Three Generations on the Bayou
Zam's isn't a franchise or a tour company. It's one Cajun family's backyard on Bayou Boeuf, and they've been sharing it with visitors for decades.
Who Was Zam?
Zam was Azema “Zam” Dempster Tregle, born in Kraemer and true to the bayou her whole life. She was the original owner of Zam's Swamp Tours and Zam's Gift Shop, one of the first swamp tour businesses in the area.
After Zam passed in 2002, her daughter Diana Tregle, a snake wrangler with two college degrees, and Diana's husband Lloyd “Diego” Loupe kept the boats running. In Diana's words, the family comes from “so many generations of great alligator hunters.”
Today Zam's grandson, ZZ, runs the show, along with Emily and the rest of the crew.
The King of the Bayou
“Everybody calls me ZZ.”
ZZ grew up in the family business, bringing gators and snakes to schools with his parents and helping his dad with the tours on weekends. At 16 he joined History's Swamp People. At 19 he was runner-up on WWE Tough Enough and signed with WWE. Then he came home to the bayou, took over the family business and became one of the nuisance alligator hunters Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries calls when a gator turns up where it shouldn't.
Guests say he's a natural storyteller. He'll teach you about alligators and the Cajun people, and he'll make you laugh the whole way.
Through the Years
Fur & hide days
Before it was a swamp tour, the property was a skinning facility. ZZ's grandfather was one of the state's biggest fur and hide merchants, and his grandmother Azema was “the original Zam.”
Early 1990s
With the fur business slowing down, ZZ's mom had the idea to start a swamp tour. Gators moved into the back ponds, and Zam's Swamp Tours was born, named for Zam herself.
2002
Zam passes away at 68. Her daughter Diana and son-in-law Lloyd “Diego” Loupe carry on.
2004
The family appears on Fox's Trading Spouses. Eight-year-old ZZ steals the show by telling his temporary mom, “You're fired.”
2013
ZZ joins History's Swamp People at 16. The producers call him the youngest hunter they've ever had on the show.
2014
NCIS: New Orleans films an episode at Zam's with Scott Bakula and Lucas Black, and Lloyd and ZZ land bit parts.
2015
ZZ finishes runner-up on WWE Tough Enough and signs with WWE.
Back home
ZZ returns to the bayou and takes over as owner and operator of Zam's Swamp Tour.
2022
VICE features ZZ in its Local Legends series: “Swamps, WWE and Gator Trainers.”
2025
ZZ rolls through Choupic as Grand Marshal of the Mardi Gras parade, scepter and all.
Watch ZZ in Action
Swamps, WWE and gator training. VICE's Local Legends paid a visit to Bayou Boeuf.
The video plays from YouTube.
Ready for the Bayou?
Every tour is reserved ahead of time. Send us a request or give us a call, and we'll save you a seat on the boat.