OPELOUSAS, La (KLFY) – Despite the old governor’s mansion being completely burned to the ground, the owners say they still plan to rebuild and make the historic landmark a tourist site.
“That’s our plan right now is to rebuild this mansion and make it a showpiece, make it a tourism attraction,” said Opelousas Mayor, Reginald Tatum.
Plans are in the works to build a replica of the state’s oldest governor’s mansion after it was set on fire just last week.
“We still have the foundation,” said Mayor Tatum. “It’s still the original land that the governor’s mansion was built on.”
Mayor Tatum says although it won’t be the very same original building, they’re going to try to make it as authentic as possible.
“It will be as close as we can get to the original,” said Mayor Tatum. “We have pictures, we know what it looked like, we know what was inside it, so we’re going to do the very best we can.”
Mayor Tatum says years of renovations on the building were almost finished before it burned last week, and while the building still remains a crime scene, they’re asking people to stay away.
“I know people wanting to go and look and pick through the ashes or embers, but we don’t want anybody to get hurt,” said Mayor Tatum.
Meanwhile, as plans surface for the future of the old historic site, Opelousas Police are still searching for the person responsible for setting it on fire.
“We’re following up on leads that we’ve gotten through the public,” said Opelousas Police Sgt. Crystal Leblanc. “We have interviewed several subjects, but just haven’t made an arrest on a suspect at this time.”
Sgt. Leblanc says for now 24 hour security will remain in place at the city’s tourist center, which someone also attempted to set fire to last week.
The Opelousas Police Department is still asking that anyone who knows anything about the fire to come forth with that information.
A GoFundMe account has been set up by the Oldest Governor’s Mansion in Louisiana Foundation (OGMLA). If you’d like to help with the rebuilding process click here.