Jeff Davis Parish
Jeff Davis Parish is a Louisiana local government entity operating Tourism, Economic Development, and Film Commissions to attract visitors, businesses, and film productions across 650+ square miles of Southwest Louisiana along the I-10 corridor.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersJennings, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Jeff Davis Parish does
Jeff Davis Parish is a local government entity (parish/county-equivalent) in Southwest Louisiana that operates three internal functional commissions: a Tourism Commission, an Economic Development Commission, and a Film Commission. Geographically, the parish spans more than 650 square miles, includes Jennings as its parish seat, and contains the towns of Lake Arthur, Welsh, Elton, Lacassine, Fenton, and Roanoke. Its functional mandate is to attract visitors, recruit industrial and commercial tenants, and facilitate film productions through coordinated marketing, attraction management, and government liaison work. The entity explicitly identifies itself as 'the Heart of I-10,' positioned at the midpoint between Houston and New Orleans and between Lafayette and Lake Charles—a positioning that underpins both tourism stop-over marketing and logistics-oriented site selection.
The core operating product surface consists of five visitor-facing tourism assets and services: the Gator Chateau (an alligator education facility with tours, feedings, gift shop, and playground), Crawfish Farm Tours (March through May), the Flyway Byway (a 55-mile scenic driving trail through swamp, farmland, and river terrain), Film Commission services (no-fee permits, scouting, 24-hour availability, government liaison), and the seasonal Cocktail Trail program. Supporting information services include a website event calendar and a local business directory covering restaurants, lodging, and attractions. Underlying technology is minimal and operational rather than proprietary: a content-managed website (jeffdavis.org), social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and a Film Commission photo-location gallery. There is no AI/ML capability, no public API, no SDK, and no integrations; the input explicitly classifies core technology as 'Not applicable.'
The business model blends public-sector appropriations with modest visitor-generated fees. Core operations are funded through allocations from the City of Jennings, the Towns of Lake Arthur and Welsh, and the Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury via the Jeff Davis Parish Landfill Commission. Direct commercial revenue is limited and small in scale: school group crawfish tours at $10 per student (teachers and bus drivers free), general crawfish farm tours at $20 per person, and other nominal tourism attraction fees. Film permits are provided at no charge; the Film Commission's value capture is indirect, through crew spending and local production activity. Customer segments are horizontal: leisure tourists seeking Cajun culture and outdoor experiences, film production companies scouting locations, industrial and commercial site selectors, and school/youth groups. The parish reported 31,413 residents in the 2016 Census, a 13,730-strong labor force in July 2017 (94.7% employment), $1.23B in total personal income in 2014 (BEA), and an industrial base anchored in agriculture, marine activities, oilfield services, medical services, and manufacturing.
Jeff Davis Parish firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jeff Davis Parish
- Legal name
- Jeff Davis Parish
- Website
- https://jeffdavis.org
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Jeff Davis Parish is a Louisiana local government entity operating Tourism, Economic Development, and Film Commissions to attract visitors, businesses, and film productions across 650+ square miles of Southwest Louisiana along the I-10 corridor.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jeff Davis Parish industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Tourism & Economic Development
- NAICS
- Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Tour Operators (56152)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)
Keywords
Where Jeff Davis Parish is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jennings
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Jeff Davis Parish business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Economic Development Initiatives: Attracts businesses and industries to the parish through economic development programs, generating tax revenue and employment opportunities.
- Film Permits and Location Services: Provides filming location services, scouting assistance, and government liaison services for film productions; markets the parish as a film location.
- Tourism Experiences: Operates attractions like Gator Chateau and coordinates crawfish farm tours, generating visitor spending and local business activity.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | School Groups - $10 per student, teachers & bus drivers free |
| Unit Pricing | One time | General Public Tours - $20 per person |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Jeff Davis Parish product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jeff Davis Parish operates tourism attractions (Gator Chateau, Crawfish Farm Tours, Flyway Byway, Cocktail Trail), supports economic development for industrial and commercial businesses, and provides Film Commission services including no-fee permits and location scouting. These services are delivered through a wholly-owned Tourism Commission, Economic Development Commission, and Film Commission, all housed under the parish government.
Product overview
Jeff Davis Parish operates a unified tourism and economic development platform consisting of visitor-facing attractions and informational services. The core offerings include the Gator Chateau (alligator education center), Crawfish Farm Tours, Flyway Byway scenic trail, Film Commission services, and seasonal programs like the Cocktail Trail. Supporting services include an event calendar and local business directory covering restaurants, shopping, and accommodations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gator Chateau An educational alligator facility offering guided tours where visitors can hold baby alligators and watch public feedings; located off I-10 with a gift shop, picnic area, and playground.
- Crawfish Farm Tours Authentic Louisiana crawfish farm tours running March through May, offering hands-on experiences with crawfish harvesting, biology, and distribution, combined with a visit to Gator Chateau.
- Flyway Byway A 55-mile scenic driving trail through swamp, river, farmland, and unique terrain, part of the Louisiana Trails and Byways Program, featuring birdwatching with over 160 bird species.
- Film Commission Services Provides 24-hour availability for filming on location, scouting assistance, governmental liaison services, location search support, and coordination with local government for permits and services with no fees.
- Cocktail Trail A self-guided sip-and-stamp experience from August 1 through September 30, showcasing local bars and restaurants with signature cocktails and passport stamp collection.
- Economic Development Services Industrial, agricultural, and commercial development services including site selection assistance, business incentives, workforce development coordination, and partnership facilitation with regional alliances.
