The Abita Springs Café was built in 1881 as home to a local butcher shop, which operated here until 1919. Over the next 40 years, it was home to several different businesses, such as Murphy’s Lawnmower repair shop before eventually becoming Abita Springs’ favorite breakfast and lunch spot.
In the 1960’s, Walter J. Belsom and his wife, Betty purchased property at the end of Kustenmacher Road along the Abita River. Here along with their three children, Donald, Charles, and Mary, they raised a variety of livestock on the small farm they affectionately named “Belsom Haven”. Walter ...