When you’re heading South, don’t neglect the famous Louisiana places you already know and love, but do check out some new ones. Muddy Bottoms ATV Park is likely a once-in-a-lifetime wonder.

I say go with or without your all-terrain vehicle. Either way, it’s an astonishing people watching experience

Biggest in USA

Here’s the claim: This is America’s largest ATV park and that means way more than the 5,000 acres of trails and muddy lakes. Don’t fret if this is the first you’ve heard of it; the grand opening was Memorial Day weekend, 2014, when 12,000 people showed up.

I was among the onlookers at this spot an hour north and a bit east of Shreveport, Louisiana, with all of us marveling at the diversity of vehicles and the delight of so many ATV owners, riders–and their families.

Moms and kids ride these trails and muddy pits, camping in primitive tent lots as well as 184 luxurious RV sites with all the hook-ups.

Nine cabins are planned; one’s ready now. Are you imagining the muddy clothes and bodies?

Unlimited hot showers

The solution to that seems to be a hot water boiler with a six inch line in the shower house. An additional $15 on top of the admission fee ($55 for tickets bought online in advance or $60 at the gate) entitles you to unlimited hot showers.

Funny fact: color choice for the brand new towels is brown.

Vehicles clean up, too, because there’s a buggy wash tower with a clock on top intentionally declaring the time is 5 p.m. Mud matters so 1,500 acres are under water; I can only guess parts of the 100 miles of trails get muddy some of the time too.

Rules are clear and detailed:

• No firearms
• No fireworks
• No glass containers
• No illegal drugs (although alcohol is OK)

Safety matters

Should accidents happen, Muddy Bottoms maintains a 24/7 staffed infirmary. I saw a life flight helicopter on the grounds, just in case. Couldn’t decide if that was daunting, or comforting.

Another practical feature—gas station on site. Guess these vehicles which can cost up to $70,000 custom designed guzzle some.

Kids can ease out of the mud, off the trails and play in an adult-supervised spray area. After hours that takes on an adult personality. Nights mean music too—after all, this is Louisiana!

The amphitheater was designed for 18,000 member audiences and for big acts with all the appropriate stage technology, but guess what? No chairs.

Ride on over from the camping/RV/cabin spot on your ATV.

Fortunes made and lost

Boom or Bust, the Byway, is a way to approach Sarepta, the town that is home to Muddy Bottoms. Webster is the name of the parish, Louisiana’s way of saying county.

Fortunes were made and lost along this east/west stretch of state Highway 2 in North Louisiana’s rolling hills, tall pines, lakes and bayous. Exploring the whole Byway could be a six-hour road trip.

Kiosks with info panels appear in four towns but the GPS tour is richer with images, narration, good stories. Download the free app titled N LA Byways or check out a GPS Ranger device with the same history and culture from the tourism bureaus.

Think Sarepta rings a bell but can’t imagine why? Country music recording artist Trace Adkins was born here.

Start humming because music figures into everything in Louisiana.

Learn more about Muddy Bottoms ATV Park and check out our list of free things to do in Shreveport.