The Definitive Guide To All Things Haunted And Creepy In Louisiana
There’s something inherently haunted and creepy in Louisiana. For starters, it’s one of the oldest states in the South, dating back to 1812 (1803, if you count the Louisiana Purchase). Then there’s the history: Louisiana was a big player in the Civil War, and a lot of blood was shed on our state’s soil. And while the melding of Creole, Cajun, Spanish, French, African, and Native American cultures is what makes Louisiana so incredibly special, this cultural melting pot is also rich in lore and legends.
Louisiana’s formidable swamps, unruly weeping willows, and hazy wetlands are cloaked in mystery and intrigue, and only add to the stories and superstitions circulating around the Bayou State. Add it all up, and you have a state that’s full of real haunted houses, haunted museums, haunted mansions, creepy cemeteries, and abandoned places. Louisiana is marvelously macabre, and delightfully fun to explore … if you’re brave enough, that is.
In Louisiana, we don't just have haunted highways; our unsettled spirits take to the streets. One of the oldest streets in the state, Front Street is also the most haunted road in Louisiana. When darkness falls, the spirts come out. Shop owners, visitors and residents have all reported seeing the ghosts of Confederate soldiers wandering the streets. It's downright frightening, and a place we'd prefer not to be after dark.
Built in 1796 for General David Bradford, the Myrtles Plantation is known for being the most haunted house in the entire country. Now a B&B, several employees and guests have reported seeing apparitions, hearing voices, and other unexplained phenomena at this haunted hotel. The resident ghost on site is believed to be that of Chloe, a former slave at the plantation. According to legend, Chloe was accused of eavesdropping and had her ear cut off as punishment. To get revenge, she attempted to poison the master of the house, but accidentally poisoned his wife and children instead. She was hanged and thrown into the river, but many believe she is not resting peacefully there, but instead haunting the plantation grounds.
1. If you’ve spent any time in the French Quarter, you’ve most likely heard about the LaLaurie Mansion, and the ghost tales that surround it. As the story goes, Madame LaLaurie was a New Orleans Creole socialite who lived here ... and she was a truly twisted individual. The house had built-in slave quarters, where, following a fire in 1834, officials found several slaves in the attic, victims of horrendous torture. Once the discovery had been made, an angry mob stormed the property, demolishing everything the fire had left behind. But Madame LaLaurie was nowhere to be found. She fled New Orleans, ending up in Paris to spend the rest of her days in France until her death in 1842. Although it’s now closed to the public, people have claimed to hear the screams of tortured souls coming from the building. Shiver.
2. Located just outside of New Orleans, Louisiana’s Manchac Swamp might just be one of the most beautiful places in the state – but it's also one of the most haunted. The Manchac Swamp is believed to be haunted by the ghost of Louisiana Voodoo Queen Julia Brown. She would often sit on her porch singing a little song: “one day I’m going to die and take the whole town with me.” And on Sept. 15, 1915, a powerful hurricane swept through the state, destroying the tiny town, killing over 50 people. Many believe the devastating storm was caused by Brown herself, who had placed a curse on the swamp. Since then, strange things have been known to happen along these witchy waters, and we certainly wouldn't want to be caught alone on this swamp at night.
3. There are a lot of restaurants rumored to have spirits wandering around, but perhaps none is as infamous as Muriel’s on Jackson Square. This legendary restaurant in New Orleans has been a part to the city since the beginning. Originally, the location was the home of one of the explorers that founded New Orleans, Claude Trepagnier. A fire burned the original home down, and Trepagnier built his dream house, the grandiose structure that stands on the square to this day. In 1814, Trepagnier was involved in a high-stakes poker game, where he wagered his entire home. He lost, and rather than face his loss, he committed suicide in his beloved house, setting the scene for a pretty epic ghost story. Many paranormal investigations have confirmed that his spirit still roams Jackson Square.
Built in 1914, the Gothic Jail in DeRidder has some seriously stunning architecture (in fact, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981)
– but it's also the most haunted prison in the state. It's believed to be haunted by the two men hanged for their crimes from the top of the spiraling, multi-story stairwell. Now, it's known as "Old Hanging Jail," and each year, the ghosts are encouraged to come out during the "Gothic Jail After Dark" Halloween event. Would you dare enter its doors?
