Chilling Encounters: Haunted Houses in New Orleans

New Orleans is often considered the most unique city in the US. Originally founded by the French, it passed through the hands of various powers, including the Spanish and the Confederates.

Its charming French architecture and distinctive Creole and Cajun cuisine make New Orleans a popular destination for tourists from across the nation, but there is something else that attracts visitors to this energetic, bustling city – its ghosts. 

As one of the most haunted cities in the country, there’s a lot for ghost hunters to unpack here. Here are the spookiest haunted houses in New Orleans to investigate, whether you’re a paranormal hunter or simply curious about what’s lying behind the glittering surface of New Orleans.

Haunted Houses in New Orleans

Here are a few of the most well-known haunted houses in New Orleans and their stories.

The LaLaurie Mansion

The LaLaurie Mansion is the most well-known haunted house in New Orleans. It belonged to the socialite Madame Delphine LaLaurie, also known as Madame Blanque and her third husband. Madame LaLaurie, who came from a respected European Creole family, was well-regarded in the New Orleans community. 

She often threw lavish parties in her mansion, entertaining the townsfolk. On the exterior, Madame LaLaurie was a kindhearted woman, including to the African Americans in New Orleans. She made an appearance of caring for the enslaved and ensuring their fair treatment. This was a farce because, unknown to the residents of New Orleans, her treatment of her own slaves was subpar. 

Over the years, rumors started emerging about her horrible treatment of slaves, but it was mostly swept under the rug. From 1830-1834, 12 slaves belonging to LaLaurie died, according to funeral registry records from that time. 

Although slavery was still legal in Louisiana, slavery in the state was originally codified under the French Code Noir, which explicitly forbade torturing slaves. Corporal punishment was allowed, but only under certain conditions. Even though Louisiana later came under the control of the Americans, the prevailing Catholic beliefs differed from the Protestant beliefs in the rest of the states, which also influenced people’s attitudes toward slaves. 

Nevertheless, LaLaurie was able to keep her horrible treatment of her slaves under wraps – until a fire broke out at the mansion on April 10th, 1834. It is believed that a slave set the fire in an attempt to escape or alert the townsfolk of their treatment, and the strategy worked. When the fire department arrived, they found a 70-year-old woman chained to the stove by her ankle. 

Madame LaLaurie, furthermore, refused to allow the fire department access to the slave quarters. Forced to break down the door, what they discovered horrified them: slaves with limbs stretched and torn from one extremity to another and slaves tied and suspended by their necks. Some slaves were horribly mutilated, including an older woman with a deep wound to the head. 

Some reports describe slaves with spiked iron collars to force their heads into upright positions and other forms of restrictive iron bondage. 

Enraged, local residents tried to storm the mansion. The fire had been put out, but a mob gathered and ransacked the mansion in search of the LaLauries. They had already fled the town on their way to France. They lived in France for the rest of their lives, never to return for fear of what might be done to them. 

Both the ghosts of the tormented slaves and Madame LaLaurie herself are said to haunt the mansion despite it being rebuilt over the years. Passersby have reported muffled groans and cries of pain coming from the former slave quarters. 

The mansion also served as a girl’s school in the 19th century. Students reported constantly being attacked by a woman, showing bruises, scratches, and injuries to their school teachers. The identity of this woman was never known, as teachers never saw her, but it is suspected that it was the ghost of LaLaurie, reveling in and enjoying the torture of more innocents.

The Old Ursuline Convent

In the 1700s, when New Orleans was still a French colony, French colonialist men outnumbered women four to one. The King of France would send young girls (usually orphans) to New Orleans for the men to marry. 

These girls were commonly known as casket girls, as they would arrive in New Orleans with small caskets in which they carried their clothes and personal belongings. 

However, after one such “shipment” of around 300 girls in 1727, strange things started to happen in New Orleans. The girls, who spent the journey in the underbelly of the ship, staggered onto shore, sun-deprived and malnourished. The men awaiting their arrival found them unnaturally pale. 

In the days after their arrival, several bodies were found in New Orleans. These bodies had lost a lot of blood, and a rumor started to spread that the pale girls had killed them for their blood. Several young men had also gone missing, with no trace of them ever found. 

Suspicious, the nuns at the convent decided to investigate. They came across the casket, which they found still unopened and surprisingly heavy. 

They opened the caskets, only to find all of them mysteriously empty. They suspected the girls of transporting vampires or ghosts in their caskets and locked the caskets in the attic, bolting the windows shut. The windows are bolted shut to this day! 

