Grand Bayou Noir draws its name from the French for “Big Bayou Black,” the original waterway of Houma that runs in front of our bed and breakfast. Once part of frontiersman Jim Bowie’s personal property, Grand Bayou Noir sits on four acres of “terre bonne” — the name of our parish, meaning “good earth” in French. Majestic live oak trees adorn our grounds and shade our many swings, rocking chairs, and hammocks as well as the chickens and ducks that share our space. Our diverse gardens include 15 varieties of citrus, 34 varieties of banana trees, and 12 varieties of ginger.
The flagship of our property is our 7,000-square-foot Georgian-style house which has been in the Ellender family for three generations. In addition to the two guest rooms and private suite, our two-story home has a screen porch terrace with rocking chairs and ceiling fans, a formal dining room with beautiful antiques, a living room with vintage piano, and a hot tub on the outdoor patio.