16 replies to this topic

[rolltide35401]

I was just wondering if any of y'all know of any new developments in Ruston. I lived there in the early 1990s, and am just curious of any new happenings there, especially around LA Tech. I know its small, and probably not much has changed, but I figured this would be the place to ask  

[SBCmetroguy]

rolltide35401, on Nov 7 2006, 09:46 AM, said:

I was just wondering if any of y'all know of any new developments in Ruston. I lived there in the early 1990s, and am just curious of any new happenings there, especially around LA Tech. I know its small, and probably not much has changed, but I figured this would be the place to ask  

We have a member in the SBC forum from Ruston. I hope he finds this topic so he can respond. He doesn't post much because he's brand new, but he seems to be interested in positive development. Here's his profile, although since he's a new member you can't send him a PM: LaTechJay

To be honest, I don't think Ruston has changed MUCH since 1990 but I know it's changed to some extent. I know they have a Super Wal-Mart (they didn't have that in 1990,) they have Raisin' Cane's, A&W, lots of good places to eat. They do have a trolley that runs through the town, which is pretty neat. I've never seen it running but I asked someone about it at Tech a while back and they said it does run.

Edited by SBCmetroguy, 07 November 2006 - 10:30 AM.

[bobby255BR]

Hey I'm a Tech student!!!  I hope that this is helpful.
A brand new Celebrity Theatre has opened in Ruston, and it is a really nice place to hang out with friends.  A Starbucks is also being constructed on Tech Drive.  I read in a Tech newpaper that the university is suppose to demolish it's two tall male residential towers, Neilson and Caruthers.  As you probably already know, Caruthers close after the hurricane evacues resided there, and Neilson is suppose to close in a year or two.  So it should be exciting to see what Tech builds in their places.  The university has also built new apartment complexes called The University Park Apartments.  They are suppose to build additional apartment buildings, but I'm not sure when they will begin on those.  I don't know how long it's been since you've been to Ruston, but there seems to be a little economic development going on here.  From what I've seen, there are two hotels being built and a road has been constructed around the theatre where I believe future growth will occur.

Edited by bobby255BR, 07 November 2006 - 01:06 PM.

[SBCmetroguy]

Very cool, Bobby, thanks for telling us about that! I didn't even realize Starbucks was coming to Ruston. No doubt in that college town, they'll do well.

[byrde]

I was in Ruston this past weekend. There' are two new hotel's under construction there. A Fairfield Inn right next to the Holiday Inn Express at the Ruston/Farmerville exit. I think it will have 4 or 5 floors. There is also a Sleep Inn being built near the public library.

[SBCmetroguy]

byrde, on Nov 7 2006, 09:13 PM, said:

I was in Ruston this past weekend. There' are two new hotel's under construction there. A Fairfield Inn right next to the Holiday Inn Express at the Ruston/Farmerville exit. I think it will have 4 or 5 floors. There is also a Sleep Inn being built near the public library.

Nice! Movin on up!

The last time I was over that way was many months ago. Actually it was 6 months to a year ago.

[rolltide35401]

bobby255BR, on Nov 7 2006, 01:55 PM, said:

A brand new Celebrity Theatre has opened in Ruston, and it is a really nice place to hang out with friends. A Starbucks is also being constructed on Tech Drive.  I read in a Tech newpaper that the university is suppose to demolish it's two tall male residential towers, Neilson and Caruthers.

Wow, a theatre has finally been built   When I was a kid, we would have to go to Pecanland Mall in Monroe to see a movie.  I am surprised it took so long to get one in Ruston.

That doesn't surprise me with the dorms though. I used to attend A.E. Phillips at LA Tech and would pass by those every day. They were a dump then and can only be worse now...

byrde, on Nov 7 2006, 10:13 PM, said:

I was in Ruston this past weekend. There' are two new hotel's under construction there. A Fairfield Inn right next to the Holiday Inn Express at the Ruston/Farmerville exit. I think it will have 4 or 5 floors. There is also a Sleep Inn being built near the public library.

I am a bit surprised to hear more hotels are going in. Ruston always seemed to have abundance of rooms, and with Monroe only a half hour away, more units seem unnecessary.

Nevertheless great to hear at least some positive development in my childhood home Thanks for the replies guys!

[byrde]

rolltide35401, on Nov 8 2006, 08:52 AM, said:

I am a bit surprised to hear more hotels are going in. Ruston always seemed to have abundance of rooms, and with Monroe only a half hour away, more units seem unnecessary.

Nevertheless great to hear at least some positive development in my childhood home Thanks for the replies guys!

Those rooms are hard to come by on football weekends. Especially when Tech and Grambling have home games.

[Rardy]

byrde, on Nov 8 2006, 03:14 PM, said:

Those rooms are hard to come by on football weekends. Especially when Tech and Grambling have home games.

There seems to be an abundance of hotel construction all over the state.

My hometown of Leesville already had 6 hotels, but a new Best Western just opened, a Holiday Inn Express is under construction, and a Hampton and a Microtel are on their way.  And the area only has around 35,000 people.  I'm surprised at the hotel construction, but the corporate chains seem to think there's demand...

