New Orleans is best-known for its voodoo and vampire culture, but there are also many eerie spots perfect for ghost tours or overnight stays in its haunted areas – like Delphine LaLaurie’s home (portrayed by Kathy Bates in AHS: Coven) and Old Parish Prison – that are sure to provide chills.
The LaLaurie Mansion
The LaLaurie Mansion, made famous by American Horror Story: Coven and owned by Nicolas Cage for many years before its fire exposed mutilated slaves and Madame LaLaurie’s despicable behavior, remains haunted today with many believing its presence still lingering there as spirits of those tortured there still reside there.
Marie Delphine Macarty LaLaurie and her physician husband were celebrated members of New Orleans society until a fire revealed their darker sides. Visitors who visited Marie LaLaurie’s house reported feeling an oppressive presence as voices from those tormented by Madame LaLaurie can be heard echoing throughout each room after dark; others have reported sudden drops in temperature as well as ghostly sightings.
The Old Parish Prison
As a result of the Yellow Fever outbreak of the late 1700s, many residents died and were interred at what became known as New Orleans cemeteries.
While visiting this haunted place in New Orleans, you might hear strange voices echoing through its cemetery’s crypts or see ghostly children emerging from gravesites – this is due to their vulnerability against this virus.
Some visitors to New Orleans’ haunted Old Parish Prison say they feel at ease there, while others have reported more disturbing experiences like being physically pushed by spirits or hearing alarms go off randomly or doors opening and closing by themselves. Furthermore, The Old Parish Prison offers daytime tours as well as nighttime tours each October.
The Casket Girls
With the right haunted house, New Orleans can become an extremely terrifying and creepy travel experience. While famous for its cultural celebrations, its dark history will undoubtedly terrify even the bravest travelers.
Many ghost tales in the city involve the Casket Girls. These women, described as having delicate skin that was sensitive to sunlight, traveled from France to America in order to marry men who settled the city.
Legend has it that these women were brought into New Orleans in casket-shaped trunks. Nuns who cared for them noticed their trunks were empty even though they should contain clothing and belongings; soon thereafter, these stories of blood-draining vampires evolved further. Today, many tours of New Orleans feature an old Ursuline convent which is said to be haunted by vampiric spirits of women who never found husbands.
St. Louis Cathedral
The French Quarter is full of ghostly spots. To explore them all, why not join New Orleans’ #1 Ghost Tour Company or simply wander its streets yourself and uncover its haunted history?
But not every ghost in a city is an evil spirit returning to pay their debt in the afterlife; many are actually heroic souls who just can’t leave their beloved homes behind.
Father Pere Dagobert is one such loving spirit. A Capuchin friar who dedicated his life to serving New Orleans residents, Father Pere was particularly helpful to the poor and sick as well as interring pirate Jean Lafitte’s body at St Louis Cathedral. Today his ghost reportedly haunts this church regularly during Christmas Vigil Midnight Mass when his appearance can be quite startling to parishioners; also during choir practices or performances and he often wears white with a pocket watch in hand!
