Olla, LA

Olla got its start in the late 1800s, shifting from an old steamboat landing along Bayou Castor over to the newly built railroad tracks. The town was named after Olla Mills, a well-liked local teacher, and officially incorporated in 1899. It quickly grew into a busy rail stop and even made regional headlines the following year during a dramatic train robbery. In the decades that followed, clean local spring water supported a hometown bottling plant, while the community rallied around local businesses and forestry to weather the Great Depression.

Today, Olla is a quiet, close-knit town in the rolling pine hills of central Louisiana, sitting right along Highway 165 roughly halfway between Alexandria and Monroe. Downtown features a charming historic square with a farmers market pavilion, a local museum, and a welcoming community center. Spring brings thousands of yellow daffodils to Olla Town Park, while autumn brings everyone together for the annual Homecoming parade and festival. Between LaSalle High games, outdoor recreation along Bayou Castor, and peaceful neighborhoods, it is an easy place to settle into.