News

Our hearts go out to Harvey Marsolan and the Marsolan Feed and Seed Store Family on the devastating loss of their historic and iconic Feed Store in Downtown Covington, LA. Harvey was so gracious to allow Royal Carriages to operate from his store. Due to the total loss from the fire, we have moved our operations to Once In Awhile - Green Eyed Goddess Gifts located at 226 East Lockwood Street in Downtown Covington.  
We want to thank the owner Pam Miley and The Miley Family for allowing us to operate from their store on such short notice.
Make sure you stop in and see all the unique gifts in their store and be sure to pick up a coffee before or after your carriage ride. 
 

Royal Carriages Management 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kimmie Carlos Royal Carriages Director of Sales & Marketing [email protected] (504)655-9926 or (985) 788-0425

OLDEST CARRIAGE COMPANY IN U.S. BRING REIGNS TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN COVINGTON Royal Carriages teams up with St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission to begin touring on Louisiana’s Northshore. (New Orleans, LA) November 2nd, 2020 – Royal Carriages is thrilled to announce expansion into St. Tammany Parish, bringing their generations-long New Orleans carriage tour to the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Beginning November 6th, rides will depart from the Marsolan Feed and Seed Store in Covington, Louisiana, right next to the area’s Trailhead Museum. As a special kick off, the team has invited the city’s mayor Mark Johnson to embark on the first carriage ride. Tours will then run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. “We are excited to partner with the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission to bring a favorite New Orleans tradition to the charming town of Covington,” said Royal Carriages Director of Marketing Kimmie Carlos. “As the oldest carriage company in the country at 79-years strong, we want all of Louisiana’s Northshore to experience history with us as we move into the holiday season and create new family traditions.” Visitors will have the option for a half hour or full hour carriage tour of Old Covington which includes an expert guide to narrate the history of the area. The nationally recognized attraction also has plans for private tours, weddings, and private events.

Online ticket purchases are encouraged and can be done now by visiting NorthshoreCarriages.com. Adult ticket prices range from $20-$40, child tickets are $10 and three-years-old and under are free. For more information, please go to NorthshoreCarriages.com, call or email Kimmie Carlos at (985) 788-0425 or [email protected].

ABOUT ROYAL CARRIAGES: Royal Carriages is the oldest sightseeing carriage company in the United States. It started in 1941 by Clem and Violet Lauga with only one horse and carriage. Through the years, and with the Lauga family at the helm, the company has grown into a full-service carriage company with 45 employees in the heart of New Orleans. The company prides itself on the care it gives to its animals, with each mule receiving months of annual vacation on one of the company’s two farms in Covington, Louisiana and Poplarville, Mississippi. For more information, go to neworleanscarriages.com or Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TripAdvisor.

My Uncle Buddy, also known as Phillip Hountha, was in charge of the maintenance department for 12 years (1973-1985).

    He attended Warren Easton High School where he was active running track (sprints) and playing trumpet in the band. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and found himself in the Korean War! He and several other airmen manned a strategic radar sight on top of a mountain in the war zone. Their mission was to alert our forces when “incoming” enemy aircraft were approaching and to assist “friendly forces” aircraft in inclement weather or whatever they needed. This was a very important mission and vital to the war effort. Several times their radar site was attacked by Chinese and North Korean troops. They had to take up arms alongside our soldiers to repulse these attacks. 

    After a long year in Korea, Buddy returned to the United States after some much-needed leave was posted to another mountain top radar site in Minot, North Dakota. After fulfilling his military commitment, he returned home to New Orleans. He stayed at our family home in Lakeview and got a job at a company called “Hangers- Prosthetics”. The handmade arms and legs for handicapped people. A very unique craft indeed. He excelled at the trade and became their top employee. After several years the owner died and Buddy was offered the business. For some reason, he did not, or could not purchase Hangers. 

    Time passed and I eventually returned home after mustering out of the Air Force in 1971. My father was sick with cancer and I wanted to help out while waiting to catch on with an airline. Well, I never took that job and wound up running Gay 90’s Carriages, which eventually became Royal Carriages. 

The person doing our repairs was also a driver. His name was Joe Davis. I decided we needed to upgrade our maintenance and hired Buddy. Joe Davis went back to driving carriages fulltime. Buddy took to his new job like a duck to water! He exceeded at everything and quickly became our go-to -guy!

He remained in our employ until 1984 when he was involved in a terrible head-on auto accident. While recovering he developed aggressive throat cancer and he lost his ability to work. Buddy died shortly after at 59 years old. A tragic ending to a good life!RIP Buddy, You are Missed! 

A Reason to Walk 

So many individuals and businesses are affected by COVID-19 . Our business stopped operating on March 19 th, 2020, and we were forced to lay off our entire team of 46 people and 54 mules. Due to city regulations restricting "vehicles" from operating tours until Phase 3, we will be offering our tours in a different way. In lieu of Mule - Drawn Carriage tours we are now offering our award-winning tours as walking tours. You will be supporting our families 80-year-old, 3rd generation, veteran-owned business. Let our professional tour guides navigate your family or small group through several different historical areas of our beautiful city. Our new offerings will include : 

• Mules in the Marigny Creole Neighborhood Tour -  Visit our stable and interact with our mules. Discover the intriguing history of the oldest existing stable in New Orleans. Tour the Faubourg Marigny, the 2nd oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, and see Frenchman St, the home of Charles Laveau , the father of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau.
• History and Haunts Tour -   Experience for yourself the storied spectacle of the most haunted city in America. Hear eerie spirit tales of ghosts and voodoo that will shock and intrigue you. 
• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 /French Quarter Tour -  See unique and mysterious above-ground tombs... the resting place of Marie Laveau. Also, tour the world-famous French Quarter.

Safety Standards 

Our walking are $29.99 per guest utilizing small groups, no larger than 14 guests per tour. The tours are 1.5 hours long. All guides and guests are required to social distance and wear masks. Hand sanitizer will be provided. 

Give us and yourself a reason to walk, let Royal Carriages' 80 years experience show you the history of New Orleans, the most authentic way you can. 

Hope to see you soon

Sincerely, 

Team Royal 

It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to temporarily close the operation of tours beginning March 19th, 2020, and will reopen July 3th, 2020.

This is in keeping with the declaration by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards regarding containment of Covid19 – the Corona Virus. It is determined to be in the best interest of our guests and our employees.  

Please check back with us for updates.

If you are scheduled between now and July 3rd, 2020 and would like to reschedule, please contact us at [email protected] 

All of the mules and team members cannot wait to see you when we resume operations. In the meantime please support your local businesses and buy gift cards. 

Sincerely, 

Royal Carriages Management