Pros and Cons of Fort Polk Louisiana

Reccomendations:
Alligator lake
Shop at Nichols (for men and women)
Camping
Vernon Lake
Natchitoches
Toledo Bend (Tunks restaurant on water there)
On post pool
On post golf course
Ranch house cafe
Hazel’s tea parlor
Bubbaques
Hana Japanese steakhouse (sushi and hibachi)
Indian creek in Woodworth
Shopping at John Ward in Alexandria
Cocodrie Lake
Cecils in Derrider
Derrider downtown
3 par golf course by Alexandria zoo
The Mirror room lounge in Alexandria
Crawfish
Coushatta Casino Resort
One hour away/
Alexandria restaurants:
Copelands
Swamp Daddy’s
Three Potato More
Atwood’s Bakery
Embers
Spirits
Le Bistreaux
The Bentley Room
Apollo Greek (MY FAV)
The Cottage
Los Portales (in Pineville)
Pamela’s Bayou in a bowl
Red River Seafood and steakhouse, they have bomb sushi (Pineville)
Mikados sushi and steak house (Pineville)
Jerusalem Mediterranean (Pineville)

[@willskitchen618]

The coolest three years of my life were in the 509th at Polk. So much fun.

[@doylebrockman8225]

I loved my time at Ft. Polk. Made rank immediately. Went the NCO academy. Made the most of it, and who could resist a month long paid vacation every year at Ft.Irwin, Ca.

[@carmenscanino7101]

2 of my kids were born in Fort Polk 1963 and 1964. It seems things have not change much. We made great friends.

[@doylebrockman8225]

Rented a 2bd 1bth place between Leesville and Alex, beautiful in the country, tree growing through my front porch. I miss La., loved the weather in Louisiana,

[@SabineRelics]

"They'll have a little get together in the downtown" lolol that cracked me up. We don't have a downtown lol we have a Main Street. And that "little get together in the downtown" you speak of is called MayFest. That's just one of the many annual festivals in the area. I've said this for years but when you PCS to Polk, you gotta meet a local that your compatible with to be your local guide. There are so many hidden gems in right there in Vernon Parish. Even if you'd only be willing to drive an hour from Polk, a local could guide you on the right directions.

[@CFHDime]

There’s tons of options for Cajun food and BBQ. I loved trips to holly beach, fishing from my tailgate. I loved Polk. We would rather be at Polk than Knox 🤷‍♂️

[@mr.chambers4823]

Knox is terrible

[@CFHDime]

@@mr.chambers4823 tell me about it. Now going through a divorce 😂 funny, not funny… 🤷‍♂️ oh well. But I hate this place even more now, lol.

[@freeclocknihg9792]

THANK YOUUU VERY MUCH!!!!

[@paigebutts]

Of course!(:

[@user-xp1xm8pr5j]

They have the raceway, horseback riding lots of camps, casinos less than an hour away hunting lots of hot weather fishing right off 171. I have a home hear that I bought and I was active.

[@vikinghomesteading6034]

Y’all should watch the military stories compilation on the MikeBurnsFire channel. Specifically the anger management video.

[@sidtheslothwhy8706]

Great video. Very informative and touches on the military perspective and military family perspective of both pros and cons about life in Ft.Polk. 10/10

[@paigebutts]

Thank you(:

[@MichaelTaylor-uj3rh]

I know things done changed alot since I was stationed at Fort Polk (86-89). Alligator Lake at North Post was our hang out spot on the weekends when we didn't travel out on missions to Fort Hood. But then our unit moved to South Post and we were pretty much running to Lake Charles or Beaumont TX every chance we had. Are they still running the speed trap between DeRidder and downtown Leesville??? I don't miss those speeding tickets I used to get on Hwy 171. Speed went from 60 to 25 to 45. But you never saw the signs cause you were cruising 60. What fun times.

[@paigebutts]

Alligator lake is the first place my husband took me when we first met! It’s been about 5 years since we lived in Leesville, so I can’t tell you about that trap now, but there’s definitely a lot of police out there watching and pulling over on the way to DeRidder.

[@2098elk]

Should have been stationed there in 1965 to 67! Things were really different.

