Growing at an enormous rate, Ascension Parish is considered to be prime real estate in Louisiana. The area is equipped with excellent schools and countless dining, entertainment, and shopping options. Its beautiful neighborhoods are only short drives from the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans and its yearly festivals bring numbers of people to the area to enjoy all kinds of fun. Let's look at a few different reasons many are looking for homes for sale in Prairieville, Geismar, and Gonzales.
Schools
Ascension Parish is known for its high performing schools. Niche ranks Ascension Parish Public Schools #7 overall in the state with an "A-" rating taking academics, administrative policy, educational outcome, extracurriculars, resources and facilities, teachers, and other categories into effect. Niche ranks Ascension #4 in college readiness and #7 in best teachers. Dutchtown High School was nationally recognized by the US News and received a bronze rating.
As a parish, Ascension received an "A" rating in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 according to the Department of Education. You can view their rating for each individual school in the district by choosing it from the dropdown menu here.
Dining & Shopping Establishments
Dining and shopping in Ascension Parish is convenient. The sizable Tanger Outlet holds a number of stores and a few restaurants and is located right off of the interstate in Gonzales. Cabela's is essentially right across the street from Tanger Outlet and can fill your hunting, fishing, and outdoor needs. Additionally, the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge is not a far interstate drive from Ascension.
Albertson's (Prairieville), Winn Dixie (Prairieville), Walmart (Prairieville, Gonzales), LeBlanc's Food Store (Prairieville, Gonzales), and Alexander's Market (Prairieville/Baton Rouge border) make finding groceries extremely convenient from anywhere in Ascension Parish.
The Cabin is a unique place to eat in Gonzales. Once a plantation, the converted restaurant, with walls decorated with local memorabilia and collectables, is home to delicious southern cooking. It is also an excellent venue for banquets and events. View their menu here.
Son's Seafood and Steak House is located off of Airline Highway in Gonzales. The restaurant, which also caters and hosts banquets, is an excellent option for local seafood taste. View their menu here.
Mike Anderson's Seafood is a local chain with a location next to Clarion Inn Conference Center in Gonzales. They also provide banquets, receptions, and business meeting services. View their menu here.
Sammy's Grill in Prairieville is also a local restaurant chain that provides cajun-style sandwiches, steaks, and seafood behind a fountain and pond off Airline Highway. View their menu here.
Prairieville's Commerce Centre shopping center includes Geisha Sushi & Hibachi Grill as well as Agave Blue Tequila & Taco Bar complete with an outdoor patio.
Frank's Restaurant on Airline Highway in Prairieville is a great dining option with home-style cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Cypress Hall & Pavilion is on-site and hosts wedding events.
On The Half Shell Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant is also located on Airline Highway in Prairieville. It combines tasty bites with live music. View their menu here.
Located off of Perkins Road in Prairieville, Tommy's Fish House is a family-run restaurant with many cajun-creole dishes. View their menu here.
Looking for a place to watch the big game? Slider's Grill & Bar provides several TVs to root your team on while enjoying food and drinks. It is located off of Airline Highway in Prairieville.
Looking to cool down on a Louisiana summer day? Grab a snack at Cade's Frozen Custard in Gonzales.
Entertainment & Festivals
There are many things to do and events to enjoy in Ascension Parish.
Houma's House Plantation and Gardens is located in Darrow, Louisiana, right outside of Gonzales. The property features astounding scenery, delicious cafe and restaurant, and a gift shop. Similarly, Tezcuco Plantation is also located in Darrow, and although it burned down in 2002, you can still view its ruins.
Summers in Louisiana can be hot, but not to worry, Blue Bayou waterpark is just a few miles outside of Prairieville in Baton Rouge. Across the street is Dixie Landin' amusement park, boasting a number of rides and roller coasters.
Gonzales is also home to the pristine Pelican Point Country Club which offers a golf course, tennis courts, wading pool, junior Olympic swimming pool, restaurant, and bar. The club also provides swimming and tennis lessons and is an exceptional venue for weddings and events. You can view information regarding the Pelican Point neighborhood here or you can view homes available in Pelican Point here.
Premier Lanes Entertainment Center and Malco Gonzales Cinema are located in the heart of Gonzales off of Airline Highway. A bowling alley, movie theatre, arcade, laser maze, restaurant, and bar make this facility a go-to place for the entire family.
You can catch a concert or one of many shows that can be seen at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Cajun Village is located in the town of Sorrento in Ascension Parish. Here, you can find boutique shops, an alligator pond, coffee house, and bed and breakfast in restored Acadian dwellings.
The annual Ascension Parish Hot Air Balloon Festival provides excellent entertainment for the whole family at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales each September. This event features balloon rides, food trucks, live music, carnival rides, arts and crafts booths, and a picturesque lighting of the balloons after sunset.
Gonzales is known as the "Jambalaya Capital of the World" and has hosted The Jambalaya Festival every year in May since 1967. The festival includes live music, carnival rides, cooking contests, and of course, plenty of food.
Proximity to Baton Rouge and New Orleans
Another factor that makes buying a home in Ascension Parish attractive is its geographical location in relation to Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Ascension Parish sits just to the south of Baton Rouge as Prairieville borders the state's capital. The southernmost region of the parish is right at an hour's driving distance from New Orleans. Residents of Ascension Parish have easy access to a night of shopping and dining in Baton Rouge or a Saturday day trip to New Orleans with the family. Its access to Baton Rouge also makes it a convenient location in relation to the LSU campus. The options are truly limitless.
Ready to purchase a home in Ascension Parish?
With plenty of places to eat and shop and things to do, it's no wonder many are looking to buy a home in Ascension Parish. Located in Prairieville, Property First Realty Group's agents are very knowledgable about the area and homes available in Prairieville, Gonzales, and Geismar. We have many resources available to make the home buying process smooth, especially if you are a first time home buyer. We previously answered many questions about purchasing a home in our Home Buying FAQs. You can also view our short video on home-buying services or download a free guide to buying a home here. Browse the quick links below to read more information on the areas, subdivisions, and homes for sale in Ascension Parish.
Geismar: City Information | Subdivisions | Homes for Sale in Geismar
Gonzales: City Information | Subdivisions | Homes for Sale in Gonzales
Prairieville: City Information | Subdivisions | Homes for Sale in Prairieville