The Southeast Louisiana Refuges Center in Lacombe is a large complex of buildings and handles a wide variety of wildlife refuges. It is home to the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge which starts along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain midway between Lacombe and Mandeville, and spreads eastward to the area southeast of Slidell. Pockets of development are interspersed with the wildlife area.
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge was formed in 1994. It is composed of 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) of pine flatwoods, oak rides and coastal marsh.
The refuges include the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refugre, the Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge, Breton, Delta and Mandalay.
The headquarters is located in the buildings and on the grounds of the former Holy Redeemer College, which closed its doors in 1980.
Holy Redeemer College was originally Holy Redeemer Seminary, located on the grounds of Bayou Gardens, estate of former Governor Richard Leche. It was renowned for its camellias and azaleas, and its spring artesian water. It was the site of an old Choctaw Indian Village, according to its advertisements.
