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Tourism office reports higher visitor counts, Gator Chateau sales and reviews denied grant
Summary
Staff reported year-over-year increases in visitor counts and Gator Chateau sales; sales tax receipts for July 2025 were $14,286.23. Director Carter Prejean said a Keep Louisiana Beautiful signage grant was denied and noted the last public gator feeding will be Aug. 29.
Jefferson Davis Parish tourism staff reported rising visitor counts and strong Gator Chateau sales during the commission’s Aug. 12 meeting, and Director Carter Prejean summarized other ongoing projects and a recent grant denial.
Staff presented comparative metrics showing June 2024 visitors at 5,529 versus 6,621 in June 2025, and July 2024 visitors at 6,106 versus 8,405 in July 2025. Billboard impressions and nights spent in the parish also rose in the year-over-year comparisons. Gator Chateau sales increased from roughly $13,489.50 in June 2024 and $14,296.50 in July 2024 to $23,358.04 in June 2025 and $23,157.57 in July 2025. Sales tax collections for July 2025 (paid in August) were reported as $14,286.23.
Prejean also reported that a grant application submitted through Keep Louisiana Beautiful for park entrance signage was denied. He provided an events roundup — including a French Table at the Zigler Museum, Jam Session at the Chateau, a Bayou Rum event and other outreach — and noted operational items: six-year-old gators were returned to Wildlife & Fisheries, four two-year-old gators remain in the pond, and the final public feeding is scheduled for Aug. 29. Marketing/Communications Director Macey Cormier reviewed social media reach and announced a "Cocktail Trail" promotion to start Sept. 1.
The commission set its next regular meeting for noon on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, and reminded members to complete ethics online training by Dec. 31, 2025. The minutes do not record a vote related to the denied signage grant; the grant outcome was reported by staff.
