Driving Directions: Riding Gras
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Celebrate 50 years of the iconic movie, Easy Rider© (1969) that starred Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson. This low eaSy budget counter culture film follows Billy (Dennis Hopper) and Wyatt (Peter Fonda) on a journey from California to Louisiana for Mardi Driving Directions: Riding Gras. The movie was a smash hit FROM LAFAYETTE – Highway 90 to Franklin, Exit 152 – Hwy. 3211. as social norms were changing. Travel North on Hwy 3211. Right on LA-182 (Main Street). FROM LAFAYETTE - BAYOU TECHE SCENIC ROUTE – Exit Broussard. Follow Highway 182 (Old Spanish Trail) to Franklin. FROM LAFAYETTE - ALTERNATE BAYOU TECHE SCENIC ROUTE There are numerous scenes from From Highway 90 to New Iberia, Exit South Lewis St., cross Bayou Teche then right on Highway LA-87. Follow the scenic Bayou Teche St. Mary Parish. Interestingly, as to Franklin. Cross the Bayou Teche east of Baldwin at Katy Bridge On the Bayou APPR or in Charenton. Left on LA-182 into Franklin. Wyatt, Billy and George are on their FROM NEW ORLEANS – US Highway 90 to Highway 20 exit in way to New Orleans, the film was Gibson. Follow Highway 20 westbound until it becomes Highway 182. Follow Highway 182 to Franklin. edited east to west instead of west FROM NEW ORLEANS - ALTERNATE ROUTE – Follow US 90 to east which would have been the Westbound. Exit at Garden City, Hwy 3215. Left on LA-182. correct path to New Orleans. 49 Baton 55 Rouge Lafayette 12 10 182 70 10 Franklin 90 New Morgan Orleans City 985-380-8224 • www.cajuncoast.com Photos by LA Portrait Gallery, Jim & Karla Byron E FRANKLIN 1 OU TECH TECHE AY 9 2 BAYOU B 8 3 7 MORGAN CITY 10 4 5 6 * LAFAYETTE New ORLEANS* Other Louisiana Scenes Include: WILSON’S KOUNTRY KORNER, 2138 Bull Run Road, Schriever, LA 7 ALICE C PLANTATION, 70394, 29°70’59” N, 90°91’02”W - With the magic of movie making, 10736 Highway 182, Franklin, Louisiana, 29° 46.141”N, 091° 28’650”W 1 FRANKLIN CEMETERY, you see Wyatt, Billy and George leaving Bull Run Road after visiting the Alice C reflects eastern seaboard influences and was built by Jotham Franklin area on their way to New Orleans. 1202 Main Street, Franklin, Louisiana, 2948’01”N, 9130’04”W Bedell. Named by John Calder, a subsequent owner, for his wife, Alice. The Franklin Cemetery has been the final resting place for many (Private) MELANCON’S CAFÉ, Morganza, LA 30°44’16” N, 90°35’37”W - Although Franklin residents since the 1830’s and includes two Louisiana Melancon’s Café is no longer there, a marker represents the location of governors, a US Senator, a professional wrestler, professional football 8 THE GARDEN CITY POST OFFICE the infamous café where young girls were enamored, small towners were player and over 30 confederate soldiers. 10400 E Main Street, Garden City, Louisiana, 29°45’56”N, 91°27’44”W hostile and unknowingly, enemies were made. The Garden City Post Office was originally the Hanson Lumber 2 FRANKLIN MAIN STREET, BOOTHS FROM MELANCON’S CAFÉ at Washington Antique School Yard BEN FRANKLIN STORE (CHIC & SHABBY), Company Office and is now a private home. The building was placed Open Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm, off I-49, Exit 25 on the National Register of historic places in 1993. (Private) 716 Main Street, Franklin, Louisiana, 29°47’35”N,91°30’03”W LEVEE IN KROTZ SPRINGS, Pointe Coupee Parish, 30°34’28” N, You’ll notice in the film that the American Flag was upside down. This 9 THE MORGAN CITY BRIDGE, 91°45’38”W - The culmination of the movie takes place along this levee was most likely intentional. An upside-down flag means dire distress. 