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All the United States Louisiana Lake Charles Bilbo Cemetery

Bilbo Cemetery

This creepy, yet oddly beautiful cemetery is home to one of the founding fathers of Lake Charles.

Lake Charles, Louisiana

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Bilbo Cemetery- Jesus Statue.   skcrutcher / Atlas Obscura User
Bilbo Cemetery   skcrutcher / Atlas Obscura User
John Jacob Ryan’s resting place   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
Looking at the whole graveyard   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
Homemade iron crosses ( looks like part of the original fence ) ??  
Crosses in Bilbo Cemetery.   skcrutcher / Atlas Obscura User
Jesus with kids   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
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About

When driving along the I-10 into Lake Charles, LA, turning onto Veterans Memorial Blvd, you can't help but notice the small cemetery just off the water's edge. Old crypts and a very large statue of Jesus are visible from the roadway.  

Bilbo Cemetery is listed on the National Historic Registry and is the final resting place of the "Father of Lake Charles," John Jacob Ryan. Although the cemetery appears to be slowly sinking into the lake, it houses around 20 crypts that hold the remains of war veterans dating back to the early 19th-century. There are also a few statues of children located around the cemetery, giving the entire location an extra boost of creepiness. 

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Know Before You Go

The cemetery doesn't have a sign. You will see the Jesus statue rising up through the trees as you turn onto Veterans Memorial Blvd. The cemetery once had a gate, but it has long since deteriorated. You can walk into the cemetery, but stay along the path.

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Published

November 2, 2019

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  • Bilbo Cemetery Lake Charles, LA 70601 https://maps.google.com?q=Bilbo%20Cemetery,%20Lake%20Charles,%20LA%2070601&ftid=0x863b85b5f2f52a83:0xe64cca1945b1a902&hl=en-US&gl=us

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Cemeteries
Bilbo Cemetery
Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70601
United States
30.235528, -93.222064

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