12 Best Things To Do In Marksville, Louisiana

1. Learn about Native American history at the Marksville State Historic Site

This is one of the most famous Marksville tourist attractions. Curious about the people who lived in Marksville long before the town was named? You’ll learn about the town’s rich history of Native American culture and more at the Marksville State Historic Site. The site includes restored Indian burial mounds as well as an educational museum to fill you in on the history of the tribes that inhabited the area in the past. Presently, the Tunica-Biloxi tribe is still flourishing on a local reservation.

You can choose to walk through the historic site on your own or be guided by a tour guide. Keep in mind that the site is only open by appointment, so you’ll have to call ahead to schedule a visit. However, this is a free and educational attraction, so don’t miss it! From time to time, the visitor’s center also hosts fun classes such as basket weaving.

Marksville State Historic Site

Address: 837 Martin Luther King Dr, Marksville, LA 71351

Website: Marksville State Historic Site

2. Tour the pioneer Hypolite Bordelon House

The Hypolite Bordelon House, once a Creole pioneer’s home, now serves as a museum and a historical attraction. Learn how early pioneers of Marksville lived, worked, and flourished in the area. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provides an interesting look into the lives of Louisiana settlers, in the 1800s.

When the house transferred in ownership to the city of Marksville in 1979, it was moved to its present location and restored. Admission is 2 USD and includes a tour of the house, outbuildings, and the small chapel in the backyard. In the house, you’ll see furnishings typical of the period.

Hypolite Bordelon House

Address: 242 Tunica Dr W, Marksville, LA 71351

3. Play a round at the Tamahka Trails Golf Course

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Wondering what to do in Marksville? Play a round of golf at Tamahka Trails Golf Course. It is a quiet, green retreat in the middle of Marksville and is part of the Audubon Golf Trail. On a nice day, playing a round of golf at the course is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise in. Connected to the Paragon Casino & Resort, Tamahka is an 18-hole, par 71 course.

Golfers praise the course for being meticulously cared for and having friendly, helpful staff. Fans of the course have shared that it is challenging but well built. The course is also part of a country club which offers lunch and dinner. Starting at 47 USD for a round of golf, it’s also affordable.

Even if you’re not a golfing enthusiast, the country club offers a variety of menu options, so you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy the beautiful scenery. After playing a round of golf, walk over to the Paragon Casino & Resort (if you’re over 21), and try your hand at the slots.

Tamahka Trails Golf Course

Address: 222 Slim Lemoine Rd, Marksville, LA 71351-6005

Website: Tamahka Trails Golf Course

4. Purchase handmade items at the Tanglewood Soap Company

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The Tanglewood Soap Company is a newer store (established in 2014), located in Marksville and is known for its natural and handmade items, including handcrafted soaps, lotions, bath salts, bath bombs, and body butter. If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift, a romantic present, or just want to treat yourself, be sure to stop by.

The items at Tanglewood Soap Company are only made with natural ingredients, including coconut oil, shea butter, goat’s milk, coconut milk, and plant infusions. When you step into the store, you’ll notice it smells divine! Tanglewood’s products are especially helpful for people with sensitive skin or breakouts. Even if you’re just window shopping, everything at Tanglewood Soap Company is a delight to look at, from the swirled designs on the soap bars to the beautifully packaged bath bombs.

Open from Tuesday-Friday 10 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 10 AM - 3 PM, the store is closed Sunday and Monday.

Tanglewood Soap Company

Address: 410 N Main St, Marksville, Louisiana

Facebook: Tanglewood Soap Company

5. View the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Education Center Museum

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Visiting the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Education Center Museum is a great way to immerse yourself in the Native American culture of the area. The Tunica-Biloxi tribe resides on a nearby reservation and operates one of Marksville’s most popular attractions, the Paragon Casino & Resort.

At the museum, you’ll learn about how the tribe interacted with Louisiana’s first settlers, through trade. Through a number of artifacts (known as the “Tunica Treasure”) and rotating educational exhibits, you’ll get a first-hand look at how the tribe played a huge part in the history of the area. The museum includes an exhibit hall, conservation and restoration lab, gift shop, library, and classrooms as well as tribal government offices.

The education center is open from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 12 PM and 12:30 PM to 4 PM. Tickets are just 5 USD for adults and 3 USD for children.

Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Education Center Museum

Address: 150 Melacon Road, Marksville, LA 71351

Website: Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Education Center Museum

The following content is contributed by Trip101 writer, Anne

6. Go fishing at Spring Bayou State Wildlife Management Area

Spring Bayou State Wildlife Management Area is a beautiful natural area. It consists of lakes, bays, sloughs and bayous. The area is forested, with overup oak, nuttall, swamp privet, bitter pecan and buttonbush trees. A variety of other plants are found in the area, including pepper vine, dewberry, verbena, trumpet creeper, water primrose and more. Among the activities available here are hunting and trapping rabbit, deer, waterfowl, woodcock and squirrel. Fishing is excellent in the spring and summer months, where triploid carp, largemouth bass, catfish and panfish are available for catching. Other water activities include boating and waterskiing. Spring Bayou State Wildlife Management Area is also perfect for hiking, birding and photography. For those who want to stay over, there are campgrounds with electricity hookups available.

