I-55 to city exits. In the center of town, in a big open-air cage.
Vacation and road trip planning caution: Visitor tips may not be verified. Call attractions for most current hours and admission. Send Updates.
Ponchatoula, Louisiana - Old Blue Eyes, Town Alligator Ponchatoula has an unusual resident who doubles as town mascot and
newspaper columnist. Old Blue Eyes, the successor of the more famous
Old Hardhide, is a disquietingly large alligator whose cage
marks a distinctive center of town, nestled among frequently visited
antique shops and restaurants. Although there are no reports of
alligator-ingested fingers or other appendages, visitors often stand by
Old Blue Eyes' cage, wrapping their fingers through his chain link
fence, waiting for him to move slowly around his small pool. Old Blue
Eyes is quite the gossip as well, as his central location gives him
access to all the details of Ponchatoula residents' comings and goings.
He publishes news of the townfolk weekly in the Ponchatoula Times.
[Marcella Briceno, 02/20/1999][RA: Sounds like Old Hardhide -- a tourism fixture since 1972 -- is dead.]