Quantifiable outcome
- 94.7% employment rate in the parish
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Jeff Davis Parish
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Jeff Davis Parish technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Jeff Davis Parish partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Southwest Louisiana Regional Alliance (SWLA Alliance)corePartnership with parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Beauregard and Allen to work together on political and infrastructure issues, providing greater voice for state and federal dollars for the region.
- One AcadianacoreRegional partnership with nine parishes (Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St Martin, St Mary and Vermilion) to advocate for regional economic development and infrastructure.
- Louisiana Department of Economic DevelopmentcoreState-level partnership providing access to business incentives, site selection resources, and economic development programs for companies looking to locate in Jeff Davis Parish.
- Imperial Calcasieu Planning AgencyminorRegional planning agency partnership for coordinated development efforts in the Imperial Calcasieu region.
- Acadiana Regional AllianceminorRegional economic development alliance supporting agricultural and commercial development initiatives across the Acadiana region.
- Coushatta Tribe of LouisianaminorPartnership with the Coushatta Tribe for cultural tourism and economic development collaboration, leveraging tribal heritage as part of the parish's diverse cultural offerings.
- Local Government (Police Jury, City of Jennings, Towns of Lake Arthur and Welsh)coreFilm Commission serves as governmental liaison maintaining effective working contacts with local government to clear the path for film production services.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jeff Davis Parish competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Louisiana Office of Tourism: State-level DMO that co-funds and amplifies regional tourism efforts across all Louisiana parishes, including Jeff Davis; an overarching incumbent in the same statewide tourism stack.
- New Orleans & Company: The dominant Louisiana destination marketing organization for New Orleans; competes for the same multi-day Louisiana leisure traveler that passes through Jeff Davis on I-10, and sets the statewide tourism brand benchmark.
Regional players
- Cameron Parish Tourist Commission: Neighboring Southwest Louisiana coastal parish with overlapping Gulf wildlife, beach, and birding tourism offerings (Creole Nature Trail) closely parallel to Jeff Davis's Flyway Byway.
- Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission: Neighboring Acadiana parish tourism entity with comparable Cajun culture, culinary, and Abbeville/Marsh tourism positioning; competes for similar regional visitor flows.
- Calcasieu Parish Police Jury / Visit Lake Charles: Adjacent parish government and DMO that operates much of the same Southwest Louisiana I-10 corridor marketing, including casino resort and event tourism that competes for Jeff Davis's overnight drive-traffic.
Direct peers
- Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission (Cajun Country Tourism): Regional DMO for Lafayette Parish and the broader Acadiana region; competes directly for Cajun heritage, music, culinary, and festival tourism in the same Southwest Louisiana corridor.
- Acadiana Regional Alliance: Regional economic development alliance spanning multiple Acadiana parishes; functions as a parallel structure to Jeff Davis's Economic Development Commission for industrial/agricultural recruitment.
- Audubon Nature Institute (New Orleans): Operates wildlife-focused visitor attractions (Aquarium, Insectarium, Zoo) in Louisiana with a similar 'live animal close encounter' positioning to the Gator Chateau; serves overlapping school-group and family tourism demand.
- Visit Lake Charles (Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau): The Southwest Louisiana regional DMO serving the immediate neighbor corridor (Lake Charles and Calcasieu/Cameron/Beauregard parishes); competes head-on for the same drive-traffic and event-driven tourism demand that Jeff Davis markets to.
Others
- Coushatta Casino Resort (Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana): Major Southwest Louisiana hospitality and gaming destination owned by an allied tribe partner of Jeff Davis Parish; functions as a complementary lodging/amenity anchor that captures and channels tourism demand in the parish.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jeff Davis Parish social profiles
Digital presenceJeff Davis Parish financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jeff Davis Parish leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Jeff Davis Parish subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Jeff Davis Parish funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jeff Davis Parish M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jeff Davis Parish
What does Jeff Davis Parish do?
Jeff Davis Parish operates tourism attractions (Gator Chateau, Crawfish Farm Tours, Flyway Byway, Cocktail Trail), supports economic development for industrial and commercial businesses, and provides Film Commission services including no-fee permits and location scouting. These services are delivered through a wholly-owned Tourism Commission, Economic Development Commission, and Film Commission, all housed under the parish government.
Is Jeff Davis Parish a public or private company?
Jeff Davis Parish is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Jeff Davis Parish founded?
Jeff Davis Parish was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Jeff Davis Parish based?
Jeff Davis Parish is headquartered in Jennings, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jeff Davis Parish make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Economic Development Initiatives are the primary driver. The others are film Permits and Location Services and tourism Experiences.
Who are Jeff Davis Parish's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Louisiana Office of Tourism and New Orleans & Company. Regional players are Cameron Parish Tourist Commission, Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission and Calcasieu Parish Police Jury / Visit Lake Charles. Direct peers are Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission (Cajun Country Tourism), Acadiana Regional Alliance, Audubon Nature Institute (New Orleans) and Visit Lake Charles (Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau). Coushatta Casino Resort (Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana) is listed as an others.
Does Jeff Davis Parish have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jeff Davis Parish.
What industry is Jeff Davis Parish in?
Jeff Davis Parish's product category is Government Tourism & Economic Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAFAA, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Rescue Centers (Visitor Operations), with a secondary code of THAJAIAA, National Park & Protected Area Tours. Its NAICS code is 712190 and its SIC code is 7900.