Take a Relaxing Fly-In Trip to Pineville, Louisiana
Do you love flying to out-of-the-way places and enjoying the local cuisine and ambiance? If you answered yes, a trip to Pineville, LA, may just be your idea of the perfect vacation. Pineville is located across the Red River from Alexandria. It’s two hours from Shreveport, three hours from New Orleans, and rich in ambiance and history. Let’s take a look at the indoor and outdoor activities that make this location exciting and educational.
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville has a population of 14,034 as of 2023 and spans across slightly more than 13 square miles. Depending on the source, the first settlers into the area, now known as Pineville, appeared in 1711 or 1723. Historical records lead us to believe that by 1711, the area was a well-known outpost and trading center for the settlers that had come to colonize the area. The trading post owed its success to the Red River, and by 1880, there were officially 763 residents. Pineville had been given its charter just two years earlier, in 1878.
Like the trading post and outpost of the 1800s, Pineville still serves as a retail hub for many of the smaller, nearby communities. It also has plenty of large companies to work for, including Crest Operations, Proctor & Gamble Manufacturing, and Baker Manufacturing. There are also two airports in the area, the Pineville Municipal Airport and the Alexandria International Airport, and a rail line operated by Kansas City Southern. Not to mention the Central Louisiana Regional Port on the Red River.
Start Your LA Vacation by Landing at Pineville Municipal Airport (2L0)
Pineville Municipal Airport (2L0) is located on the banks of Lake Buhlow, next to the Red River. Pilots can find this airport on the Houston sectional chart. It was first activated in 1977 and has two runways. Runway 18/36 is 3,000 feet long and 75 feet wide. The runway surface is paved and considered to be in fair condition. The runway markings are considered to be in poor condition. Pineville Municipal Airport’s second runway is on the water. Runway 5W/23W is located on the lake. It’s 3,000 feet long and 100 feet wide. The airport has MOGAS and 100LL available, and aircraft owners can tie their airplanes down on the tarmac or rent a hangar.
Explore History at Forts Randolf and the Buhlow State Historic Site
Fort Randolf and Fort Buhlow were extremely important during and after the Battle of Mansfield, which was part of the Red River Campaign of 1864. During that battle, Union Major Nathan P. Banks fought Confederate Major General Richard Taylor. The fighting took place over two days. In the end, Major General Banks retreated toward Alexandria.
After that battle, two earthen forts were constructed on the Red River to repel future Union attacks. They were completed in 1865 and protected by 800 Confederate soldiers, cannons, and other small arms. The troops anticipated an attack from Union troops, but the battle never came. Instead, the US Civil War ended later that year, and the forts were briefly occupied by Union troops.
Today, Fort Randolf and Fort Buhlow are available to be explored and viewed, along with what’s left of Bailey’s Dam. At the time and still today, Bailey’s Dam was an engineering marvel. It was constructed of timber under the direction of Joseph Bailey. The issue was that the Red River had a series of rapids that were nearly impossible to cross if the water levels were too low. In the area’s early, outpost days, it meant the river couldn’t be traversed for about half of the year. However, once Bailey’s Dam was constructed, they were able to raise the water levels over the rapids. This was instrumental in giving the Union fleet a means of escape after the Battle of Mansfield, and the remains of this dam can still be seen today. This unique historical site is located along the Red River in downtown Pineville. Visitors to the area can also view the visitors center and a field where Civil War battles are reenacted.
Mardi Gras on the Red
On March 1, 2025, Pineville will host its first Mardi Gras celebration. The event will be located on the banks of the Red River and will take place from 11:30 AM until 6 PM. The area will be full of local vendors, food trucks, and live music, and the entertainment will be family-friendly.
Adventure Cenla in Pineville
If you’re looking for venues where your children can literally bounce off the walls, you might want to check out Adventure Cenli in Pineville. It’s an indoor adventure park with more than 10,000 square feet of fun. It offers a large trampoline area, a ninja course, and a kid zone. You can even play trampoline dodgeball and basketball.
The Alexandria Zoo
Alexandria, LA, is just across the river from Pineville, and it’s home to the Alexandria Zoo, which has more than 160 species of animals. The zoo has exhibits that feature black bears, wolves, river otters, raccoons, lions, bobcats, cougars, monkeys, marmosets, deer, hogs, wallabies, frogs, fish, and reptiles. Along with the animals, the zoo also features a gift shop and cafe.
Great Places to Stay in Pineville
Pineville offers a mix of local and national hotels. If you’re looking for national brand hotels, check out the Country Inn and Suites, Sleep Inn and Suites, and the Holiday Inn and Suites. If you’re looking for local establishments, check out the OYO Hotel.
Shop the Flea Markets and Antique Stores in Pineville
If you’re looking for a few souvenirs, Pineville has lots of local vendors. Check out 3 Cousins Treasures, which is a vendor market that offers a mix of handcrafted, vintage, and new items. They even have jewelry stores and furniture. If you’re looking for a flea market, check out Brick Alley. They offer a wide variety of upscale items. Other flea markets include Leslie’s Vintage Market and Lagniappe Treasures.
Pineville, LA, offers lots of family-friendly activities. Explore the earthen forts and hike at the Forts Randolf and the Buhlow State Historic Site. Enjoy stunning natural scenery at the Kisatchie National Forest. Grab a bite at one of the many food trucks or dine in at one of the many restaurants, including the Apollo Greek and Lebanese Cafe, Beans and Cream, Atwood’s Bakery, and Cafe Desoto in Alexandria, or grab a meal at BJs Pizzahouse, Buckets Crawfish and Seafood, the Cajun Catfish House or the China Queen in Pineville. This wonderful area of Louisiana is yours to explore when you fly into Pineville Municipal Airport.
