Stop by the Historic Boom or Bust Attractions
In the quaint towns, travelers will discover hidden treasures in antique shops. There are rare finds in home décor from kitchenware, silverware, and glassware to furniture, paintings, ornaments, and lamps. Also, keep an eye open for vintage clothing such as wedding dresses, jewelry, hats, coats, and more.
Learn about the rich and fascinating history found in the museums along the Boom or Bust Byway. There are captivating facts about local veterans, landmarks, and the oil, gaming and agriculture industries confined within the museums’ walls.
What to See
Big Mama’s Antiques and Restorations
Big Mama’s Antiques and Restorations sells industrial materials, salvage materials and eclectic offerings. They specialize in African American historical artifacts and have been featured on the Antiques Road Show and in the Antique Trader Magazine. Store hours are Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or daily by appointment.
6403 Dogwood St., Hosston, LA 71043
318-573-2127
Caddo Lake
Caddo Lake is a 25,400-acre lake and wetland located on the border between Texas and Louisiana. It is the largest natural fresh water lake in the South.
11425 Hwy. 1 North., Oil City, LA 71061
318-995-7139
Caney Lake
Kisatchie National Forest is the only national forest in Louisiana and spans 604,000 acres consisting mostly of bayous with bald cypress groves and old growth pine. Beautiful Caney Lakes just north of Minden are a part of the Kisatchie National Forest. The Caney Lakes Recreation Complex has a variety of day-use areas to choose from. The upper and lower lakes are perfect for enjoying a hike on the Sugar Cane National Recreation Trail, swimming at the day-use swim beach, playing volleyball, fishing from the shore, or picnicking at the vast selection of picnic facilities. Beaver Dam Campground is situated on the shores of Upper Caney Lake in the Caney Lakes Recreation Complex. The campground is located in a beautiful setting among woods, lakes and hills. Campsites come with electric and water hookups. The group picnic area accommodates up to 200 guests while each campsite fits up to eight campers. A sanitary dump station, drinking water and flush toilets are provided.
Book campsites here.
1163 Par Road 116, Minden, LA 71055
318-927-2061
Earl G. Williamson Park
Earl G. Williamson Park, a 40-acre park, features a public boat ramp, a 450-foot fishing pier, paved parking areas, restrooms with showers, RV camper hook-ups, areas for tent camping, extensive picnic facilities, two playgrounds, volleyball nets, a baseball field, tennis courts, and a swimming area.
11425 LA Hwy. 1., Oil City, LA 71061
318-995-7139
Germantown Colony Museum
History is an important part of the present in Webster Parish, where we value our heritage and vow to preserve the things that have made us who we are. Germantown Colony and Museum is one of three sites founded by the Utopian Movement or Harmonist Society in the 19th Century. In 1835, a group from the Economy, Pennsylvania site, under the leadership of “Countess von Leon”, established a colony near Minden. The colony operated on a communal basis for 37 years, finally dispersing in 1871. Of the three Harmony Society Colonies, Germantown was the most successful. In 1979, it was placed on the official list of the Nation’s Cultural Resources Worthy of Preservation by the U.S. Department of Interior. The Germantown Colony and Museum is located 7 miles northeast of Minden on Germantown Road.
The museum is open Thursday – Saturday from 10a – 4p. Admission is free. For information, call 318-377-6061
120 Museum Rd., Minden, LA 71055
318-377-6061
Herbert S. Ford Memorial Museum
The Ford Museum provides a unique setting to preserve and interpret the history, culture, heritage, and art of the North Louisiana hill country.
519 South Main Street, Homer, LA 7140
318-927-9190
Historic Caddo Lake Drawbridge
In 1914, as modes of transportation progressed, the Historic Caddo Lake Drawbridge in Mooringsport was built to replace the ferry. This vehicular bridge illustrates the unique “Vertical Lift” design which allows the entire center span to lift to allow tall oil equipment to pass through, especially Gulf Oil Company’s pile driver which was used for the first off-shore oil drilling. This 100-plus-year-old landmark is the last surviving Waddell vertical-lift bridge in Louisiana and is open to the public as a pedestrian walkway. It has been listed on National Register of Historic Places since 1996.
500 N Croom St., Mooringsport, LA 71060
318-929-2806
Historic Homer Courthouse
Built in 1861, Homer’s antebellum courthouse is one of four remaining in the state of Louisiana and the only one which still functions in its original capacity.
