'Big Easy Go' Campaign Comes to Southeast Texas

Almost 22 months after Hurricane Katrina shut down the city of New Orleans and its economy, those who have been in the Big Easy through its recovery say it's back in business.

Using their education and love for the city of New Orleans, four Tulane University students started a thirteen-day, pro-New Orleans campaign with a mission to change the country's image of today's Big Easy.

Golf carts may run on gasoline, but the message these four Tulane University students from New Orleans are spreading while driving it, is the use of fuel behind a 13-day, cross country campaign; all to promote the city of New Orleans.

"The 'Big Easy Go' is a pro-New Orleans campaign letting the nation know that we're ready for the return of all of our visitors, students, former residents," said Tulane University graduate Greg Thurnher.

Thurnher is the mastermind behind mission Big Easy Go as well as the transportation.

"We had a Jesse James monster garage style project on a golf cart," he said, "Which ultimately became our chariot during Mardi Gras and a staple of good times at Tulane and New Orleans."

So Thurnher got a few friends together and hit the road the day after his graduation. The goal-- to bring those "good times" across the country, including here in southeast Texas, and to let people know good times can be found in the Big Easy again.

Thurnher said, "Our mission was truly successful when we encounter people who say, 'oh yes, I've been to New Orleans before, I had a great time but I'm just not sure that they're ready to handle tourism again' and nothing could be further from the truth."

But these four aren't the only ones spreading the "real" truth, more than 600 people support Big Easy Go through MySpace, Facebook, and bigeasygo.com.

Thurnher said, "We feel like this is not only unique but representative of all the opportunities limited only by your imagination."

An imagination these students say doesn't compare to the real thing, something they say you need to come back and see for yourself.

The Big Easy Go trip will conclude in New Orleans on Friday, June 1st, the first day of hurricane season.