YAY! I am finally headed back home to New Orleans for the winter. I am one happy girl. If you know me, you know that I grew up in the Chicago suburbs – and I am quite the city girl. So moving to New Orleans was a big adjustment, but I ended up falling IN LOVE with the city, people, food, everything. I am so happy to be back in our house and our home!
Few of you probably know this, but I actually am not a fan of Halloween. I never really have been, but I try to be a good sport and go with the flow. This year I will be passing out candy (trying not to eat every other piece I hand out), watching Hocus Pocus on repeat, and enjoying myself a glass of wine. I am perfectly content with not dressing up and going out on the town.
However, since Halloween is this week, and I do live in one of the most haunted cities in the whole United States, I figured I would do some research and see how haunted New Orleans really is. You know I love me a good ghost tour. This one by Free Tours By Foot is my absolute FAVORITE. Since I have been on that tour a couple times, I am already educated on some haunted places, but I wanted to share them with y’all.
The LaLaurie Mansion
The LaLaurie Mansion is widely considered to be the most haunted house in all of New Orleans. For a very haunted city with probably hundreds of haunted houses, that is a pretty bold move. So, why do so many people think the LaLaurie House so haunted? It might have to do with an incident that happened in 1834. A fire broke out, revealing seven slaves who were starved, tortured and chained in the upper part of the building. It is one of the most grim and gory stories about haunted New Orleans.
For almost 200 years, there have been reports of paranormal activity coming from this house. It’s not a surprise that a lot of the hauntings can be traced back to the slaves that Madame LaLaurie kept on the property. Reports of moaning coming from the room where the slaves were kept are common. Phantom footsteps echo through the house with regularity. Many people who have stood near the house have reported feeling as if they were taken over by a negative energy. So who wants to go walk by this house, there is no way I am going inside though!
The Andrew Jackson Hotel
When it comes to haunted hotels in the French Quarter, the Andrew Jackson Hotel is right up at the top. Stories of hauntings and ghosts have come from guests for as long as the Andrew Jackson Hotel has been open as a hotel.
Perhaps spookiest of all is the fact that most of the hauntings and ghosts seem to be that of children. Before it was a hotel, this building was used as a boarding school for young boys. Many guests have reported hearing children playing in the halls. This is always my favorite stop on the ghost tour, because there is a story of a couple who was visiting and woke up to a picture taken of them in bed from above. Someone would have had to sneak into their room, get a ladder and climb above the bed to get this picture. Talk about spooky!!
Muriel’s Restaurant
Perhaps more than any other restaurant, Muriel’s has gone above and beyond to be accommodating to the ghosts that haunt this famous restaurant. The building which houses Muriel’s was considered haunted well before the restaurant opened its doors.
But, who is this mysterious ghost who harasses the staff and makes itself known to the diners who come to enjoy Muriel’s? The ghost got to a point where it was getting disturbing and employees were quitting, they finally came up with a solution. In the back corner of the restaurant, they set a full table for the ghost to happily sit at each night and enjoy that atmosphere of Muriel’s. Don’t believe me? Go check it out for yourself!
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
One of the oldest and most haunted buildings in the French Quarter, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, is easily one of the spookiest bars in all of New Orleans. Mitch and I frequent here all the time. At night, almost the entire bar is lit by candle light. It has a super cool ambiance, and I highly recommend if in New Orleans. However, just be aware you may be sharing a drink with a ghost.
But besides ghosts, have you ever heard of phantom red eyes? Well, it has been known that Lafitte’s is home to something which is often seen that has bright red eyes. There is never a body, never a voice….just piercing red eyes. They are always seen in the dark corners of Lafitte’s. As soon as you make eye contact with it, the eyes will freeze on you, before fading into nothing. Now who really wants to go grab a drink here?
New Orleans Cemeteries
New Orleans, a city built upon its dead, and perhaps one of America’s most haunted city. It only makes sense that New Orleans has more than its share of cemeteries. Many of these cemeteries are haunted by the ghosts which used to call New Orleans home. Famous Cemeteries, such as St. Louis Cemetery #1, St. Roch Cemetery and Metairie Cemetery all claim to being haunted by ghosts and other paranormal activity.
Now there are so many more places I could have shared with y’all, but all of these especially gave me the heebie-jeebies. I would 10,000% recommend going on a ghost tour if you find yourself in New Orleans to learn about how haunted it really is. If this doesn’t get you in the spooky season spirit, I don’t know what does.
Do you believe in ghosts???
I love this!! When we come down to visit you for the wedding I am sure Drew will want to go to all these places!