Grand Isle State Park sits on the eastern tip of Grand Isle, Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island, where beaches, camping, birdwatching, and an observation tower share space with one of the area’s best-known attractions: fishing in waters known for hundreds of fish species. The park’s history reflects the vulnerability of coastal Louisiana, with major storm damage from Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and Ike followed by repairs, renovation, and ongoing beach restoration. Oil contamination from the Deepwater Horizon spill closed the beach in 2010, and later restoration included planting black mangroves to slow erosion. The area also carries local treasure legends and rougarou folklore.