Otis House at Fairview-Riverside State Park
Learn about the history of a 19th-century Madisonville entrepreneur while walking the grounds of a magnificent state park.
History of the Otis House
William Theodore Jay was a 19th-century entrepreneur who made a fortune in sawmilling. He also had fine taste when it came to real estate since he sited his home, today called the Otis House, on a particularly beautiful bend in the Tchefuncte River. The surrounding property is known as Fairview-Riverside State Park.
The Otis House was constructed in the 1880s, at a time when New Orleans was undergoing a growth spurt and needed lumber for home construction. Living on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Jay created a sawmill empire in the town of Madisonville and built a home that reflected his success. The home featured 12-foot-high ceilings, wraparound verandas on the first and second floors, and heart-pine floors, all of which visitors can see in their restored beauty today.
Jay sold the home in 1906 to two brothers named Houlton, who created a mini city (called Houltonville, naturally) that housed 250 sawmill workers. The brothers, in turn, sold the home to a man named Frank Otis. As the last private owner, who is responsible for donating the home and its surrounding 99 acres to the state, it’s fitting that the estate was named after him.
Plan Your Visit
The Otis House Museum offers tours on Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This is subject to change, so please call for availability. Guided house tours are $10 per person ages 7-61, $8 for seniors 62 and older, and free for children 6 and younger. Call 985-792-4652 for group tour information and availability.
On your tour of the home, see artifacts from the 1880s through 1930s and learn from your guide about the home’s ties to the city of Madisonville and how it fits into the broader context of Louisiana history. Outside the house, hike around Fairview-Riverside State Park, whose cool waters and shady cypress trees make for a perfect afternoon of relaxation.
Nearby attractions include the Northshore towns of Madisonville, Covington and Mandeville. The massive trail system Tammany Trace is also close to the site and perfect for an afternoon of hiking or biking. Plus, the sights and sounds of New Orleans are less than an hour's drive away.
