Sam Houston Jones State Park

About this park

Sam Houston Jones State Park sits where the Houston River joins the Calcasieu River and Indian Bayou, just north of Lake Charles in southwestern Louisiana. Originally named for the Texas folk hero who traveled extensively through this part of the state, the park was later renamed in honor of Sam Houston Jones, Louisiana's 46th governor, who was instrumental in setting the land aside for public use. Hurricane Laura made landfall near Lake Charles in August 2020 as one of the most powerful storms ever to strike Louisiana, and the park suffered near-total tree loss, an estimated 98 percent, along with destruction of nearly every structure on site. The park has since rebuilt with new deluxe cabins and a fully modernized campground, and the Office of State Parks partnered with the energy company Sasol on the Longleaf Legacy Project to help restore the region's once-dominant longleaf pine forests. The park sits just north of one of Louisiana's most productive birding regions, and nearly 200 bird species have been recorded on-site over the years, drawing dedicated birdwatchers alongside more typical park visitors. Two boat launches on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River provide access toward the Gulf, an 18-hole disc golf course adds active recreation, and three hiking trails wind through the recovering forest and tree-filled lagoons.