Ford Assembly Plant

The Ford Assembly Plant in Arabi, Louisiana, is a colossal structure, sprawling across 250,000 square feet on 25 acres along the Mississippi River. Built a century ago, this landmark facility manufactured Model T Fords that transformed American transportation. Now, it’s poised for a new role in the 21st century.

the center of an automotive revolution

Back in the 1920s, this Ford plant was a bustling hub where affordable cars rolled off the assembly line. Sidney Torres III, the building’s current owner and a Saint Bernard Parish attorney, often reflects on the plant’s industrial legacy. “Henry Ford probably was standing right here at some point in time,” he said. “There may have been 400 people who were actually working, assembling the vehicles. There’s just this feeling that the energy is still there.”

prime location for ford assembly plant

The location was strategically chosen, offering proximity to New Orleans, access to the Mississippi River for shipments to South America, and rail connections for efficient distribution. Designed by the legendary industrial architect Albert Kahn, the plant exemplified Ford’s pioneering approach to decentralized car production. “Automobiles were being driven from town to town,” Torres explained. “They had to build roadways, motels for longer trips, places for people to eat.” This plant, along with others, laid the foundation for the growth of American infrastructure and mobility.

Old arabi model t factory featured on tv

a new direction for the ford assembly plant

Today, Torres envisions a future for this space that honors its past while embracing innovation. Plans are underway to transform the plant into a multi-purpose center, hosting film productions, eSports and interactive media ventures. “There’s just something about this space that brings you back in time,” Torres shared, adding, “it also causes you to have visions for the future to say, wow, this could really be something special.”

Driving a piece of history

Torres even tracked down a vintage Model T to connect with the building’s history. But driving it, he noted, is “a little bit complicated. There’s three pedals down there, and none of them do what you think they will do.” He doesn’t know if his Model T came from the Arabi facility.

From its origins as a part of America’s automotive boom to its possible future as a center for new media, the old Ford Assembly Plant in Arabi stands as a testament to industrial ingenuity—and now, it has the chance to once again be something special.