It’s hard to imagine that the site of a former disaster is now home to picturesque gardens, stunning views and absolutely divine food! Rip Van Winkle Gardens is known for many things, and Café Jefferson is definitely one of them! 

In 1980, the historic salt mine disaster occurred on Jefferson Island. An oilrig accidentally drilled into a salt mine under Lake Peigneur, causing a whirlpool, which sucked in the drilling platform, 11 barges, a tugboat, trees and 65 acres of terrain. All that was left behind was a brick chimney from a private home.

About two years later, the Bayless family, helmed by John “Jack” Lyle Bayless, Jr., opened Jefferson Island, including the Rip Van Winkle Gardens, to the public. The property remained with the Bayless’ until Jack’s death in 1985. In 2003, Michael Richard, Sr. and his wife Louise purchased the grounds, adding a gift shop, theater and restaurant, dubbed Café Jefferson after the original owner, renowned actor Joseph Jefferson. The thespian, whose most famous role was as Rip Van Winkle, bought the salt dome island before the Civil War, and built his Victorian-style hunting lodge at its highest point – 75 feet above sea level. Completed in 1870, the lodge served as Jefferson’s winter home for about 30 years of his lifetime.

Today, Café Jefferson is run by the Richards’ daughter, Michelle. Since the restaurant’s beginning, Louise, affectionately called “Weezy,” and head manager/cook Dina Boudreaux have contributed their own recipes to the menu.  The café’s specialties include Seafood Heaven – angel hair pasta topped with a creamy basil sauce full of jumbo shrimp, lump crab and crawfish (Advertising Director Nick Delcambre’s favorite dish); Seafood Crèam Bisque, homemade with Louisiana crawfish, lump crabmeat and large Gulf shrimp and the Italian Muffuletta – ham, salami, provolone, Swiss cheese and house-made olive salad served on a sesame seed bun and toasted on a panini grill.  My personal fave is the Crawfish Cardinale – Louisiana crawfish, fresh mushrooms and fine cognac.  Other customer favorites are the lasagna, prepared homemade daily and Crabmeat Au Gratin – jumbo lump crabmeat in a creamy white sauce.  Entrées are served with a crisp Caesar salad or hot roll.  Café Jefferson purveys its seafood fresh from local vendors in Delcambre, Lafayette, and surrounding areas in South Louisiana.

Certain features are named after family members and “special” visitors. My New Iberia buddy Camille Ackal highly touts the Eggplant Michelle – a delicious eggplant casserole with shrimp, crab, oysters and mushrooms. Weezie’s Chicken & Sausage Gumbo is chockfull of meat – smoked sausage, fresh pork sausage, andouille, tasso and boneless chicken. Jean Lafitte Salad – romaine topped with marinated chicken or shrimp, black olives, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, bacon bits and purple onion – is named after the famous pirate whose treasure was found on the property. And Rip’s Homemade Chili is named after Jefferson’s most famous character.

For dessert, try the homemade White Chocolate Bread Pudding with white chocolate and raspberry sauce topped with chocolate shavings.  If you are lucky, you might get to try Michelle’s homemade lemon ice box pie – lemon filling topped with meringue on a graham cracker crust.  Delcambre swears that this pie is “to die for.”  

While at Jefferson Island, check out the fascinating film about the salt mine disaster at Lake Peigneur.  If you have time, stroll around the Rip Van Winkle Gardens, featuring seasonal flowers, indigenous plants, 350-year-old oaks trees and Red Dawn and crape myrtles.  The gorgeous ground also offer hand-carved Balinese Gateways, Japanese teahouse and lotus pond with three-tiered sugar kettle fountain.  Do some leisurely bird watching – more than 30 peacocks strut the gardens.  Rip’s Rookery is a nesting area to Spoonbill Roseates, doves, pigeons and other native birds.  The old school house was converted to a bird rescue center and houses recovering fowl.

You can also tour the Joseph Jefferson Mansion, a magnificent Victorian home with a fourth-story cupola.  The elegant estate showcases artifacts from the Bayless family, who purchased Jefferson Island from Jefferson’s heirs in 1917, and a spectacular dining room with a hand-carved cathedral gothic ceiling and authentic Limoge china.  Several of Jefferson’s original paintings are also displayed in the house. – Over his lifetime, Jefferson pained 15 paintings, several of which are displayed in the home.

If you want to sleep over, stay at one of the three bed and breakfasts on the property.  The Servants’ Quarters, cottages 1 and 2, were built by Jefferson in 1870. Constructed in 1925 by Jack Bayless, the Cook’s Cottage originally served as home to the cook who prepared meals for the Jefferson Island Salt Mine’s employees.  All three B&Bs feature California king-sized four-poster beds, a continental breakfast and full amenities.

Café Jefferson is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. ‘til 3 p.m. The Joseph Jefferson Mansion House is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with tours beginning on the hour. Rip Van Winkle Gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission to Jefferson Island is $12.00 per adult, $10.00 per senior, and $6.00 for children ages 6 to 17.