Posted in Louisiana Arts & Entertainment, Attractions March 20, 2023 by

Once Abandoned And Left To Decay, The Chauvin Sculpture Garden In Louisiana Has Been Restored To Its Former Glory

Down at the tip of southeastern Louisiana lies a very unusual sight, and it’s worth a road trip. This unique sculpture garden in Louisiana is in a remote part of the state, surrounded by Louisiana’s wetlands and near the Gulf of Mexico in an area where you wouldn’t think to see such a vibrant, colorful display of emotion and creativity, and maybe that’s what makes it such a special hidden gem.

The Chauvin Sculpture Garden is unlike any sculpture garden you've ever seen, and the story behind it is equally fascinating.
Nicki Jo Davis/Google
The property was once the home of Kenny Hill, a bricklayer who purchased the land in 1988. Initially, he pitched a tent on the bayou side property and lived out his life in a fairly simple manner while slowly building a rustic cabin to live in.
Around 1990, he began to accessorize his property with statues,
Sharla Keeney/Google
Every one of them were made by him.
Religion plays a dominant role here, along with good vs. evil.
Molly Roux/Google
Each piece provokes a deep emotion that will have you rethinking some things in your life.
Within a decade, more than 100 sculptures decorated the lawn, the crown jewel being the massive, 45-foot-tall lighthouse composed of 7,000 bricks with dozens of sculptures that appear to be hanging off of it.
Jessica Biscardi/Google
Images of God, cowboys, Native Americans and symbolic animals are just a few of the sculptures on the lighthouse.

Throughout the entire time he lived here, he refused interviews and photographs. He wanted to create the art for himself, not necessarily turn it into a tourist attraction.
Hill included several sculptures of himself throughout the space, too.
Alec Baechie/Google
Look for the sculptures like this and extrapolate your own thoughts on what the deeper meaning could be.
In 2000, Hill was evicted for not keeping up with his property, and he was never seen again.
Alex Baechie/Google
The site was donated to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, and the art department maintains the sculptures, giving them new coats of paint every so often and keeping the grounds tidy for visitors to explore.

The Chauvin Sculpture Gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and it’s free to enter. Carve out some time to road trip down to this unique sculpture garden in Louisiana and let us know your experience.

While you’re down in that part of the state, you’ll probably pass through Houma. If you do, be sure to swing by A-Bear’s, one of the most delicious restaurants in Louisiana.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Chauvin Sculpture Garden & Art, 5337 Bayouside Dr, Chauvin, LA 70344, USA