Nonprofit seeks to restore historic Oleander Hotel in Grand Isle

Photos courtesy the town of Grand Isle, LA.

The nonprofit Restore Grand Isle is seeking to purchase and restore the Oleander Hotel and convert it into a visitor center, museum and art collective.

“The old Oleander Hotel means a lot to the people of Grand Isle. I would love to see it saved and used for our residents and visitors to enjoy,” David Camardelle, Grand Isle mayor, said in a news release. “It would be a centerpiece of the town and would greatly help revitalize and boost our economy.”

“The building is an important part of the island’s history, as it ushered in a new age of tourism, bringing in visitors who could now drive to Grand Isle across the newly built bridge spanning the Caminada Pass,” a news release reads. “Construction on the Oleander Hotel began in 1928 and was completed in 1931, the same year the island received electricity, radios, and telephones. The hotel, which originally featured a fine dining restaurant and 29 rooms with screened porches facing the Gulf, was a fixture on the island until it closed in the 1990s.”

Restore Grand Isle, with the support of the town, has kicked off an effort to save the historic hotel.

“We have the support of local, parish and state leaders. Everyone is on board with saving the building, but now we have to raise the funds to purchase and restore this historic property,” Ronnie Sampey, president of Restore Grand Isle, said in a news release. “We are asking for small and large donations, including sponsors to help us reach our goal. The response so far has been all positive.”

Restore Grand Isle commenced in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida to bring in supplies to aid during the recovery. Since then, the organization has worked to restore the island’s environment by planting trees, building a nursery and community garden. The news release notes that saving the historic hotel will help restore the island’s economy, which relies heavily on tourism.

According to a spokesperson, the goal is $389,000 to purchase the hotel. The spokesperson said the nonprofit has talked to state leaders and feel they will get funding to restore the property from the state once the building has been purchased.