Haunted History in Louisiana
Louisiana has a lot of haunted history and spooky sides, with intriguing ghost stories and paranormal activity around the state. Here is a list of just some of the homes, buildings or tours you can do.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau, is one of the many famous residents who is buried (and said to haunt) New Orleans’ oldest cemetery. Dating back to 1789 and situated close to the French Quarter, the cemetery houses 100,000 of the city’s dead – many who are still thought to walk the grounds. Visitors can take a cemetery tour but only with a licensed tour guide.
Arnaud's Restaurant
If you would like to see some classy, fine dressed ghosts then 100 year old Arnaud’s Restaurant in New Orleans is the place. Count Arnaud himself has been known to appear in the dining room, dressed in a tuxedo and smiling and guests have also reported a finely dressed woman in a hat strolling around before disappearing into a wall. A group of ghostly gentlemen have also been spotted sitting at the bar after hours, their friendly spirits adding to the charm of this old establishment.
LaLaurie Mansion
Ghost hunters swear this is the most haunted house in New Orleans’ French Quarter. The highly influential, French-Creole Delphine LaLaurie was known to throw lavish parties, until one day a fire swept through the house revealing a darker side when chained and tortured slaves were discovered. These tortured souls are still looking for revenge, and although some historians say the tales are not true why not take a haunted tour of LaLaurie Mansion and decide for yourself.
Oak Alley Plantation
The oak lined path leading to Oak Alley Plantation is a popular Louisiana photograph in Vacherie. However, the trees protect the secrets of the past as staffs have seen ghostly figures at the windows and heard the sounds of horse and carriage coming up the alley when nothing is there. When 35 visitors witnessed a candlestick fly across the room on their tour of the mansion the TV show Ghost Hunters decided to film there in August 2008.
Myrtles Plantation
Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville is said to be one of America’s most haunted homes and has been featured on national TV shows. You can even stay the night in this haunted home or take a mystery tour on a Friday or Saturday night. The story is of Chloe, who was a slave punished for eavesdropping on the family and taking her revenge by baking them a poisoned birthday cake. Chloe is said to still haunt the plantation and has been witnessed but tourists and residents.
Louisiana's Old State Capitol
Great orator and defender of the common people, Avoyelles' Parish Legislator Pierre Couvillon suffered a heart attack in the capitol's chambers after a spirited speech about corrupt politicians and it seems that he loved his job so much that he never left the Neo-Gothic Old State Capitol building in Baton Rouge. Couvillon’s large footprints have appeared on the Senate floor and a rumpled bed in the exhibit hall could maybe have been his resting spot for the night.
Calcasieu Courthouse
Toni Jo Henry, although beautiful and charming, had a sinister side that led to her murdering a man in the 40s. She became a celebrity in Lake Charles over her three trials, which eventually saw her become the first female executed in the electric chair in Louisiana. Jail officers think Toni Jo still hangs around the cells, turning on electrical equipment and talking to the guards.
Magnolia Plantation
During the 2009 Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures investigators heard the chanting of voodoo rituals and tapping noises while filming in the former slave cabin of this Natchitoches Plantation. Spirits of former slaves haunt the plantation’s hospital and cabin where anthropologists found evidence of voodoo. Although the mansion is a private residence the National Park Service own the remainder of the complex and do open for tours.
Loyd Hall Plantation
The black sheep in his London-based family, the original owner of Loyd Hall Plantation took his money stateside around 1820 and was doing well for himself until the Civil War, when his dealings as a double spy led to his hanging by Union soldiers. He was the first of several deaths including a Union soldier discovered in the attic and a slave nanny tragically poisoned. The ghosts of Loyd Hall Plantation in Cheneyville are said to ring doorbells, move tableware and play the violin but it’s the bed and breakfast guests that get the biggest surprise.
Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
The mischievous ghost of Sarge particularly spooks the ladies at Shreveports’ Municipal Auditorium as he loves to play with women’s hair, ruffling shorter hair and stroking longer hair. But he’s not the only cheeky ghost at this National Landmark, there’s also a young girl who likes to run around opening and closing doors.
More information is available at louisianatravel.com/attractions/haunted-louisiana
