As soon as I left the main building, I was in a land of flowers, fountains, and peafowl: lots of peacocks and peahens. Rip Van Winkle Gardens and House are located just east of New Iberia, Louisiana, on Jefferson Island.
Created on the island on the shores of Lake Peigneur, the property features a lovely landscape, live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and azaleas. I felt like I was in a colorful maze where flowers bloomed in a rainbow of color.
This estate also offers tours of the 22-room house museum built in 1870. The house has been on the National Register of Historic Places since June 4, 1973.
Prior to Joseph Jefferson’s ownership, the island was owned by Jean Laffite’s brother-in-law, who had acquired the island through a Spanish land grant.
Almost all of the materials for building this house were local to Louisiana, except for the slate on the roof and the small mahogany used for ornate pieces. The house was built on the island, allegedly with cypress trees planted by French privateer Jean Laffite.
In 1869, the American stage and later silent film actor bought the island as a hunting and fishing location. Jefferson had played Rip Van Winkle in cinematic adaptations of Washington Irving’s short story and had performed it 4,500 times on stage.
Jefferson died in 1905, and the estate was inherited by his family.
It was quiet when I visited, only punctuated by the calls of the peafowl. The peaceful garden offers contemplation and rest from the 21st century.
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