512 E Main Street, Homer, LA 7140
Homer Golf Course
Come play a round of golf on one of the best 9 hole courses in north Louisiana.
193 Country Club Dr., Homer, LA 71040
318-548-9129
Jubilee Zoo
The call of the wild is only a 15-minute drive from downtown Shreveport at Jubilee Zoo: Petting Zoo and Play Place, located at 6402 LA-1 in north Shreveport. This outdoor park was crafted for children, but after my recent visit, I would definitely consider this to be a fun place for light-hearted, animal-loving adults also. Jubilee Zoo has a wide variety of fun experiences for their visitors, offering everything from pony rides and hay rides to stuffed animals and play areas, as well as petting baby bunnies and feeding animals twice your size.
6402 Highway 1, Shreveport, LA 71107
318-929-7387
Lake Claiborne State Park
It’s all here at Lake Claiborne State Park, which compliments the 6,300-acre lake. The lake is eight and a half miles long and has 40 miles of shoreline. Fishing, swimming, birding, boating, and waterskiing are just some of the activities you can participate in. The park has 10 modern cabins and 86 improved campsites if you’d like to spend the night, and a nature center where you can learn to see more clearly and completely the beauty of the park.
225 State Park Road, Homer, LA 71040
318-927-2976
Lake Claiborne State Park Disc Golf Course
Lake Claiborne State Park Disc Golf Course is a world-class course with two 18-basket disc golf courses.
225 State Park Road, Homer, LA 71040
318-927-2976
Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum
Learn how the discovery of oil shaped the history of Caddo Parish through photographs, films, a shotgun house, and life-size dioramas at Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum.
200 S Land Ave., Oil City, LA 71061
318-995-6845
Michael’s Mens Store and Sporting Goods
Since 1948 Michael’s has offered men’s fine suits & clothing, ladies clothing, a complete line of hunting and fishing products, professional golf equipment & apparel and in-house service of guns and bows.
515 West Main Street, Homer, LA 7140
318-927-2929
Muddy Bottoms ATV Park
Muddy Bottoms ATV & Recreation Park was created to provide the surrounding community with a recreational escape not far from where they live and work. Our focus is to appeal to people of all ages. With a very scenic piece of property, extensive research, and vision we began to build arguably the finest ATV and recreation park in the country, offering the perfect outdoor experience.Whether you are looking for the full outdoor experience of pitching tents, building campfires and riding through the mud, or you want to enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer and then wash off and relax in a bed, Muddy Bottoms has it all.
100 Muddy Bottoms Drive, Sarepta, LA 71071
NanaPuddins, LLC
Here at NanaPuddins we have a variety of vendors. We offer vintage furniture, dishes, flatware, and much more. All the vendors are different. Store hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
510 North Main Street, Homer, LA 71040
318-927-2409
Old Homer Cemetery
Located right off the Boom or Bust Highway 2 in Homer at Old Cemetery Street and LA 540 (Edgewood Drive) this historic cemetery was created in 1850 as a public burying place.
Old Cemetery Street and Edgewood Drive, Homer, LA 71040
Red River Cross Roads Museum
See how the early settlers of the surrounding rural communities lived through memorabilia and pictures. Located in Shreve Memorial Library branch in Gilliam, the library’s hours are by appointment only.
12797 Main St., Gilliam, LA 71029
318-296-4303
Restor-A-Book
Restor-A-Book handles a wide variety of restoration and binding work including Bibles, books, genealogy papers, church hymnals, bulletins, newspapers, tabloids, and much more.
126 South Land Ave., Oil City, LA 71061
318-995-6800
Saige Acres Flower Farm
Saige Acres Flower Farm is a floral establishment, offering U-pick experiences and flower arrangements, including wreaths, vases, bouquets and more.
10200 Blanchard Furrh Road, Mooringsport LA
Sikes Ferry Boat Ramp
Launch your fishing boat, canoe or kayak at Sikes Ferry Boat Ramp to explore the exquisite nature of Webster Parish.
Hwy 2 to Fire Tower Road, Shongaloo, LA
The Spring Theater
The Spring Theater is a family friendly environment offering movie show times from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
214 N Main Street, Springhill, LA 71075