all.
Contact:
Charlotte Jeffers
P.O. Box 1463
Crowley, LA 70527-1463
337-788-4100
charlotte.jeffers@crowley-la.com
www.retirecrowley.com
City of Lake Charles
Thinking about retiring? Think Lake Charles! After all, isn't it all about location? Conveniently situated on Interstate 10 we're just a short drive from Houston, the 4th largest city in the country and New Orleans, one of the top tourist destinations in the US. When you're not taking road trips to the "big city" or traveling our scenic byways to the smaller towns with strong cultural offerings like Big Lake or Mamou, you'll keep yourself busy. Relax with a round of golf at any of our five golf courses - one of which is on the Audubon Golf Trail and among the top 75 golf courses in the country and another the only Tom Fazzio public golf course in the state with great local rates. Whether your interest lies in history, French culture, fishing, flowers, gaming, hunting, historic preservation, pirates, cowboys or politics - here's the place for you. And you won't go broke indulging your passions and interests with the cost of living being well below the national average. Lake Charles has a long-standing track record for its abundance of affordable housing, and award-winning healthcare. Combine those important characteristics with our great food, arts and cultural scene, natural scenic beauty - it's easy to see why retirees love Lake Charles. Big enough to matter, small enough to care, this is still a town that welcomes neighbors, and offers a friendly hand. Come enjoy life in Lake Charles.Louisiana's best-kept secret!
Contact:
Shelly Appleby
326 Pujo Street, 10th Floor
Lake Charles, LA 70601
(337) 491-1292
sappleby@cityoflc.us
www.retireinlakecharles.com
City of Thibodaux
The City of Thibodaux offers amenities that today's retiring baby boomers enjoy. Conveniently located between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, local residents can enjoy the safe quiet ambience of a small town, yet are within a short drive of larger cities. Ranked among the top 30 incorporated places in Louisiana, Thibodaux (a population of 15,100) is joined with neighboring Houma to create a Metropolitan Statistical Area with a total population over 190,000 people. Nicholls State University offers a number of programs for adults including many non-credit courses, the Intergenerational Center and its Golden Opportunity Program, and the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute. City Town Info describes Thibodaux as "being a top city for affordability of property taxes" and in 2002 "Money Magazine" recognized Houma-Thibodaux as one of the best places to retire in the nation. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center offers sophisticated health care to a tri-parish region. There are a variety of public and private golf courses including three Louisiana Audubon Golf Trail courses within a 60-mile area. There are many more reasons to Redefine Life, Retire Louisiana, Retire Thibodaux, call the Chamber office to find out more.
Contact:
Kathy B. Benoit
PO Box 467
Thibodaux, LA 70302
877.446.1187
Kathy@ThibodauxChamber.com
www.retirethibodaux.org
Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish is the most exciting experience you will ever have and now is the best time to enjoy its rich history and watch its rebirth. Our community is home to two Louisiana State Parks (Bayou Segnette and Grand Isle), the New Orleans Saints football team practice complex, four major shopping centers and eleven colleges and universities. The parish is bordered on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, on the north by Lake Pontchartrain and dividing the parish into the east and west banks is the Mississippi River - so learning about our natural landscape and enjoying our wonderful waterways is never far from reach. With access to the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport located within the parish and convenient access to interstates, there's no place you can't reach from our great community. The Jefferson Performing Arts Center recently had its groundbreaking ceremony and promises to dazzle you with concerts, plays and other spectacular performances. Call it a day and get ready for tomorrow . . . there's always something to do in Jefferson Parish!
Contact:
Bob Toranto
3421 N. Causeway Blvd. Ste. 203
Metairie, LA 70002
504-835-3880 ext. 20
bob@jeffersonchamber.org
www.retirejeffersonparishla.org
Natchitoches Parish
The Natchitoches Parish area is a sprawling, naturally beautiful region located in the northwest portion of Louisiana. At the heart of the parish lies the City of Natchitoches, established in 1714, which is known as the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. This historic community boasts a National Historic Landmark District that is home to Front Street, a brick thoroughfare where wrought iron balconies, restaurants and shops face the beautiful Cane River Lake. The Cane River National Heritage Area is located in the Natchitoches region and home to Cane River Creole National Historical Park at Oakland and Magnolia Plantations. The community features numerous recreational and sporting opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts as well as cultural programming including a local symphony orchestra, museums, art galleries, theatrical performances and a multitude of fairs and festivals. In addition to arts and entertainment, the Natchitoches region enjoys convenient access to fine dining and shopping as well as quality health care and affordable housing. Natchitoches was just named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 10 places in the United States to retire. Come see for yourself why President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush named the Natchitoches area as a recipient of the 2007 Preserve America Presidential Award.
Contact:
Courtney Hornsby
P.O. Box 37, Natchitoches, La. 71457
(318) 238-7500
chornsby@ci.natchitoches.la.us
www.retirenatchitoches.com
St. Landry Parish
St. Landry Parish, located at the crossroads of Acadiana, continues to welcome many "once visitors now residents" to the heart of Cajun Country in Louisiana. Here we express our unique culture in everything we do, from exercising to our indigenous Zydeco and Cajun music, to sharing our family's genealogy or perfecting our "secret" recipe for etouffee. Modern houses or vintage properties found within historic districts dating back to the early 1720s, offer a chance in a lifetime. The communities like Washington, Opelousas, Eunice, Grand Coteau and Arnaudville are quaint with deep religious roots and active local groups from historical re-enactors and bayou birders to gardeners and golfers. And our continuing education offerings can open the door to fulfilling that childhood dream. So come, redefine retirement in St. Landry Parish!
Contact:
Allison Andrus
P.O. Box 1415
Opelousas, LA 70571-1415
(877) 948-8004 Toll Free
assistant@cajuntravel.com
www.retirestlandry.com
