established in 1959
Garrett Field sits on approximately 130 acres of land just off historic Military Road in Slidell, LA where Andrew Jackson’s army marched toward the legendary Battle of New Orleans (1815). Proof of early inhabitants surround Military Road by means of grave sites dated back to the 1800’s.
Back in 1959, a distinguished local businessman by the name of Bill Garrett purchased this 130 acre plot of land for his wife, Ruth, and their two daughters, Debra and Billie. His plan was simple, create a sanctuary for his family tucked away in the quaint countryside outside New Orleans with plenty of room for their dream home, pool, grass airstrip and roaming horses.
Billie began riding horses at a young age with her father, and her passion remains after all this time. Today, Bill’s daughter Billie and her husband, Gran, carry on his legacy and not only still live on estate grounds where they raised their four children, but have decided to open its gates for special events, weddings, and polo.
The couple are the same husband and wife masterminds behind the internationally acclaimed venue Race + Religious, located on the riverfront in New Orleans and renowned for its rich history and unparalleled design details. In an equally impressive yet dissimilar manner, Garrett Field is also further distinguished by the couple’s signature flair for unusual artwork, artifacts collected on exotic travels and priceless antiques. This time they let their imaginations run wild, incorporating one of their beloved passions, polo, and highlighting many Latin American “estancia” traditions along the way.
The 2,000 year old game of polo is aptly represented in all of it’s argentine traditions with the guidance of their famous argentine polo coach, Sebastion Bonorino (who once played polo with the prince of Wales). Motivated by a desire to preserve this unique piece of land in its natural state and continue its legacy as a beloved gathering space, plans for Garrett Field Estancia turned into a reality and was one of the easiest decisions the the couple ever made.
Through the years there has been plenty of blood, sweat, flood water, and tears shed at Garrett Field, making this space even more extraordinary than its beauty alone. Although the number is usually growing, an average of 15 horses are lucky enough to call Garrett Field their permanent home, 11 of which are champion bred polo ponies from Argentina.
“What we have here on this property is something that will preserve this land in its natural state, with a lot to offer the public,” Billie says. “This is what I always wanted to do with the property— it’s so beautiful and we wanted to do something that would keep the woods and swamp land intact, now we are going to be able to do that and share it with everybody.”
We look forward to sharing our unique piece of paradise with you and your loved ones.