Louisiana’s 1929 Oleander Hotel to begin a new life as Grand Isle Museum

A nearly century-old hotel on Louisiana’s Grand Isle is being given a new purpose. The Oleander Hotel, which opened in 1929, is being restored with plans to turn it into the Grand Isle Cultural Center.

Restore Grand Isle, the organization leading the project, wants the landmark to become a visitor center, community gathering place and museum. The proposed center would feature exhibits on the island’s fishing and maritime traditions, its history as a coastal resort and the natural environment around it.

The project would also bring new activity into the restored building. Plans include educational programs, community meetings, cultural events and other public activities. The aim is not simply to preserve an old structure, but to make the Oleander part of everyday island life again.

Grand Isle’s coastal climate left the building in need of major rehabilitation after decades of exposure to the Gulf Coast environment. Restore Grand Isle has completed initial stabilization work, an important step in protecting the structure while a broader master plan takes shape.

The community has already raised about $400,000 toward saving the building. More support will be needed for continued restoration and rehabilitation before the cultural center can open. The fundraising effort reflects the Oleander’s place in Grand Isle’s identity, linking present-day residents and visitors with generations of fishing, maritime life and coastal history.