Marksville Louisiana
Marksville is a growing community in Central Louisiana, located about 30 miles southeast of Alexandria on LA Highway 1.
Nearby communities include Hessmer, Mansura, Fifth Ward, Echo, Moreauville, Cottonport and Bunkie. Marksville is the parish seat of Avoyelles Parish.
The city was named after Marc Eliche, an Italian trader, who established a trading post in the area about 1794. Marksville was noted on Louisiana maps as early as 1809.
Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish, in central Louisiana, takes its name from the Avoyels Indians. The parish proudly commemorates its Native American as well as French Creole heritage. The abundant wildlife and many waterways make this a hunting, fishing and birdwatching paradise, year-round.
A thriving agriculture industry beckons foodie travelers for authentic Louisiana cuisine. Casino action boasts a different kind of wildlife, and a variety of accommodations make for a comfortable stay as you explore.
Marksville Louisiana Area Tourist Attractions
A long-term attraction in Marksville is the Indian Mounds at the Marksville State Historic Site, located on 42-acres on a bluff overlooking the Old River, adjacent to the town of Marksville. Professional archaeologists consider this prehistoric Native American ceremonial center to be of unique national significance.
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The main portion of the Marksville site is surrounded by a semi-circular earthwork which is 3,300 feet long and ranges from 3 to 7 feet in height. The Marksville State Historic Site was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1964.
The site includes prehistoric Indian mounds and Indian Village sites dating from 1400 A.D. and a museum featuring artifacts and exhibits of the Indian culture.
The Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Resources Center (CERC) is a $13 million project in the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe's comprehensive, long-range plans to aid in broadening the cultural, artistic, and educational offerings to not only its members, but to the surrounding communities as well. The 40,000 square foot facility will house a museum, gift shop, library, conservation and restoration laboratory, auditorium, classrooms, distance learning center, and meeting rooms.
Many other area tourist attractions are nearby, such as the Hypolite Bordelon House, a Creole cottage which houses a museum and tourist center. It was built between 1800 and 1820, and the museum interprets the lives of early settlers of Avoyelles Parish.
Other attractions include the Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge, and the Sarto Old Iron Bridge.
Paragon Casino Resort
Marksville is the home of the highly successful Paragon Casino Resort operated by the Tunica-Biloxi tribe.
The Tunica and Biloxi Indians have lived on their reservation near Marksville for over two centuries, during which the tribes, though speaking completely different languages, intermarried. The Tunica exercised influence over a wide territory, encompassing present-day Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, and even Florida. They were traders and entrepreneurs of the first order. Under severe pressure from European diseases, famine, and warfare, the Tunica steadily moved southward, following the Mississippi River.
Paragon Casino Resort includes a world-class casino with the most popular slots and table games, a large poker room and an off-track betting parlor. Lavish hotel accommodations with more than 500 rooms and suites are available onsite. Also found at the resort are an indoor tropical pool with swim-up bar, full-service spa, three-screen cinema, fabulous dining choices, retail shops, and a championship golf course.
The resort also features live entertainment with top-class Las Vegas acts, Hollywood stars, concerts, and country music legends. Read more at the Paragon Casino Resort website
Map of Marksville Louisiana
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