CenLA: Central Louisiana Memories

Alexandria is sometimes referred to as the "Heart of Louisiana" or the "Heart of Central Louisiana".

Whatever the terminology used, Alexandria is situated close to the geographical center of Louisiana, in an area known as "CenLA".

Besides Alexandria and Pineville, CenLA includes many smaller towns, communities, places, points of interest and lakes.

To the north are Rapides Station and Boyce, and Zimmerman where we used to fish at the sawmill pond. And just outside Pineville are the communities of Kingsville, Tioga, and Ball, and Camp Maryhill and Camp Windy Wood were favorite destinations also!

To the south we have memories of places like Lecompte (home of Lea's Lunchroom), Cheneyville, Bunkie, company picnics at Chicot State Park, visiting the Marksville Indian mounds with Cub Scouts, and fishing at Williams Lake (out Old Marksville Highway on the east side of the Red river).

We used to journey to the east to Fishville, Little River, Lonnie's Landing, Walker Lake, and Lehman Lake. And let's not forget the good times at Valentine Lake, the Richey family of Otis, Lake Kincaid, Indian Creek (before the reservoir), Hot Wells, Bayou Rapides Road, and the gravel pits off US165.