Many cities in America have spooky locations to see. But New Orleans, Louisiana is (unofficially) the most haunted city in America! Locals and paranormal investigators agree these New Orleans haunt spots are the real deal.
Channel your inner crow
New Orleans has over 40 cemeteries, but St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 may be the most haunted. It’s supposedly haunted by Marie Laveau, a voodoo magician from the 1800s. When she was alive, people said she could make magical potions and summon spirits. Locals say Marie’s ghost may appear as a crow or a black dog running through the cemetery. Some visitors mark her tomb with three large X’s and turn around three times for good luck. But don’t try that at home - marking on tombs is illegal!
Come for the first aid, stay for the ghost
Marie Laveau also appears in the French Quarter, the oldest part of New Orleans. People say her ghost drifts down St. Ann Street wearing a white gown with a handkerchief tied in seven knots around her neck. One man said he met her in a French Quarter drugstore. He claimed Marie’s ghost asked him if he knew who she was. When he said no, she purportedly punched him in the nose! Some historical accounts say Marie blended medicines for the prisoners of nearby jails, which could explain why her ghost might be haunting the drugstore.
But was the sultan insulted?
In the 1800s, a Turkish sultan rented the Gardette-LePretre House in the French Quarter. He, his family, and their servants lived there quietly for years. But one dark and stormy night, intruders snuck in and killed everyone! They buried the sultan underneath a tree in the courtyard, which locals call the Death Tree. The murderers were never caught, and no one knows why they killed the whole family. Since the incident, people have reported hearing Turkish music coming from the house. The sultan himself may haunt the house, since people hear screams and see ghostly figures around the Death Tree.
Ballroom battle
Another haunted house in the French Quarter once belonged to General Beauregard, a Civil War veteran. People say his ghost throws a dance party in the ballroom some nights at 2:00 AM! Locals report seeing ghostly dancers wearing fancy uniforms in the ballroom windows. They say that suddenly, the men’s clothes turn into bloody rags and wounds cover their bodies. Battle sounds are sometimes heard when people pass by the house. Today, General Beauregard’s house is a museum - and it’s not open at night!
A ghost pirate’s life for me
Jean Lafitte was a daring smuggler and privateer in the early 1800s. He and his brother, Pierre, owned a blacksmith shop in the French Quarter. Legend says he buried his pirate treasure under the fireplace in the shop! Today, some visitors say his ghost can be seen leaning against the wall, frowning and twirling his black mustache. Others claim he appears clean-shaven, but vanishes the moment you see him. Jean’s ghost has even been spotted along the coast all the way to Texas! Back at Jean’s blacksmith shop, people report glowing red eyes in the fireplace, lights turning themselves on and off, and invisible hands tapping them on the shoulder. Even Marie Laveau’s face has been seen in the blacksmith shop’s mirror!
The real Ratatouille rat?
Arnaud Cazenave owned a popular French restaurant called Arnaud’s. To ensure his food was the best in town, he was sometimes strict and demanding of his staff. Since Arnaud’s death, strange things have happened at his restaurant. Waiters report finding forks, knives, or napkins rearranged if they accidentally put them in the wrong place. Bartenders claim someone cleans up the bar overnight if they forget. And some cooks say they still feel Arnaud’s presence as they cook, watching over them to make sure they prepare the food correctly! The ghost of Arnaud’s daughter, who took over the restaurant after his death, has also been spotted around the restaurant.
Starring a ghost as himself
Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is a classic New Orleans theater built in the late 1700s. Actors and attendees report seeing the ghosts of dead actors, hearing piano music with no one playing, and feeling icy wind gusts indoors. Staff members say a ghostly gentleman who smells like expensive tobacco and cologne sometimes sits in the audience. According to lore, if the ghostly gentleman claps at the end of the first show, the play will be a success! Ghosts in Civil War uniforms have been spotted wandering around in the lobby. Witnesses claim one young soldier likes to check his reflection in the mirror.
These ghost stories have me feeling spooked! If you’re feeling skeptical, you can always visit New Orleans yourself. Which haunted location would you rather visit? Click the blue button below to vote! 👓