Sabine Parish

Sabine Parish is located on the eponymously named river along the Texas border. This former frontier of the Spanish crown was known in the 19th century as a no man’s land, where schemers and outlaws operated with abandon. These “wild west” days are celebrated each November with the Florien Freestate Festival. The parish also honors its Spanish heritage each year with a Tamale Festival in Zwolle. Today, far divorced from the rough-and-tumble days of yore, Sabine Parish exemplifies the Louisiana moniker, “Sportsman’s Paradise.” The Toledo Bend Reservoir is famed for its fishing and tranquility. Hodges Gardens, Park and Wilderness Area offers a haven for both green thumbs and the hiking set. Beyond Hodges, there are so many parks and natural areas in the parish, it’s hard to keep count. Civil War buffs should catch the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Pleasant Hill, site of the Confederacy’s last successful stand.