Avery IslandAbout Avery Island
Avery Island is a privately owned salt-dome island in southern Louisiana, United States, located in Iberia Parish. It is best known as the longtime home and operating base of the McIlhenny Company, makers of Tabasco sauce.
The site contains a commercial pepper-processing and sauce-production operation alongside extensive landscaped grounds and a bird sanctuary. Visitors commonly go to see the factory and company store, walk the public sections of the landscaped gardens, and view the rookery area that supports colonial waterbirds.
The Tabasco brand was developed by Edmund McIlhenny in the 19th century and the McIlhenny family has operated on the island since that time. Family members also established and maintained the island’s public gardens and bird sanctuary over multiple generations.
Geographically the island sits among coastal marshes and bayous of southern Louisiana near the city of New Iberia in Iberia Parish. It is accessible by road from the mainland and lies inland from the Gulf of Mexico within the state’s low-lying coastal plain.
- Visitor access: Guided factory tours and a visitors’ store are available through the McIlhenny Company; check opening times before visiting.
- Mixed uses: The island combines agricultural, industrial, and conservation uses in a compact setting, so expect a mix of gardens, industrial buildings, and natural wetlands.
What to See#
- Tabasco factory and McIlhenny Company: Operates as the production site and company headquarters for the McIlhenny Company, maker of the Tabasco brand sauce first developed by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868. The facility includes a factory, bottling line, and a company store that is open to visitors.
- Jungle Gardens and Bird City: A landscaped public garden and bird sanctuary created and developed by the McIlhenny family, featuring mature live oaks, palms, and a rookery known as Bird City that supports colonial waterbirds and egrets.
- Salt dome island: A salt-dome island formation that rises above the surrounding marshes and swamps of coastal Louisiana and has been the base of family business and conservation efforts for more than a century.
Best Time to Visit Avery Island
Late winter through spring and autumn avoid peak summer humidity and hurricane season; tours run year-round but check for closures during storms.
Weather & Climate near Avery Island
Avery Island's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cool winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 32°C. Abundant rainfall (1548 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 6° - 16° | 11° | 120 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 7° - 18° | 13° | 101 mm | - | - | 4.1 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 11° - 22° | 16° | 103 mm | - | - | 4.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 15° - 25° | 20° | 104 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 19° - 28° | 24° | 125 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 22° - 31° | 27° | 154 mm | - | - | 3.3 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 23° - 32° | 28° | 193 mm | - | - | 2.7 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 23° - 32° | 28° | 175 mm | - | - | 2.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 21° - 30° | 25° | 143 mm | - | - | 3.0 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 15° - 26° | 21° | 102 mm | - | - | 3.2 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 10° - 22° | 16° | 100 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 7° - 18° | 12° | 128 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Avery Island
Avery Island is 10-15 minutes by car from New Iberia, Louisiana. From Lafayette (about 25 miles northwest) follow US-90 E then LA-14/LA-85 toward Avery Island Road. The Tabasco® Welcome Center is on Avery Island Road; there is on-site parking.
Tips for Visiting Avery Island
- Visit the Tabasco factory in the morning to catch the bottling line and avoid afternoon humidity
- Allow time to walk the Jungle Gardens - the live oaks and resident snowy egrets are worth the stroll
- Buy small sealed bottles as carry-on, but check airline rules for liquids if flying