According to New Orleans legend, anyone who opens the window will unleash a horrible curse onto the city. Some residents report seeing glowing, glaring eyes peering out of the shuttered windows at night. 

Today, this former convent is a museum that’s open to the public.

The Sultan’s Palace

The Sultan’s Palace, also known as the Gardette-LePretre House, is one of the most photographed buildings in the French Quarter. This three-and-a-half-story building stands out, even in the ancient French Quarter, for its unique architecture. Its impressive facade doesn’t tell the full story of its sordid past, though, including mass murder, a Turkish sultan, and a stolen harem. 

The first known owner of the property was a free African American woman. It changed hands multiple times until it was sold to Jean Baptiste LePretre in 1839. 

According to the local legend, LePretre was approached by a Turk who asked if he would rent the large home to a visiting Turkish sultan. LePretre, a farmer, agreed, as he spent most of his time on his plantation and needed the cash. The sultan promptly moved in, together with his harem of veiled women. 

It was the talk of the town! The sultan would hold parties, and every night, the sounds of laughter and the smell of opium would emanate from the building. Nobody was privy to what was truly going on, as locals were not invited to the party—it was reserved for Turks. 

What people didn’t know, though, is that the sultan was fleeing his brother, also a sultan, from whom he stole gold, silver, jewels, and women. 

On a dark stormy night, assassins, presumably sent by the sultan’s brother, broke into the house while one of the parties was taking place armed with machetes and swords. They hacked the sultan, the women in his harem, and the guests to death. When New Orleans woke up, residents found a gory sight – dismembered bodies and blood flowing into the streets.

The Vampire Café

Building on the legends of New Orleans’s spookiness and the vampire casket girls, The Vampire Cafe offers a modern-day “vampire” experience. In this haunted bar, you can order a vampire-themed drink based on your blood type. 

For the best experience, I recommend visiting as part of a New Orleans haunted pub crawl. Learn more about the R-rated history of all these different New Orleans haunted locations with the aid of some liquid courage. You’ll need it! 

Experience New Orleans’ Haunted History Through Ghost Tours

When it comes to uncovering the spooky side of New Orleans, nothing beats joining a ghost tour. These immersive experiences combine history, mystery, and a touch of fright, offering a closer look at the city’s haunted past. From spine-chilling tales to supernatural lore, ghost tours let you walk in the footsteps of history while experiencing the atmospheric charm of New Orleans’ most iconic neighborhoods.

Here’s a roundup of some unforgettable options to suit your style:

French Quarter Ghosts and Ghouls of New Orleans

Step into the haunted heart of the French Quarter, where real-life tales of murder, wartime tragedies, and unexplained phenomena come alive. This tour delves deep into the hidden history of the Big Easy, giving you a bone-chilling perspective on its ghostly residents.

Duration: 1 hour

Blood and Magic: Voodoo and Vampire True Crime Tour

Dive into the mystique of New Orleans’ voodoo culture and vampire lore on this tour, which uncovers the eerie true-crime stories and spiritual practices that shape the city’s dark allure.

Duration: 1.5 hours

New Orleans Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Mix ghost stories with liquid courage on this haunted pub crawl, where you’ll explore some of New Orleans’ spookiest historic bars while sipping on your favorite cocktails.

Price: $27 per person

Duration: 2 hours

Big Easy Bayou Bites French Quarter Food Tour

For those who prefer their frights served with a side of deliciousness, this food tour offers a chance to taste the French Quarter’s culinary delights while exploring its rich cultural and haunted history.

Price: $75 per person

Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes

Frenchmen Street Music and Murals Bayou Bar Crawl

Let the good times roll with this vibrant tour showcasing the best of Frenchmen Street’s live music, stunning murals, and energetic bar scene. This unique crawl combines art, culture, and merriment with a twist of haunted history.

Price: $35 per person

Duration: 2 hours

Time and Money: Tombs and Mansions of the Rich and Famous

Explore the opulent mansions and mysterious tombs of New Orleans’ Garden District. This tour unveils the darker side of the city’s wealth, with haunting tales hidden behind lavish façades.

Price: $25 per person

Duration: 2 hours

Book these tours directly with the operator here

Whether you’re fascinated by ghostly legends, enthralled by true crime, or simply want to soak up the city’s eerie charm with a drink in hand, these tours offer a memorable way to delve into New Orleans’ haunted history. Book a tour today and prepare to be captivated by the stories that make the Crescent City a ghost hunter’s dream!