Spring Bayou State Wildlife Management Area

Address: 2628 Spring Bayou Rd, Marksville, Louisiana, United States

Website: Spring Bayou State Wildlife Management Area

7. Dine at Broken Wheel Brewery and Fresh Catch Bistreaux

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Broken Wheel Brewery (@brokenwheelbrewery)

Broken Wheel Brewery and Fresh Catch Bistreaux was started by two college friends in the late 1990s. The brewery offers a range of beer to choose from, and each has a story behind its name. The brewery is famous for its seasonal brews, which are well worth sampling. What makes this brewery different is that, unlike other brewpubs where food is a snack, Fresh Catch Bistreaux serves an excellent menu of Cajun fare to go with the brews. Choose from delicious appetizers, entrees, soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers, including spicy tuna and avocado stack, pecan-crusted crab cakes, roasted garlic hummus, spring roll shrimp, broken wings and spinach and artichoke dip.

Broken Wheel Brewery and Fresh Catch Bistreaux

Address: 109 Tunica Dr E, Marksville, Louisiana, United States

Website: Broken Wheel Brewery at Fresh Catch Bistreaux

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 9pm (closed on Sun)

8. Choose from 100 flavors at Daiquiri Island

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Daiquiri Island has three locations – one in Marksville, another in Bunkie and a third in Fifth Ward/Echo. The bar serves an amazing 100 daiquiri flavors. These can be enjoyed inside the venue, plus there is a drive-thru option where you can order and pick up your favorite flavor to take home. Daiquiri Island is a casual venue, so no need to dress up, but patrons must be 21 years of age or over to enter. The cocktail bar has flat-screen TVs where patrons can watch their favorite sports while relaxing with a cool and delicious daiquiri.

Daiquiri Island

Address: 349 Acton Rd, Marksville, Louisiana, United States

Website: Daiquiri Island

Opening hours: 11am - 2am (daily)

Nearby attractions

9. See wildlife at Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge

For those who love exploring nature and viewing wildlife, Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge is the place to go. The wildlife refuge was first established on the Mississippi/Red River floodplain in 1989 as a much-needed waterfowl habitat. Due to the location, a diversity of waterfowl species come in from both Central Flyways and Mississippi River. Birders will love the range of bird species at this wildlife refuge, including northern pintails, wood ducks, mallards, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, gadwall, northern shovelers and American wigeon. Snow and white-fronted geese are known to winter in the wildlife refuge, while many migratory songbirds arrive in the bayous during the spring and summer months. Visitors will also see a number of native mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects and fishes.

Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge

Address: Marksville, Louisiana, United States

Website: Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge

10. Stroll across the Sarto Old Iron Bridge

Sarto Old Iron Bridge is a historical landmark in Louisiana and spans Bayou de Glaises. Constructed in 1916, the steel-truss swing bridge is used for vehicular and boat traffic. The bridge pivots to swing open to allow boats to pass underneath. The bridge was also used by the railroad in the past until other bridges were built. These days, however, the bridge is only for pedestrian traffic. Sarto Old Iron Bridge has also become an important evacuation route for residents of Big Bend in the event of flooding or high water. This bridge is a rare surviving example of this type of bridge and became the first bridge in Louisiana to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Sarto Old Iron Bridge

Address: Iron Bridge Crossing, Moreauville, Louisiana, United States

11. Win the game at Four Seasons Bowling Center

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

If you’re looking for fun things to do around Marksville, this listing might interest you. Located in Alexandria, Louisiana, Four Seasons Bowling Center offers 40 lanes of bowling fun. Besides trying to beat your family and friends by knocking down the pins, there are other attractions in the bowling alley. Patrons can have fun playing laser tag on the property or hold a birthday party or other event at the center. The bowling center is also ideal for those rainy days when you don’t feel like being stuck at home. The on-site Alley Grille is the perfect place for a snack between games. It offers a range of appetizers, such as cheese sticks, fried pickles and chili cheer fries or nachos. Patrons can also tuck into a house salad, burgers, chicken and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, or shrimp or fried fish po'boy. The Alley Grille also serves a children’s menu that has chicken tenders, fried fish or a hot dog basket. All meals can be washed down with a range of drinks, including cocktails and margaritas.

Four Seasons Bowling Center

Address: 3510 North Blvd, Alexandria, Louisiana, United States

Website: Four Seasons Bowling Center

Opening hours: Sun: 1pm - 8pm; Mon - Thu: 5pm - 9pm; Fri: 4pm - 12am; Sat: 11am - 12am

12. Zoom around on your roller skates at Skateville

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Skateville is a roller skating rink in Pineville, Louisiana. The venue is fun for the whole family, although children must be accompanied by an adult. The skating rink hosts private parties and takes school and church groups at special rates. Please note: when private parties are held at the roller skating rink, the venue is closed to the general public. Besides showing off your skills on the skating rink, a variety of snacks is available fhere. These include a range of beef hotdogs, Frito pies, pickles, candies and chips. A choice of drinks is also available at Skateville.

Skateville

Address: 5410 LA-28, Pineville, Louisiana, United States

Website: Skateville

Opening hours: Fri - Sat: 7pm - 10pm (closed from Sun - Thu)

Price: 9 USD

Appreciate Marksville's history

Without the Tunica-Biloxi tribe, Marksville would not be the vibrant community it is today. Learn about the tribe through the Marksville State Historic Center and the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Center and Museum, while you’re in Marksville. The area has much to appreciate, including its interesting history, rich golfing greens, and small, local shops.