Haunted Places around the state

bethoc · Orb Joined: Sep 14, 2008 Posts: 27 Location: Alabama

I'm origionally from the great Haunted Bayou State and am absolutely obsessed with our state's haunted lore. I have accuired many books on hauntings within the state and for the past decade, have been endeavoring to visit as many as I possibly can. Here is a listing of haunted places I have either personally visited or read about within our fabulously historically diverse state!

Natchitoches- This is the oldest settlement in Louisiana. It was founded in 1714 (a few years before New Orleans even). It has an amazing history as a poineer river port town. Origionally, the Mississippi could be accessed via this early port town. Haunted spots include: The American Cemetery where the ghost of a Native American is frequently seen among other wandering spirits. An interesting sidenote is that the cemetery's present site is the origionaly location of the town's Old Fort St. Jean Baptiste', The local college campus-NSU has a set of very old columns still standing that is all that is left of the origional educational building. The ghost of a former occupant named Isabella still wanders the grounds. The Fleur De Lis Bed and Breakfast has a ghost who appears on a back staircase which is now closed off.
Paranormal activity and spirit figures have been reportedly seen wandering around the downtown Front st. late at night.
Natchitoches is a breathtakingly beautiful old port town that seems to be still frozen in time. If you ever get a chance to go there.....the paranormal activity is off the charts.

St. Francisville- I'm sure we're all familiar with The Myrtles Plantation. I've been there many, many times and even stayed overnight twice. Book the Judge Clarke Woodruff Suite if you're interested in encountering much paranormal activity within the house. Check out the haunted mirror downstairs in the main hallway. There is an ACTIVE portal within it that several previous house occupants's spirits pass through almost every day (yes, spirits are commonly seen at this place even during the day!) If you're interested in having a historically interesting haunted stay, book a cheaper cottage room which is located in a separate wing behind the main house. A phantom civil war soldier is frequently seen to ride straight through the wall at night. (This is the image that TAPS caught on their thermal imaging camera on their investigation I believe and I captured a FULL BODIED apparition OF a phantom rider in the exact same spot where they got the thermal image)

Lafayette- Chretien Point Plantation is THE location which inspired the famous scene from Gone With the Wind where Scarlet shot the Union Soldier. This scene is absolutely true except that the real Scarlet O'Hara's name was Felicity Cretien and she actually shot a rogue pirate who had snuck into her house to steal her jewels. The stairwell she shot him on was featured in the movie and believe it or not, the pirate's body was actually stashed in the cupboard under the stairs until daybreak when his body could be buried. I have unfortunately recently found out that this plantation has been sold to new owners who are discontinuing the bed and breakfast and public tours. This property is not open for guests. Sad

Another haunted spot in Lafayette is T'Frere's Bed and Breakfast. Not only is the Breakfast a Southern Gourmet but there is also a resident ghost here as well. Her name is Amelie and she is very kind and quiet. She makes her presence known to anyone who is unwell or suffering discomfort. My husband had a horrible migrane from driving the 9 hours to get there and was up around 1:20 am suffering insomnia. He felt a warm comforting presence enter our room, place a gentile feminine hand on his head, and slowly, his aching dissapated. He had never felt so at peace. It is interesting that many people who have stayed here in the past have reported these experiences here because she actually died from an accident. She was suffering from a high fever and was out to the side of the home getting a drink out of the cistern. She became dizzy, fell, and hit her head and i believe she drowned.

NapoleonvilleThis is a very quiet, quaint town on a lazy bayou. There is a fabulous plantation here named Madewood. It has a resident ghost who is generally quiet but has been known to display poltergeist activity when unhappy with any redecorating concerns. He is the first owner Mr. Thomas Pugh. His spirit can be felt most strongly in the corridor when you first enter the back entrance. This place is an amazingly Romantic Getaway and the Parisian French Manager Christine will bend over backwards to ensure that your stay is c'est Magnefique! Do not miss this place! The service is impeccable and the grounds and family cemetery are extremely picturesque.

Vacherie Located here in this tiny River town can be found a few of the most historical (and haunted) plantations in the state. I will begin with the most recognizable- Oak Alley. This is the Plantation that is the most photographed in the world. It is pinkish in hugh and has 27 massively lined Live Oaks framing the house in an avenue leading to the mighty Mississippi River. Reports have claimed a young girl to be seen running amongst the oaks late at night. According to legend, she was being pursued by a drunken suitor who did not have her best intrests in mind. She tripped and cut her leg on the rough steel of her hoop skirt. A few weeks later her cut became infected and gangrene set in. Her leg was cut off. She was sent to a nunnery in New orleans. It seems that this event was so horrific that it repeats itself sometimes at night. A photo has been taken of the manequin in the house which when looked at, a head was found to be in spirit floating on top of the headless manequinn dress doll. Her spirit may still roam the home. You can tour the place but it is incredibly short and scriped and photography is forbidden. If you want to catch ghostly activity here I suggest renting a cabin on the grounds. They are 2 and 3 bedroom and incredibly homey!

Just a few miles down the road is a newly renovated Plantation you can tour which does in fact have a ghost you may photograph. It is called St. Joseph and has a wonderfully informative tour conducted by family members who have been in ownership of the property for over a century. The plantation features a "mourning" room with many items commonly found in Catholic family funeral memorials. I did feel a presence around one of the period dresses on a manequin and when I went to take a picture, found that afterward, my battery which was half full, had drained! I highly recommend visiting this plantation and taking the tour. During the month of October, the plantation hosts a "mourning tour" which goes into great detail about early funeral customs of Cajun Louisiana. The staff is very open minded about ghosts and even owns the next plantation I'll mention.

* I think it is important to note that all these plantations in the town of Vacherie were all owned by the same family of the "King of Louisiana Planters"
Miseur Valcour Aime.

Felicity This plantation is featured in the Hollywood hit The Skeleton key It is currently undergoing rennovations and should be open for tours very soon. It is the sister plantation to the previous one mentioned.

I've got to go for now, but there's more to come soon!