In 2022, Parker Brand Creative Services was entrusted by Visit Lake Charles with a project that felt more like a homecoming than a commission: designing a gateway monument sign for the City of Sulphur, Louisiana.
Now installed along Interstate 10 eastbound, just west of Exit 20, this new sign offers more than directions. It extends a heartfelt welcome to visitors, families, and neighbors returning home—a reminder that Sulphur is not just a destination, but a community grounded in Faith. Family. Community.
A Sign with Purpose and Pride
Exit 20 in Sulphur, Louisiana is the first step into the wild and wondrous expanse of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. That’s why our design prominently includes the phrase “Gateway to the Creole Nature Trail.” This project wasn’t just about placing a marker—it was about telling a story of connection: to place, to people, and to purpose.
The Creative Process
Our process began with six original design configurations for review. After a collaborative selection process, we refined two options, exploring material finishes, color treatments, and structural details to create a design as enduring as the city it represents.
Given the sign’s scale and proximity to high-speed traffic, we recommended GIBKO Signs, a trusted fabricator who understands the critical balance between aesthetics and regulation.
We had worked with their team previously on the Grady Erwin Nature Preserve in Natchitoches, Louisiana and knew they had the craftsmanship and DOTD experience to do this vision justice.
More Than a Marker
The final sign features solar-powered illuminated lettering and sits amid low-maintenance landscaping that adds color and protects the installation from equipment damage. These thoughtful touches reflect the broader mission—making Sulphur’s identity shine in a way that’s functional, beautiful, and lasting.
As Mayor Mike Danahay shared, “Whether you live here, work here, or are just visiting, we want you to know you’re in Sulphur, and you are welcome.”
Rooted in Gratitude
This project means more to us than we can express. Sulphur is our hometown. These streets shaped our lives. And the early inspiration for Parker Brand's creative journey can be traced directly back to the art rooms of Sulphur High School, where teachers in the commercial art and graphic communications program lit the spark that still fuels our work today. We carry their lessons with us in every line we draw and every project we complete.
To stand beneath this sign—knowing where it points and remembering where we started—is a powerful, humbling experience. It’s a physical reminder of the long road home, and the belief that creativity, when rooted in love for place and community, can become something truly meaningful.
We’re honored to have played a part in helping Sulphur say, “You’re here. You’re welcome. And you belong.”
Oran Parker, Brand Builder
Parker Brand Creative Services
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Oran Parker is the owner and chief brand builder at Parker Brand Creative Services, an award winning Louisiana branding team that has been the creative lead behind hundreds of successful branding initiatives. Oran is also the producer and host of the podcast Find the Good News, a show focused on good people doing good works wherever he can find them.
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