29°41’ 47”N, 91°12’53”W, road, part of the Zydeco Prairie Cajun Byway. It was probably a commentary on America as a result of the changing The Long-Allen Bridge crosses over the Atchafalaya River, the largest DUCROS PLANTATION IN SCHRIEVER, 147 Old Schriever Highway, social norms. tributary of the Mississippi River. It would have been the only bridge Schriever, Louisiana - 29°45’15” N, 90°49’05”W - Part of scene as Wyatt 3 ST. MARY PARISH COURTHOUSE, over the Atchafalaya River at the time of the filming. The bridge is seen and Billy are driving from New Orleans. Ducros was featured in “If These 500 Main Street, Franklin, Louisiana, 29°47’28”N, 91°30’01”W after Wyatt and Billy leave New Orleans. Walls Could Talk, an HGTV program in 2002. During the filming, the “new” courthouse was being built and can 10 AMELIA BRIDGE HUEY P. LONG BRIDGE, 29°5639N 90°1008W - The Huey P Long be seen in the background. The beautiful 1800 courthouse and jail 29°39’42” N, 91°5’59”W, The Amelia Bridge crosses Bayou Boeuf. Bridge is a cantilevered steel through truss bridge that carries a were torn down in effort to be “progressive.” The demolition of the You see Wyatt and Billy crossing the bridge during an industrial time for two-track railroad line over the Mississippi River. Opened in December courthouse was the impetus for historic preservation in the City of McDermott International. Industrial scenes of Amelia are interwoven 1935, the bridge was the first built in Louisiana and the 29th along the Franklin. including Greenwood Overpass. length of the river. 4 PALFREY HOUSE, TOULOUSE/BOURBON, NEW ORLEANS, MADAME TINKER TOY 200 East Main Street, Franklin, Louisiana, 29°47’16”N, 91°29’55”W HOUSE OF BLUE LIGHTS. While Toulouse and Bourbon Streets are real, Featuring Temple of the Winds capitals on its fluted columns, Palfrey Easy Riding Soundtrack Madame Tinker Toy House of Blue Lights did not exist. The scenes were House was built in 1851 by Governor Joshua Baker for his daughter The Pusher - Steppenwolf filmed in a home in Los Angeles. Frannie. (Private) Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf FRENCH QUARTER, NEW ORLEANS, 600 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, 5 ICE SIGN, Wasn’t Born to Follow - The Byrds LA 70130 - The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest Gates Drive, 29°47’38”N,91°29’58”W The Weight – The Band neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. The Ice Sign was once on Franklin Main Street under a canopy of live Flash, Bam, Pow – Electric Flag ST. LOUIS #1 CEMETERY, 425 Bain Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 oak trees. Notice it as Wyatt, Billy and George ride through town. Kyrie Eleison – The Electric Prunes Must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide. Reservations 6 ARLINGTON PLANTATION, recommended. www.saveourcemetairies.org It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding) – Roger McGuinn The cemetery is the location of Wyatt and Billy dropping acid with two 11532 Highway 182, Franklin, Louisiana, 29°46’46”N,91°28’38”W If 6 Was 9 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience Arlington Plantation House and Gardens is a majestic neoclassical prostitutes with Wyatt tearfully in the arms of the statue above the Italian sugar cane plantation built in the 1830s by the Carlin family. Standing Don’t Bogart Me – Fraternity of Man Benevolent Society Tomb. along the serene banks of the Bayou Teche, it has often been referred If You Want to be a Bird – The Holy Modal Rounders RACELAND, LOUISIANA CEMETERY (ST. MARY’S NATIVITY to as an architectural and structural masterpiece. (Public) Ballad of Easy Rider – Roger McGuinn CATHOLIC CHURCH) 3500 Highway 1, Raceland, LA First cemetery as Wyatt, Billy and George drive into Louisiana. .