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Finally, the family moved to New Orleans, and the Houmas was used mostly for weekend and Holiday retreats. In April of 1848, there were thirty family members and guests in residence at the Houmas, and just as many servants in the household. The lavish dinner tables were dressed with fish, shell fish and oysters from the Gulf, wild turkey, venison, duck from the swamp, and woodcock, snipe and birds shot by Preston and his guests in the fields. There was an abundance of beef and mutton from the plantation, as well as fruits and vegetables from the gardens. On a great curve of the Mississippi River and on high ground first selected by the Houmas Indians stand the great Tuscan columns of The Houmas.
A Guide To Houmas House: A Haunted Louisiana Plantation
Tickets to tour the Houmas Estate and The Great River Road Museum can be purchased upon arrival. After we got all settled in we went for a stroll through the gardens. It was amazing to see so many different garden areas with a variety of sculptures, water features, plants and historic artifacts. It was a working sugarcane plantation by 1803, when the United States obtained the area through the Louisiana Purchase. Shortly afterwards The Houmas was purchased by Daniel Clark, who began to develop the property and built one of the first sugar mills along this stretch of the river.
The Great River Road Museum Tickets
Jessica James is an award-winning historical fiction author and life-long Gettysburg resident who loves sharing her passions for history and travel. She enjoys exploring the back roads of the USA and uncovering stories about unique destinations, cultures and almost-forgotten history. With its expansive gardens, stately mansion, restaurants and cottage, the Houmas House plantation also makes a wonderful wedding venue and is available for corporate events. In its early years, Houmas House plantation had an oak alley leading from the river’s edge to the house. These “allees” were (and still are) common in Louisiana because the trees help funnel the cooler air from the river straight to the residence.
Visit The Great River Road Steamboat Museum
As we sit here sipping cocktails at Turtles Bar, I cant wait to see what the rest of our trip will bring. Get a glimpse into the history and life along the Mighty Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Explore river life on the east and west banks of the Lower Mississippi. This unique plantation definitely has plenty of history and lore that has been passed down for generations. If you’re interested in visiting this haunted Louisiana plantation, read on, because the Houmas House has another ghostly story tied to the construction of the levee.
So much so, that when a new owner bought the estate at an auction in 2003, he did an extreme makeover. The Houmas House was stripped, scraped, scrubbed and renovated from top to bottom. In fact the plantation — once called “the crown jewel of Louisiana’s River Road” had lost its luster and fallen into disrepair in the 1990s. Here are two of the ghostly tales that reveal why the Houmas House is definitely a haunted Louisiana plantation. Discover the Historic Village at Allaire and all it has to offer. Guests were delighted by the delectable charcuterie spreads and a wide selection of Cajun/creole favorites.
Choose Your Tour!
The Houmas House Plantation is located about 20 miles from Oak Alley Plantation, which is famous for its photographic appeal. The engineers assigned to the project cited a change in the water table, damage from heavy equipment and other construction factors for the overnight transformation. Unfortunately 16 of the workers devised a scheme to profit from the large trees by floating the logs downriver to New Orleans. Not only did these men fail to make it to the city and collect any money, something happened to all of them and none of their bodies were ever recovered.
She played games of tag in the gardens and hide-and-seek in the great house until she fell gravely ill in 1848. But when the renovated house opened to the public, sightings of the little girl began again. Both guides and guests have seen her and say she seems curious about all the activity. Along with deep ties to the land comes stories passed down from generation to generation. As I soon discovered during my visit, residents of the New Orleans area and all of South Louisiana have a deep sense of heritage that goes back many hundreds of years. The Houmas House Plantation is beautiful, but so are the haunting remains of a sugar plantation in Florida that was burned by the Seminoles in the 1830s.
High heels are not recommended as the property is quite expansive. Our winters are mild, but occasionally it does get cold, so please be prepared. The mansion, restaurants, gift shop, and museum are all centrally air-conditioned and heated. Houmas House Plantation boasts immaculate grounds with meticulously maintained landscaping. Sculptures, exotic plants, and a Japanese footbridge adorn the expansive property, along with charming fountains. As you explore the premises, tranquility envelops you, offering a refreshing escape.
Visiting Houmas House Plantation, LA: A Stunning Property
Houmas House, Oak Alley among travel site's Top 20 historic home tours; vote for your favorite - The Advocate
Houmas House, Oak Alley among travel site's Top 20 historic home tours; vote for your favorite.
Posted: Wed, 16 Dec 2015 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Plantations in Louisiana are one of the most sought after attractions throughout the state. Located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, The Houmas House Estate allows visitors to experience the life on a sugarcane plantation in the 1800’s. The mansion has been restored to the antebellum era, reflecting the opulence and wealth this sugarcane farm boasted in the 1880’s. The guided mansion tour walks through the 250 year history, showing the architectural evolution of this manor house and how it became a grand estate.
In the Spring of 2003, the Estate of Dr. George Crozat auctioned off the entire contents of the mansion and grounds. Kevin Kelly, a New Orleans Businessman, purchased the mansion and surrounding grounds and began the task of restoring the mansion and gardens. The mansion, having undergone over 200 years of construction and remodeling by various owners, reflected a multitude of styles. It was impossible to restore the house to a definite period without sacrificing elements from other important periods of its history. The choice was made to select the best features from various periods to showcase a legacy of each family in the mansion.
Although it presents a historic appearance, this old portion of the house has been much reworked. Period antiques, artwork, and artifacts help the costumed guides tell the story of plantation life. Once sprawling over 300,000 acres, Houmas House has survived wars, floods, abandonment, and the test of time. Once you have explored the Houmas Estate, visit The Great River Road Steamboat Museum.
Nestled amidst the lush landscapes of Louisiana, the Houmas House Plantation stands as a testament to the region’s rich history and grandeur. We are still in the middle of our trip but I had to take a moment to review this team. We are currently staying in the deluxe suite on the grounds and it is perfect. We had dinner at Latils last night and not only was the food fantastic but Josh and Phyllis were inviting and provided great service. Today we toured the informative museum and toured the Mansion with Darrin who was amazing.
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