History

The Abbeville Harbor & Terminal District was established in 1954 and began moving forward to build its first assets. The Commission has a vision for the port to be an economic engine for the District and the surrounding region. A master plan is being created with several potential developments on the drawing board with the ultimate goal of attracting and retaining new industry in the area.

 

1954Abbeville Harbor and Terminal District Created
1967Freshwater Bayou Channel and Locks Complex. AHTD acted as local sponsor for federally funded project.
1982Acquired Property to Begin Developing Port of Vermilion
1984Build Port of Vermilion. First tenant was Abbeville Lumber (now Stallion Offshore)
1985-1986Freshwater Bayou Locks Bypass Channel
The Bypass Channel was constructed in 1985-86 by the AHTD with State funds at a cost of $2.5M. This navigation feature provides a route around the horizontal width restrictions of the Freshwater Bayou Locks. This is a user pay facility.
1990Acquired District Office Building in Abbeville Formerly the iconic Moledous Clinic, AHTD completely renovated the building, which had been abandoned.
1996Abbeville Hwy 14 By-pass Public Boat Launch upgrade In cooperation with the City of Abbeville, Vermilion Parish Police Jury, Louisiana Department of Transportation, and LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, AHTD revitalized the boat launch, which is now maintained by the City of Abbeville.
2002Launch facility at Intracoastal City Property acquired from several local families. The District has invested in a covered event pavilion equipped with large overhead fans for cooling. Facility provides user-friendly access for recreational boaters and fishermen in the area.
2013Developing Master Plan Purpose is to help guide the sustainable growth and development of the District. The objective is to outline a vision, goals, and priorities for development based on the resources and assets the District has that make it conducive to specific industries and developments.