A new glamping destination has opened in Southwest Louisiana, offering visitors an alternative way to experience the outdoors. Bayou Glamping Co., founded by Ebony Broussard and her business partner, began welcoming guests in early July in Westlake.
The property is located on Cayton Road at the west fork of the Calcasieu and Houston rivers and features a lodge with a full kitchen and bathroom, two furnished tents, a camper van, and a bonfire pit.
Broussard said the concept emerged from her own love of the outdoors and her partner’s military background in camping.
“I’m an outdoorsy person, but my business partner actually has a background in the military, and camping is his thing, … we just put our heads together and came up with Bayou Glamping Co.,” Broussard told The Advocate.
She added that the aim was to bring an experience to southwest Louisiana that she has seen in other areas but had not yet reached the region.
The site offers kayaks and a pontoon boat for rent, and all accommodations are equipped with electricity and air-conditioning.
Additional tents can be set up to host larger groups. “As humans, we’re supposed to go outside,” Broussard said.
“With the way society is set up, around so many people feel disconnected, they feel stressed, and this just brings them closer to nature, being here without losing the comfort of a real bed, AC, and things like that.”
Broussard reported that business has been steady since opening, though slower than anticipated due to summer conditions. “It’s been a little slower than initially expected,” she said.
“But with the summer heat, we’re expecting a lot of fall bookings. We have people reserved out for September, October, but the Louisiana heat, it’s hard to beat it.”
Plans for future expansion include adding outdoor restroom facilities and a massage therapy room inside the lodge, with longer-term goals to introduce houseboats for rental.
Broussard also confirmed that a second property is in development. “This is actually one of two properties in the works,” she said.
“Our second property will also be in southwest Louisiana. We’re not ready to put it out there yet, but within the next year or so, that property will be up, and I think that one will bring even more attention and more love for it.”
For business owners in the outdoor hospitality sector, Bayou Glamping Co. illustrates how glamping can be positioned as a bridge between traditional camping and resort-style stays, offering comfort-driven amenities while tapping into growing consumer demand for nature-based experiences.
The venture also highlights the importance of regional differentiation—bringing a global trend to a local audience that had not previously had access to such an offering.