Sandra Lopez Booher is a go-getter. She went from working for an accounting department at a law firm to the oilfield. From there, she met her lifetime partner, Joseph Marquardt, and the two formed an internet-based company. The business became extremely successful, allowing the couple to buy a 5,600-square-foot home in Youngsville.
Once her son left the nest, Booher thought about selling the house. But then, her parents became ill, and she became their caretaker. After her parents passed away, Booher felt lost. “I was home, and I said, ‘I’m retiring, I’m doing nothing,’” she confides. But that didn’t last long.
Two weeks later, Booher’s friend from California called and said, “What are you doing selling your home?” Booher replied, “It’s too much.” She shares that, “At that point I just wanted to live in an apartment. I was just there mentally.” But her friend persisted, prodding Booher to convert the spacious home into an Airbnb.
MANSION ACCOMPLISHED
When Booher first dabbled in the Airbnb business in 2015, she thought, “Well this is kind of fun.” But she didn’t like the cooking and cleaning part, so she hired someone to handle it. Within a few months, she decided to officially turn her three-bedroom home into a bed-and-breakfast – Louisiana Cajun Mansion.
With its Acadiana locale in mind, Booher dubbed the rooms with Cajun names. All feature a queen-size bed, hardwood floors, writing desk, ceiling fan, flat-screen TV with DVD player, free cable and wireless internet, coffee bar and five-star sundries.
The elegant Atchafalaya Suite features a traditional four-poster bed with a fold-out couch for an additional guest. Both the bedroom and private bath are decorated with serene blue-green Venetian plaster walls.
The Cajun Bayou Suite houses a queen-size bed and is decorated in calming white, gray and silver with a pillow stating, “Breathe,” instantly creating a relaxing atmosphere. Accommodating up to four patrons, the Lagniappe Room offers a little something extra – heated toilet seats and towel racks.
GLAMPING IT UP
Minutes after the mansion’s website went live, customers started booking up rooms. Soon, Booher realized that three bedrooms were not enough. So, the trend-setting entrepreneur added two glamping tents.
These tents are definitely not for roughing it – they are climate-controlled and chandelier-topped. “It was a huge success,” Booher gushes. “Basically, you just show up.”
The Alligator Bayou and Holly Beach Glamping tents are perfect for family gatherings or a girls’ getaway. Breakfast is included, so all you need is an ice chest and snacks. Glampers get access to the pool and bathhouse, equipped with a shower and two bathrooms, and a firepit.
Packages are available with appetizers and massages for the ultimate glamour-camping experience. “I thought I was doing this for women, but I quickly realized families would come for kids’ birthday parties and, of course, women who just wanted to get away from the kids and husband,” Booher says with a laugh.
THE BIG EVENT
We do all the luxury things that people usually can’t get in one place,” Booher explains. “I’m a romantic at heart, so I started thinking of all the things that I would like if I went for a weekend with my honey. So I put those things in place.
In 2018, Booher transformed Louisiana Cajun Mansion into an event venue for business functions, bridal showers, teas and weddings accommodating up to 150 guests. She’s seen it all – including Disney and Viking-themed weddings. With three wedding planners onsite, anything is possible at the mansion.
There’s even an all-inclusive bridal package, complete with coaching for the bride and groom, decorations, flowers, cake and food. “A lot of people ask what makes our place so unique,” Booher reveals. “I have a team of people where when we have a wedding, everybody plays their part in making sure that nothing slips through the cracks. The more detail you put into a wedding, the more it becomes over the top. Just having an average wedding is not good enough for me. People walk away saying, ‘This is the nicest wedding I’ve ever come to.’”
MAGIC MOMENTS
While Louisiana Cajun Mansion gets its share of travelers, it also attracts locals who just want to get away. Escape to the wine room, where a chef will prepare a romantic dinner, or have a couples massage in the privacy of your room. “We do all the luxury things that people usually can’t get in one place,” Booher explains. “I’m a romantic at heart, so I started thinking of all the things that I would like if I went for a weekend with my honey. So I put those things in place.”
Always thinking ahead, Booher plans to add another room and an enclosed backyard area. For more details on what’s going on at Louisiana Cajun Mansion, check out the bed-and-breakfast website at louisianacajunmansion.com or the event venue website at CajunMansion.com.