![]() ![]() Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring-or skip it? There’s a small gift shop that stocks various bits and pieces including esoteric jewelry made by local designers. ![]() What did you make of the crowd? The museum has enough accessibility to attract families as well as those who search out these weird fringes of artistic Americana. Considering the fine line it walks between hoarded junk and fine art, the place is well organized, though that’s a relative term. Is it easy to get around? You’re free to wander around as you please and be drawn to whatever takes your fancy. The furthest stretches of his imagination are all on display here, from wall-sized mosaics to miniature city scenes, to sculptures of half-human hybrid creatures to an Airsteam trailer that has collided with a flying saucer. What kinds of pieces will we see? The museum is the collection and living gallery of home-grown artist John Prebel. A variety of buildings make up the "house," from a large wooden main hall to a retro gas station that make up the entrance to a pristine Creole cottage. Formerly the UCM Museum (the "you-see-em" Museum), this none-more-quirky stop might fall into the broad category of roadside attractions. The Abita Mystery House has been on television with American Pickers, written about twice in the New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, in Baton Rouge’s Morning Advocate newspaper, in New Orleans’ Gambit weekly, and in American Profile Magazine.Give us an overview of this place. Works from his Camille series are in numerous collections exhibited at various galleries and museums including the New Orleans Museum of Art. Their museum doesn’t actually turn a profit yet, so Preble still paints traditional art to supplement his family’s income. This museum is a family enterprise fueled by hard work, independence, persistence and dreams. The Abita Mystery House, aka The UCM (pronounced you see um) Museum receives no government grants. Of course, the gift shop also has typical roadside attraction gifts. He was able to do this in part through contacts his wife made through her art jewelry business, Ann O’Brien Jewelry. ![]() This is part of the serious side to Preble’s venture, along with renting the Mystery House out for parties and stocking the museum’s gift shop with local handcrafted items. After renovations, this cottage became the Northshore Art Academy where established artists teach classes for adults. He renovated a vintage gas service station, built a new exhibit hall and ancillary buildings, constructed several aquarium ponds containing native fish, and moved an original 90-year Old Creole cottage onto the museum grounds. John Preble started on the Abita Mystery House in 1995. John Preble, creator of the Abita Mystery House, smiles while holding an accordion from his family’s museum. ![]() The thing I remember most though was the slow dawning of awe as realization spread through me that this guy loves what he does and truly is living out his creative dreams. I remember being barraged by a constant stream of good vibes from seeing the different types of exhibits along with the various settings they were displayed in. On a whim, we decided to take a short detour to find out what this place was all about, and I am so glad we did!Īs we meandered our way slowly through this fun roadside attraction, with actual artistic leanings, I remember thinking how quirky cool this place had turned out to be. I don’t really remember exactly how it happened, but I came across something promoting the Abita Mystery House just before heading out to Florida with my son once. You’ll also find my favorite hidden gem, the Abita Mystery House, in Abita Springs! You can also tour and taste at the Abita Brewery. If outdoor adventure is your thing, you’ll love hiking or biking the Tammany Trace. Abita Springs, Louisiana has a little something for everyone. ![]()
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