The state-funded upgrades to Fontainebleau State Park were started before Hurricane Katrina wiped out about 80 percent of the park's trees along with some of its structures and blew the completion date further along in the calendar. But last week, a much-anticipated event took place, and more than 100 people took quick advantage.

The 12 new cabins built on stilts above Lake Pontchartrain near the Mandeville Harbor were made available for reservations starting Monday. The first date of occupancy is April 4.

"We booked 105 reservations the first day," said Sharon Broussard of the Louisiana Office of State Parks. "And I'm sure more people than that called. We were extremely busy." By the end of the week there were 232 reservations.

The quaint and colorful cabins, built in the style of the fishing camps that lined the shores of the lake from the 1930s to the 1970s, each have two bedrooms, a full kitchen, a living room, dining area and bathroom. They can sleep up to eight people. And outside, there are boardwalks, barbecues and water-level sundecks to which boats can be tied. The cost for a night's stay is $90.

Broussard said she wasn't surprised at the public response.

"Fontainebleau is a very popular park," she said. "We were expecting a lot of response to the cabins opening, and we're very pleased with how well the reservations went. We hope they are all going to enjoy their stays."

The cabins are one component of the $10.47 million project that also includes a fishing pier, a visitors' center complete with museum and nature center, a fountain, walkways and a new campground.

The old recreation vehicle campground and the park lodge are now open for overnight stays, said Broussard. But group camps one and two have been closed since Katrina changed the landscape.

"Two has been repaired," said Broussard.

"But we're looking at the possibility of bulldozing one because of extensive damage. The opening of two will depend on that."

As for the new facilities, the plan has been to open them all at the same time.

The cabins will open on April 4. But at least the visitors' center might be just a little behind.

Rita McMurray, interpretive ranger at Fontainebleau State Park, said that opening will take place "more likely on April 11."

To book a cabin or for additional information, call the Louisiana State Parks Reservation Center at (877) 226-7652 or visit ReserveAmerica.com.