Established in the late 1800's on "worthless, marshy" lands, Gueydan has become internationally known for waterfowl. Locally owned clubs provide guides and lodging for a memorable hunt on this major north/south flyway while the town, itself, is a bird sanctuary. Northwest of town, tour Stansel Rice Company, a working gourmet popcorn rice mill with crawfish ponds. The Gueydan Museum, located in the old Gueydan Bank building c. 1902, houses a permanent collection of rare photographs and artifacts from Gueydan's early days as well as changing art exhibits. If you like biking, a nice trail is Hwy 91 south. You'll pass the local cemetery. To the right is the location of the former Gueydan family plantation. Continue south and take in the sights of nature. Fox, purple gallinule, least bittern herons and little gray herons can all be sighted here. To your right is marshlands once drained for sale. The Florence Club, built as the office of the White Lake Land Company on the site of a proposed town of the same name, is now a private residence at the end of the ride.
The founder of Gueydan, Jean Pierre Gueydan, a native of St. Bonnet, France, founded the town in 1896 after arriving in the US in 1845. After running successful businesses in New Orleans and Abbeville, Gueydan purchased 40,000 acres of marshland in western Vermilion Parish to farm rice and lease land to local families.In 1899, the population grew to 250 and Gueydan was declared a village. Three years later, it was declared a town.
St. Peters Church Rectory was ordered from the Sears-Roebucks catalog in 1918.
The T.J. Doss Tree, the oldest tree in Gueydan, produced the acorns for all of the oak trees located along 4th Street.
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