re: Does anyone know of a place in south Louisiana that sells heavy duty offset smokers like

I think it all depends on what you are looking for. If you want something nice but not break the bank that design has been copied a lot so that should tell you that its a good design. First thing to decide is if you want a dedicated smoker or something that you can do both and what your budget is.

These at academy are pretty nice: Old Country Cabinet

Or you if you want a charcoal smoker/grill I have one of these that Assassin makes. I even got my employer to buy one, really nice and versatile. Have an insulated lid, also come with a v-pan with slots on one end for indirect/smoking.