The Untold Story of Lake Charles: Festivals, Fame & Industry

KNGT - Let me tell you a little story about Lake Charles, Louisiana. This town’s got a rich history, some big names that came from here, and we sure know how to throw a festival or two!

How did Lake Charles, Louisiana get started?

Way back before Lake Charles was even a town, the land was home to Native American tribes, like the Atakapa-Ishak people. Then around 1781, a man named Martin LeBleu and his wife Dela Marion moved here. Their daughter ended up marrying a guy named Charles Sallier. He built a home near the lake, and folks started calling it “Charlie’s Lake.” Later on, the name changed to Lake Charles.

The town was first called Charleston when it was officially started on March 7, 1861. But just a few years later, in 1867, the name changed for good to Lake Charles.

Famous People from Lake Charles, Louisiana

Lake Charles has raised some pretty big names over the years. Here are a few:

• Sean Patrick Flanery - Actor
• Paul Groves - Opera Singer
• Nellie Lutcher - Jazz Singer
• Michael Soileau - Radio Legend
• Michael Debakey - heart surgeon; first person to successfully implant an artificial heart

Festivals in Lake Charles, Louisiana

We don’t play when it comes to festivals. Lake Charles has over 75 of them every year. Here are some of the biggest ones:

Mardi Gras – We’re the second biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the state, after New Orleans. We even let you see all the costumes in one spot!

Chuck Fest – A big downtown celebration of local music, art, and food. Super fun!

What Makes Lake Charles Work

Lake Charles is more than just good times. We’ve got some big industries here that keep people working and the city growing.

Petrochemical Plants – A lot of folks work at plants that turn oil and gas into everyday products.

Casinos and Tourism – Big fancy casinos like L’Auberge and Golden Nugget bring in lots of visitors.

Education – We’ve got McNeese State University and SOWELA Tech, helping people learn and get good jobs.

Lumber – Back in the day, the lumber business was huge here. We were known for all the wood we shipped out.

So, that’s the story of Lake Charles, a town with deep roots, famous folks, awesome festivals, and hard-working people. Whether you’re here for the food, the fun, or the history, there’s always something special about this corner of Southwest Louisiana.