A haunted house in an old mortuary? Does it get any creepier than that? This haunted house in New Orleans is located in a historic Victorian mansion that was built in 1872 and was used as an actual mortuary for quite some time. As a place for the dead, countless paranormal investigators have visited over the years, all confirming that the 14,000-square foot mansion has quite a few unsettled spirits lingering about. So every year, The Mortuary opens its doors for its annual haunted house event. That’s right, it's a haunted house that’s actually haunted, and it's truly one of the most frightening experiences you'll ever have.
Come fall, Louisiana turns into a truly freaky fantasyland. The corn maze at DixieMaze Farms looks perfectly tame by day, but come nightfall, the ghosts come out en masse. For adrenaline junkies looking for the fright of a lifetime, the farm's Field of Screams maze is filled with spooky terrors that are lurking behind every twist and turn. DIxieMaze employ the use of strobe lights, fog machines, and even explosions to immerse you in a frightening experience that will give you the scare of a lifetime.
For total Blair Witch vibes, you'll want to check out the The Devils Knot North Louisiana, otherwise known as the creepiest haunted trail in Louisiana. This scary trek weaves through the mysterious woods of northern Louisiana for a bone-chilling adventure that only the bravest of souls embark on. You never know what is going to be around the bend, so keep your eyes peeled ...
Would You Spend A Night In This Louisiana Haunted Hotel?
At Hotel Bentley, there are always occupants ... of the supernatural sort. The hotel was built in 1907 by Joseph Bentley, a Pennsylvanian who made his fortune in the lumber industry in Central Louisiana. Legend has it that Bentley was turned down for a room at a nearby hotel, so he did what anyone else would do, and built his own hotel. He even designed his own penthouse apartment so he could live there, too. And he did, until his death in 1938. Both the elevator and the apartment still stand today, as well as the ghost of Mr. Bentley, who has been spotted all over the hotel throughout the years. And Bentley isn't the only unsettled spirit roaming the halls; another common ghost sighting is that of a young woman who fell to her death in an elevator shaft, and another gentleman who fell over the grand staircase railing in 1985. Staying here definitely sounds like an adventure, though we're not sure we'd get much sleep.
One of the creepiest abandoned buildings in Louisiana, this place was once Kisatchie High School. In 1962 it was abandoned, and has stood forsaken – and haunted – ever since.
The Gardette-LaPrete House, also known as the Sultan's Palace, was said to be the hideaway of a Turkish prince trying to escap his power-hungry brother. Unfortunately, the prince was found, and he and his entire entourage were murdered in this stately home, haunting it ever since.
The most haunted (and haunting) museum in Louisiana, Bloody Mary’s Haunted Museum houses a wide array of creepy artifacts, all housed in a building that’s over 200 years old.
Saint Louis No. 1 is perhaps the most famous New Orleans cemetery, and it's the final resting place of the aforementioned Voodoo Priestess, Marie Laveau.
Creepy Facts About Louisiana
1. The spookiness of Louisiana is not lost on film directors. Interview With A Vampirewas filmed in New Orleans; the author Anne Rice was so inspired by the spooky history of New Orleans, she deemed the city the setting of her scary vampire story. And Final Destination, the ultimate horror film, was shot in some of New Orleans’ creepiest cemeteries.
2. Louisiana has a Voodoo museum, and it’s everything you could ever hope for. The New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum is crammed with relics and materials from the practice of Voodoo through the ages, including potions to practice Voodoo at home. And yes, in case you were wondering: you can have your fortune told at this haunted museum by a real-life Voodoo priest.
3. Louisiana has its own very creepy legend, and it’s terrifying. The “Legend of the Rougarou” is a chilling tale that’s been passed down from generation to generation. This creature has a human body and the head of a wolf, and can lurk in fields, woods, bayous, and swamps. There are a couple of different versions of the Rougarou, and all are equally frightening.
4. Bonny & Clyde met their final fate on a country road in Gibland, Louisiana, when they were ambushed by police. You can visit the site of their death today, and some say that you can hear the sound of gunshots and screams during a full moon.
5. The Old Louisiana State Capital Building is, of course, haunted. Built to look like a castle, in the past, the Capital Building also served as a hospital for Civil War soldiers. Today, it’s a National Historic Landmark and a museum – a haunted museum – that’s open for tours. Visitors have reported a laundry list of paranormal activities in the building, such as doors slamming, unidentifiable noises, and footsteps. But most alarming, is that some claim to have been pushed or shoved by these feisty solider spirits.
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