A Carlyss-based business will soon be offering carriage rides in downtown Lake Charles, following action by the City Council earlier this week.

After a public hearing, the council voted 7-0 to issue a special exception permit to Almosta Ranch LLC. The permit allows them to operate a carriage service business along the lakefront and provide tours within the city’s historic districts.

Bill Bolen, Almosta Ranch co-owner, said rides are expected to start April 1 and be offered on Friday evenings and Sunday.

Once a popular attraction for locals and tourists, carriage rides have been absent since Hurricane Laura’s August 2020 landfall forced Lake Charles Carriages, which had purchased J&R Carriages, to close.

Bolen owns Almosta Ranch with his wife, Jill. The two purchased 40 acres of land in Carlyss in 2014 and began acquiring animals.

They eventually began hosting children’s birthday parties, while offering a petting zoo and horseback riding lessons.

“We saw a need in the community,” he said.

Once the business began hosting weddings, they started purchasing mules and wagons, Bolen said. As business grew, council members and other elected officials expressed an interest in bringing carriage rides back to Lake Charles.

“We knew the community was really behind this,” Bolen said. “That encouraged us and greased the wheels to get everything done.”

Bill and Jill previously lived in Kansas and have been in Louisiana for decades. Bill retired after working 30 years at the plants.

“We were both around farming and ranching when we were younger,” he said. “I work twice as hard now than I did at the plants.”

Mayor Nic Hunter said the city is thrilled that a private business wants to provide carriage rides for locals and visitors.

“We have a special unique downtown district and lakefront,” he said.

“During Christmastime, I know people used to take advantage of the carriage rides.”

Bolen said he and Jill have spent time acquiring the required permits and insurance, along with training mules, which are not as skittish as horses. He said they are searching for land in Lake Charles to store their wagons.

Bolen said carriage rides fall in line with the planned lakefront development projects that are aimed at boosting tourism.

“It means a lot to us,” he said. “We’re bringing back something everyone once enjoyed. We’re excited for the chance to add to the community.”

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Online: almostaranchpettingzoo.com