Parish's state parks closed after Gustav

What took several months to construct, Gustav took several hours to demolish at Fontainebleau State Park.

The vacation cabins near Bayou Castine took a beating from Gustav’s tidal surge, but for the most part they faired well with little visible damage. The boardwalks leading to the cabins are a different story.

Cabins nine through 12 are situated furthest east, and they took the brunt of Gustav’s storm surge.

Recently completed in March and with most planks still boasting the yellow retail tags, several of the boardwalks linking visitors to the two-bedroom cabins were tossed around like matchsticks in the violent waters.

Cabins 11 and 12 are no longer accessible, with their walkways completely severed and strewn across the site.

Other wooden structures like the stairs leading to water-level platforms were also severely damaged.

Electrical boxes encircled by sandbags were laid flat by the surge.

The newly installed $90,000 marsh boardwalk that was replaced after Katrina destroyed the original, surprisingly sustained little if any damage from Gustav. Additionally, the newly opened beachfront, visitor center and other areas of the park went unscathed, Sharon Broussard with the Louisiana Office of State Parks said.

Damage estimates are still being assessed, Broussard said, and in the mean time the park will remain closed indefinitely.

Fairview-Riverside State Park near Madisonville, which sustained less damage than Fontainebleau, will also remain closed.

Both parks lost dozens of trees, but that number is minor when compared to Katrina, where thousands of trees were toppled.