Tucked centrally in the yellow zone, Westlake is essentially the industrial plant capital of the area, but it balances the heavy work grind with local favorites like Pinederosa and the Lazy Gator.
The Vibe
Westlake is a small, tight-knit industrial town — home to major chemical plants like Sasol, whose massive investments in the area have made Westlake one of the more industry-funded small cities in Southwest Louisiana. If your family works in the plants, Westlake means an easy commute. But don’t expect a lot of “things to do” in the traditional sense — this is a working town first.
What Westlake does have going for it: because the plants generate serious tax revenue for such a small city, Westlake has been able to fund amenities well above what you’d expect for its size.
Traffic & The Commute
For plant families, Westlake’s whole appeal is the short commute — many of the major employers are right there or a few minutes away. The trade-off is the same bridge/171-378 corridor that the rest of the area deals with when heading toward Lake Charles or Moss Bluff, so rush hour still applies if your day takes you outside town.
Schools
Westlake has its own small school system within Calcasieu Parish: Westwood Elementary (PK-2), Western Heights Elementary (3-5), S.P. Arnett Middle School, and Westlake High School. It’s a small, close-knit district — Westlake High has been around since 1914 and has a real hometown-team feel to it.
For a private option, Eternity Christian Academy & Learning Institute is a small Christian school right in town on Mulberry Street. We didn’t find a preschool specifically located within Westlake itself — most families here use options in Moss Bluff or Lake Charles.
Parks & Play
Pinederosa Park is the crown jewel. It’s a full recreation complex with a playground, its own free splash pad, jogging track, and lighted baseball and softball fields. In 2025, it also became home to Lazy Gator Water Park — a $25 million addition with a 1,000-foot lazy river, four water slides, a swimming/volleyball/basketball pool, and its own separate splash pad geared toward toddlers. Admission is $5 for Westlake residents (with a card from the Westlake Recreation Department), $10 for military and seniors 65+, and $15 for non-residents. Kids under 1 get in free. It’s a serious perk for people who actually live in Westlake — worth factoring in if you’re deciding between Westlake and a neighboring area.
Library
The Westlake Branch of the Calcasieu Parish Public Library, on Mulberry Street, is known for being especially peaceful, with lots of natural light and mature trees around the building. Storytime here is a standout for little kids. The kids’ area also has a tabletop interactive screen/computer setup for kids to play on, American Girl dolls and other toys available to check out, and comfortable seating (rocking chairs among it) for parents. It’s not stocked with a ton of toys, but there’s enough to make it worth a regular visit.
Hurricanes & Flooding
Westlake carries the same hurricane risk as the rest of Southwest Louisiana, plus one extra wrinkle: because it’s home to major chemical plants, storms can bring added concerns like shelter-in-place orders. During Hurricane Laura in 2020, a chemical fire at a plant near Westlake triggered a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents on top of the storm itself. It’s worth understanding evacuation routes and plant safety alerts if you’re new to the area.
Groceries & Errands
Westlake has a Market Basket grocery store on Sampson Street for day-to-day shopping, plus a Dollar Tree and a Dollar General for household basics. For anything beyond that — bigger grocery runs, general merchandise — most families head into Lake Charles or over to Moss Bluff.
Churches & Community
Westlake has a strong, active church community for its size. First Baptist Church Westlake (FBC Westlake) is one of the larger congregations in town and hosts regular community events, including women’s events and family activities. There are also several smaller churches across denominations — Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of the Nazarene, and others — giving families plenty of options to plug into.
Local Favorites
Westlake has a real local food scene beyond the fast food strip. Heaven on Earth BBQ and Seafood and Jeanne’s Bourbon Street BBQ are go-to’s for barbecue and daily Cajun plate lunches, and Seafood Palace is a favorite for gumbo and boiled seafood. Westlake Wings & Chinese Food is a beloved local spot known for its wings (the salt and pepper wings especially) and family-friendly dine-in. El Tapatio Dos covers Mexican. Round Top Burger House is a local favorite that goes well beyond burgers — fish, chicken, po-boys, and kids meals are all on the menu, making it an easy pick for a family dinner.
For something more of an occasion, Horseshoe Lake Charles — the casino and hotel most people associate with “Lake Charles” — is actually physically located in Westlake, and its on-site restaurants (including “Gordon Ramsay Steak”…and yes, that’s the name of the restaurant, not a typo!) are a notable, if adults-oriented, local landmark.
The Bottom Line
Westlake isn’t a place families move to for entertainment — it’s a place they move to for work and for a genuinely small-town feel. If your family has ties to the plants, the commute is unbeatable, and the amenities the city has been able to build (especially Pinederosa Park) go a long way toward making it a good place to raise kids despite the industrial backdrop.