[@paigebutts]

I wasn’t alive back then, too bad we can’t go back in time and see it! 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@sagatuppercut2960]

I was sent to Ft. Polk in 1999. That Army base is depressing. They still have the same, old World War II buildings there. The summers are hot and miserable---especially the bugs that fly around. During the weekend, I used to drive to Sheveport to walk around the riverwalk area and see a movie. The only good thing I can say about that area is that you can actually rent an apartment with a minimum wage job.

[@robertoreilly6660]

Most of the WWII buildings have been demolished, and the base is clean, well maintained and very lively.

[@Davidsmith-uu4bl]

You read in north fort lol was there in 80 yo 83 8 johns in a row no decider after 3 day weekend had a o talk some t do a curtsey flush lol if now car cost 5 dollars to go to south fort. Hell we dint have tv but in a very small rec room that if you was smart never hung out there long .

[@TheDMV-2024]

You sound Negative and not fun to be around

[@laurenbroadwayvilar5867]

Thinking about being stationed here but not sure yet

[@carmenscanino7101]

Leesville and Derider we're good.

[@wyckdd]

I'm about to move there. Husbands been there on base since the 9th😢

[@eepixxgaming3859]

I’m in ait and fort polk is my first duty station all the drills are saying it’s the worst place to be based I was wondering if someone could tell me why

[@paigebutts]

I would say people say this because there isn’t a lot to do if you don’t like outdoor activities. Every duty station will be what you make of it! There is a lot of travel opportunity being at fort Polk and good food(:

[@ProtoAzula]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmLKXpR4d9lgi6s heres your answer

[@eepixxgaming3859]

@@ProtoAzula that’s nice

[@eepixxgaming3859]

@@paigebutts thanks

[@ProtoAzula]

@@eepixxgaming3859 now you see the truth

[@jjdavis7471]

I was just there for JRTC so I didn't even know there was all that stuff y'all was talking about. Humidity is insane, should be illegal.

[@paigebutts]

Yes it should be illegal 😂😂

[@rarelibra]

nothing to do? Heck, there's a Walmart right there in Leesville ... LOL ... so what about the Catfish Shack? BEST catfish in the world.

[@paigebutts]

🤣🤣🫣

[@ralphhinkle1874]

Went to basic there in 73

[@dennisholiday1868]

You did not talk about the stuff that could kill you down there. Being at Fort Polk now is one thing but doing 16 Weeks at Tiger Land back in the day was a completely different ball game! I would never go back to that place.

[@Mr.UpState]

I was born there on the base but didn't grow up there.

[@CaitlynnnH]

I love your glasses!

[@paigebutts]

Thank you so much!

[@carlinarodriguez2386]

How much was on post housing

[@paigebutts]

We didn’t live on post so I’m not sure the price): I would join one of the spouse pages on Facebook and ask those questions! They will help for sure 😊

[@user-xp1xm8pr5j]

They go by your rank and bha call picerne

[@user-xp1xm8pr5j]

Also homes off base are higher due to hurricanes so it may be cheaper on base. Unless you can get into palmetto, maison belle or mona Lisa apts.

[@paigebutts]

@@user-xp1xm8pr5j we lived in Killeen for a few years and paid $850 for a 3 bedroom 2 bath house and now we’re in Harker heights and love it. We just bought a house last year

[@lakinthrift1776]

Hahaha!!! Here’s me living in Alexandria and I hate it!!!

[@paigebutts]

Trust me I understand haha

[@gastertwosoul7763]

a Small arms repairman would highly disagree with the pros of Fort polk.

[@143guitar]

How’s housing? We looked all over online for an apartment and I’m like 😱 I guess we will do on post!

[@kvol1668]

It's not ideal during hurricane season, and avoid Palmetto because they have issues with the drinkinh water.

[@kvol1668]

Also, bring your furniture, you can't get furniture here except from places that are marking up warehouse discount furniture to boutique prices.

[@tonyrios2586]

Same, It’s not worth it IMO considering the BAH amount that you receive for being in Fort Polk.

[@lelandgaunt9985]

Most places are charging full bah off post for a 3 bed room, as much I dislike post housing and the Karen’s that live there, just do your research.

[@paigebutts]

We found a great place in the city! I would look online at property management companies! We used magnolia realty and liked them. Also check out derrider

[@danpierce1120]

We all have heard from mikeburnsfire fort polk sucks end of story.