Experiencing The Atchafalaya

Text And Photos By Carol Stubbs

The Atchafalaya Experience is run by three generations of the Voorhies family, Coerte Voorhies, his son, Kim, and his son, Jacques. Coerte (pronounced Curtie), a consulting geologist, started the business in 1990 to offer something unique to patrons of his bed and breakfast in Lafayette, Bois de Chenes. He got tired of hearing guests talk about what he refers to as “generic” swamp tours where they sometimes heard wrong information about the history and ecology of the swamp.

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“We’ve done over 40 national and international television interviews,” Coerte says, “and we’re getting ready to work with the BBC and French TV on an educational program.” The website lists other honors, including a Best of the Road Award for 2003 from Rand McNally, and special recognition for Kim by Governor Kathleen Blanco for “his endeavors to protect the environment and his earnest desire to expose our guests to the complex ecology and astounding beauty of the Atchafalaya Swamp.”

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To read about the experiences on a swamp tour—and where it begins—pick up the May issue of Acadiana LifeStyle.