Louisiana certainly isn’t a stranger to the paranormal. From historic homes to spooky swamps and even haunted oak trees, the Bayou State is rich with ghostly tales of the paranormal. This one particular bar has a fascinating past, and it’s been around since before Louisiana was even a state. So next time you find yourself at this historic bar and you think you see something out of the corner of your eye, don’t be too quick to brush it off as just a side effect of that tasty beverage you’ve been sipping on… this haunted bar in Louisiana serves up more than just spirits.

Tucked away in New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar has been a French Quarter staple for centuries.
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The building was built between 1722-1732 (the exact dates are unknown) and is considered to be the oldest structure being used as a bar in the United States, and the building itself predates Louisiana’s statehood! Louisiana became a U.S. territory as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and was admitted to the union in 1812.
Between 1772 and 1791, the building is believed to have been used by the infamous Lafitte Brothers for their Barataria smuggling operations.
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That’s right - criminal brothers Jean and Pierre Lafitte are believed to have used the property as a home base of sorts for negotiations with potential buyers of their smuggled goods and contraband items.

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As with any old historic building in the French Quarter, there have been ghost stories floating around for years.
Kelly G./Trip Advisor
One of the most popular sightings is that of Jean Lafitte himself. He appears as a full-bodied apparition, dressed in sailor’s gear and standing in a dark corner. He doesn’t say a word, just stands in the corner surveying the room until he is noticed, at which point he will disappear into thin air. He apparently appears quite often, and is a fairly common sighting for patrons and staff. Perhaps he is just keeping an eye on his old hang out spot, or perhaps he is guarding his lost treasure.

He’s almost always seen on the first floor near the fireplace, so keep an eye out when you visit. That's not the only sighting near the fireplace, but more on that later…
Jean Lafitte might be the most famous figure, but he is not the only spirit that has taken up residence in this haunted bar in Louisiana.
P8176CRMichaelW/Trip Advisor
On the second floor, there is the spirit of a woman who many believe to have lived there in the 1890s before she committed suicide upstairs. While there are no written records to confirm this interesting backstory, there has been enough paranormal experiences to confirm that there is something up there. While she doesn’t show herself very often, you may hear her, as she is known to whisper your name into your ear. Creepy right?
There’s one more interesting paranormal sighting that is associated with Lafitte’s, and it may just send shivers down your spine.
wpchic1/Trip Advisor
It’s not an apparition. It’s not a creepy whisper. It’s much worse. In the shadows of the dark corners in the bar as well as inside the fireplace, many people have claimed to have seen glowing red eyes. These piercing red eyes just float, disembodied and silent. When you make eye contact with it, the eyes will lock in on you for a moment before disappearing into the shadows. Many believe that these red eyes are a result of a demonic haunting in Lafitte’s.

So, next time you find yourself at this popular watering hole, keep your eyes peeled and you just may have a paranormal experience of your own.

You can find Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116.

Have you ever had a paranormal experience at Lafitte’s or at other haunted spots in Louisiana? We’d love to hear all about your ghostly encounters in the comments below!

New Orleans is known to be a hotspot for the supernatural, so while you’re in the area be sure to check out some of the other famously haunted spots in Louisiana.

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More to Explore

Haunted Places in Louisiana

Jackie Ann | May 25, 2023

What are the most haunted places in Louisiana?

Some of the most haunted places in Louisiana include:

  • St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: The oldest cemetery in New Orleans is home to several notable figures, including the final resting place of the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. You’ll need a licensed tour guide to enter the cemetery, and during your tour, you’ll hear several stories of people who have had paranormal encounters while walking through the cemetery. 
  • Hotel Bentley: This hotel in Alexandria was built in 1907 and is reportedly haunted by the original owner, Joseph Bentley, who lived on the top floor. Other guests have reported seeing the ghostly figure of a young woman near the elevator, and another gentleman who is often seen by the grand staircase. 

Check out this article for even more haunted places in Louisiana. 

Are there any haunted places to spend the night in Louisiana?

There are several haunted places you can spend the night in Louisiana. If you’re hoping to have your own paranormal experience, these are some of the most haunted hotels in Louisiana:

  • The Myrtles: A former plantation that has turned into a bed and breakfast in St. Francisville, many paranormal investigators have spent time here and all of them have confirmed there are many spirits here. The most famous is Chloe, a former slave who her owner killed after she was believed to have been eavesdropping.
  • The Bourbon Orleans: This hotel in the French Quarter of New Orleans was once a school for girls from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s, and several guests have reported unexplained phenomena on the third and sixth floors, including seeing the apparition of a Confederate soldier pacing the hallways and disembodied sounds of children’s laughter and footsteps, even though no one is around. 

Here are some of the most haunted places to spend the night in Louisiana. 

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Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, 941 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA