We emerge unscathed after walk on 'haunted' beach in Louisiana

The Bakers prepare to walk on 'the most haunted beach in America'

This is a popular bar, restaurant and entertainment venue on Grand Isle.

The sandy beach on the Gulf of Mexico was hiding, kind of, behind a grassy hill that acts as a flood wall.

We found the beach after a long drive south from the hotel in Houma, Louisiana, to Grand Isle. The vacation community at one southern tip of the state is reached after some doing, including a toll road, long bridges, and an unusual amount of traffic.

The sunny Sunday for this side trip warmed up to 75 degrees Farenheit or so, and by the time we reached the beach there was some activity to be found. An energetic young woman employee was picking up beach trash and putting it on her three-wheeler, and pleasant folks took our entrance fee and patiently answered questions at Grand Isle State Park.

Grand Isle is a barrier island for Louisiana, and its history as a vacation spot dates back hundreds of years. In the 19th century, some 600 well-to-do Louisiana residents fled to the Grand Hotel on the island, mainly to escape disease (like diphtheria) found on the mainland. However, those people died when terrific hurricanes hit, both in 1860 and 1893. The beach was also harmed by more current hurricanes including Katrina and Gustav.

According to Wikipedia, hurricanes hit Grand Isle regularly. There's been a hurricane or tropical storm every 2.88 years since 1877, and direct hurricane hits on the island every 7.88 years.

That might lead to its reputation as being haunted; it actually was named the "most haunted beach in America" by a publication named Skeptic, but that was not cited (or verified) on Wikipedia.

Tent camping is allowed on part of the beach and in some quarters, that's clearly courting a dangerous vibe. However we spotted a half-dozen tents on our long beach walk, and none of the campers seemed to suffer ill effects. On the contrary, there were dozens of families and young adults on the beach, some children in the still-chilly water. People were on a long jetty, fishing, and others like us hiked the grounds.

Grand Isle is a lovely, warm community. We stopped to eat at Artie's Sports Bar and caught the end of the Iowa game versus Tennessee, courtesy of some Tennessee natives in the house. After a delicious lunch, we explored Artie's and found a huge deck on top of the establishment. It contained a full bar, plus other bars, and clear views of the Gulf. It was all closed in March, but will open in mid-April when the kids of Louisiana are off on spring break.

The U.S. Census estimates more than 1,400 people live in Grand Isle permanently. The population swells to some 20,000 in the summer months. It is assumed most individuals avoid the hurricanes.

Steve is on the boardwalk to the "most haunted" beach

This is the beach at Grand Island State Park in Grand Isle, Louisiana. 

It is the only inhabited barrier island found in Louisiand.