Got me.  

[SBCmetroguy]

Rardy, on Nov 8 2006, 04:40 PM, said:

There seems to be an abundance of hotel construction all over the state.

My hometown of Leesville already had 6 hotels, but a new Best Western just opened, a Holiday Inn Express is under construction, and a Hampton and a Microtel are on their way.  And the area only has around 35,000 people.  I'm surprised at the hotel construction, but the corporate chains seem to think there's demand...

Got me.  

It's gotten to the point that the top 4 or 5 chains in the nation aren't competing against anyone else. As a matter of fact, they're competing against themselves it seems.

Let's put a Fairfield Inn on this corner, a Courtyard on the other and then across from that we'll put a Marriott. Hmmm...

That's quite a bit of hotel construction for little ol' Leesville! I haven't been through there in so long, I don't really even remember a lot about the place. But if they see the demand, then so be it I suppose!

FYI, though, the construction is all over. Longview, TX has 2 or 3 under construction, all across from one another facing I-20. Other smaller Texas towns have the same thing occurring as well.

Edited by SBCmetroguy, 08 November 2006 - 04:48 PM.

[Rardy]

SBCmetroguy, on Nov 8 2006, 04:47 PM, said:

It's gotten to the point that the top 4 or 5 chains in the nation aren't competing against anyone else. As a matter of fact, they're competing against themselves it seems.

Let's put a Fairfield Inn on this corner, a Courtyard on the other and then across from that we'll put a Marriott. Hmmm...

That's quite a bit of hotel construction for little ol' Leesville! I haven't been through there in so long, I don't really even remember a lot about the place. But if they see the demand, then so be it I suppose!

FYI, though, the construction is all over. Longview, TX has 2 or 3 under construction, all across from one another facing I-20. Other smaller Texas towns have the same thing occurring as well.

Do you think this could be Katrina-related?  I read an article after Katrina that said if New Orleans/southeast Louisiana had to evacuate again, and there were no shelters of last resort or hotels open in New Orleans metro at all, every hotel in the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and in the cities of Houston, Dallas, Atlanta would be full, and there would still be 50,000 people without a place to stay.

Could that be fueling the hotel construction boom, them banking on another disaster?

[cindyb1969]

I have been to Ruston only a couple of times since I graduated in 1992, but I can tell you that both times I had trouble getting a hotel room!  

I am glad to hear that they have a decent theater now!  They had a really dumpy one when I was there, so we would drive to Monroe as well.

The trolley car sounds like a great addition!

I really need to go back and visit.  Ruston is a great town that you really miss once you leave!

[byrde]

cindyb1969, on Nov 25 2006, 01:47 PM, said:

I have been to Ruston only a couple of times since I graduated in 1992, but I can tell you that both times I had trouble getting a hotel room!  

I am glad to hear that they have a decent theater now!  They had a really dumpy one when I was there, so we would drive to Monroe as well.

The trolley car sounds like a great addition!

I really need to go back and visit.  Ruston is a great town that you really miss once you leave!

I see you were in Lincoln Parish the same time I was there. That theatre in Ruston was very dumpy back then. We used to always ride over to Monroe to catch a movie. The new Celebrity Theatre is nice.

Ruston also has a Chili's and there's an Applebee's currently under contstruction. Right behind Raising Canes, there's a strip shopping center currently under construction as well.

[cindyb1969]

byrde, on Nov 27 2006, 02:18 PM, said:

I see you were in Lincoln Parish the same time I was there. That theatre in Ruston was very dumpy back then. We used to always ride over to Monroe to catch a movie. The new Celebrity Theatre is nice.

Ruston also has a Chili's and there's an Applebee's currently under contstruction. Right behind Raising Canes, there's a strip shopping center currently under construction as well.

Wow!  That's a lot of changes!  How did they get an Applebees and a Chilis in a dry parish???

[Riverrat]

cindyb1969, on Dec 1 2006, 10:41 PM, said:

Wow!  That's a lot of changes!  How did they get an Applebees and a Chilis in a dry parish???

Ruston isn't dry anymore-they actually voted in liquor a few years ago.  Sorry to be so late responding to this, but here it is.

[bobby255BR]

I thought I'd revived this thread with a few pics.


picture of Louisiana Tech from Alabama Ave.  with University Park and Wyly Tower(Ruston's tallest) in the background.



Thomas Athletic Center



Peach orchards from the "Peach Capital"

*Bonus

Town of Grambling

[bobby255BR]

60th Annual Ruston Peach Festival.


A good crop:Ruston-area peach growers say a dry spring left peaches smaller and later than usual, but that there's a good, sweet crop for the 60th peach festival. Louie Thompson Jr. estimates that his peaches are about three-quarters the usual size because the weather's been so hot and dry.

He and Joe Mitcham of Ruston say those weather conditions also cause the sugars to be concentrated, so the peaches are very sweet. Nancy Bergeron of the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce says they're among four area growers who will be selling fresh peaches at the festival Saturday and Sunday.