Events and Fun along the Boom or Bust Byway

Escape the City.

Embrace the Byway.

Explore the rich history and culture of Shreveport-Bossier along with neighboring communities. 

The annual Heritage and Harvest tour is back, starting Oct. 8, 2022.This free self-driving tour showcases the historic homes, farms, businesses and churches that have built our beloved region. Sample a tea room delicacy, view a private collection of antique cars, browse through various arts and crafts vendors and so much more. Visit www.redrivercrossroadshistorical.org for the latest updates and starting locations. 

The annual Heritage and Harvest tour is only one of the many experiences available to you. Other events include, Red River Revel Arts Festival, Prize Fest, State Fair of Louisiana, Shreveport Brew and countless others. These spectacular events will go on from Sept. 17 til Nov. 13,. Check out www.shreveport-bossier.org/fall/featured-events for a full list. 

While our fall schedule is fully stacked, you don’t have to plan your road trip around it. Come any day to experience all there is on the Byway. 

Whether you prefer to hold on to a little bit of city life by using our Boom or Bust Byway app or leave all technology behind using our printed version, we have the route ready for you.  So take your pick, and let’s get started. Visit www.BoomOrBustByway.com to download the Boom or Bust Byway brochure, or download the Boom or Bust Byway App on iOS or Android for a GPS-navigated adventure along the entire route.

A full day of fun awaits as you explore the rural areas of Caddo and Bossier Parishes featuring 10 small towns with more than 20 stops along the way.  It’s a great way to explore Shreveport-Bossier’s backyard. Click here to download the fall Boom or Bust Byway Road Trip itinerary.

You’ll drive along roads lined with colorful wildflowers. Depending on the season, you’ll see golden coreopsis, cheerful sunflowers or crimson clover, often against a background of dark green pine trees. You’ll drive past placid bayous, peaceful plantations, shady forests and productive farmland. You’ll pass pretty, well-kept churches reflecting the Protestant faith of most 19th century settlers. Instead of shrimp gumbo or crawfish étouffée, here you can feast on local favorites such as fried chicken, catfish, or chicken fried steak with green beans, okra, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. In the quaint towns, you’ll discover hidden treasures in the shops and fascinating history in the museums.

And don’t miss the graveyards of longstanding oil field equipment that died when the oil industry went bust, as well as new oil and gas facilities being built in response to the recent booming oil and natural gas economy. For this reason, AAA Southern Traveler magazine named the Boom or Bust Byway a Southern Travel Treasure in 2015.

The Boom or Bust Byway is the ultimate road trip for young explorers, selfie-seekers, families, retirees and international visitors seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure through north Louisiana. Caddo and Bossier Parishes are shown on the map; however the full 136-mile route crosses four parishes into Webster and Claiborne parish. Road trippers can jump on the byway from any direction to experience Southern flavors, biking trails, historical museums, fishing holes, campgrounds and more near Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana. A few stops along the byway include:

• Saige Acres Flower Farm, located at 10200 Blanchard Furrh Road in Mooringsport, where you can pick pumpkins, orchestrate photoshoots, pick sunflowers, purchase flower arrangements and more (appointment recommended).
• Main Street Restaurant, located at 12807 Main Street in Gilliam, where you can dine-in to enjoy warm slices of homemade cobblers and pies for lunch and dinner. The blackberry cobbler will ignite your fall cravings for sure.
• Dixie Maze Farms, located at 9596 Sentell Road in Shreveport, where you can participate in murder mystery dinners, fall festivals, haunted trails, hayrides, pumpkin patches and more. This is a must-see, must-experience stop along the path for Halloween lovers.
• Ryan Farms Produce, located at 8172 Dixie Shreveport Road along LA Highway 3049 North, where you can purchase fall crops such as sweet potatoes and cabbage from a third generation farmer. This is cash only, so hit the bank or ATM before you go!
• Cypress Black Bayou Recreation and Water Conservation, located at 135 Cypress Park Drive in Benton, where you can settle in the middle of their fall foliage next to Cypress Lake. Stay the night in one of their quaint cottages, rustic cabins, or bring your RV! They even have a seven-acre zoo and low-key boat ramp for you to coast along the quiet waters for a cool, peaceful experience.

So what are you waiting for?  Fill up your gas and rev up your engine for plenty of fun things to do in the rural areas of Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.BoomOrBustByway.com.

Download the Boom or Bust Byway brochure, or download the Boom or Bust Byway App on iOS or Android for a GPS-navigated adventure along the full route.