A Guide To Houmas House: A Haunted Louisiana Plantation

houmas house plantation and gardens

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. Rare and period artwork and artifacts are displayed and used to explain plantation life. Situated on over 36 acres, the Houmas House was built in 1828 (though the venue itself dates back to the 1700’s) and completed in 1840.

Choose Your Tour!

The sofa sleeper folds out to a full size bed in addition to the King size four poster bed. The French doors open into a courtyard shared by other guests, but surrounded by lush gardens. A visit to Houmas House Plantation is a delightful experience, with one-hour tours of the mansion, gardens, and more available at $35.

Guided Tours in Darrow, LA

houmas house plantation and gardens

He provided lots of information about the house and was able to answer any questions we had about all the items of which we inquired. After the tour, you are free to roam the beautiful grounds for as long as you wish, and pretty much anywhere you wish. Kind of unusual given that the owner actually lives on the property.Our tour was at 7 pm on a Friday night (The house closes at 8 pm.), and we saw numerous couples dressed very nicely. We thought there was a wedding party on site, but it turns out that the "fine dining" restaurant was open. Cannot comment on the food, but it is apparently pretty popular. Sitting on a curve of the Mississippi River, the Houmas House and Gardens dates back 240 years.

Jim Blanchard's pad - New Orleans Magazine

Jim Blanchard's pad.

Posted: Fri, 01 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT [source]

La Petite Fille (The Little Girl) At The Haunted Louisiana Plantation

He collected great furnishings and great works of art to appoint both his city estate, later named “Burnside Place”, and his country estate, “The Houmas”. He shared his time between the two grand properties and entertained lavishly. At the age of 71, John Burnside, feeling ill, traveled to White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia for what he hoped would be a restful recovery.

What Hotels Are Near The Houmas House?

The gardens are a phenomenal sight, adorned with lighted archways, wood-carved sculptures, and elegant water fountains. In 1882, Oliver enlisted his son-in-law, William Porcher Miles (widower of Elizabeth Beirne, Oliver’s daughter) to manage his Louisiana Estates. In 1888, at the age 77, he died in New Orleans, leaving as estate valued at over five million dollars. The Houmas was inherited by his five grandchildren, the children of William Porche Miles. In 1892, the children transferred all their interests to the Miles Planting Company and William P. Miles was appointed President. Houmas was the inspiration for The Antebellum, an 8,212 sqft estate and gardens in Grogan's Point.

The mansion tour was an hour long and there were maybe 12 of us on the tour, so relatively small. The gal who did the tour was very knowledgeable and eager to share. Houmas House has a museum and 3 restaurants on the grounds, so it’s a great way to spend the day. The Houmas House has elegant architecture, captivating gardens, and a wealth of attractions, a visit to this enchanting estate offers an immersive journey into the past. Houmas House Plantation features breathtaking gardens that captivate for hours. The landscape design is an exquisite display of lily pads, ponds, lotus flowers, and exotic blooms.

This iconic sugar cane plantation has seen a lot of history over the years, so join me on this tour of this stunning Classical Revival house that is still there on the grounds. The plantation is left with 38 acres, down from the hundreds of acres that it started with. The Sugar Cane barons of the 18th century lived along the river and there were hundreds of plantations. The Houmas House is named after the Houmas indians who were natives of the area back in the 1700’s, when this land was settled. You can read all about the history of Houmas House on the History page of their website. In the Spring of 2003, the Estate of Dr. George Crozat auctioned off the entire contents of the mansion and grounds.

All Available Tours

Houmas House: A Magical Spot to Tie the Knot - DatingNews

Houmas House: A Magical Spot to Tie the Knot.

Posted: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 18:05:51 GMT [source]

These tours offer a deeper understanding of the plantation’s significance and its place in Louisiana’s cultural tapestry. The Crown Jewel of Louisiana's River Road features antiques and Louisiana artwork, three award-winning restaurants, gardens, ponds and oaks. For those seeking a truly immersive experience, Houmas House offers luxurious cottages for overnight stays. Nestled within the lush gardens, these cottages provide a tranquil escape and a chance to experience the Southern charm of the plantation after hours. P. Miles Jr., at the age of 45, married Harriet Waters, age 25, of New Orleans. They also enjoyed a large circle of friends that visited frequently, often staying weeks or months at a time.

Step Back In Time At This Haunted Louisiana Plantation

They entertained with dinner parties, garden parties, buggy races and hunting excursions. In the 1920s, a failed sugar crop forced the family to sell off the plantation piece by piece. Finally, the family moved to New Orleans, and the Houmas was used mostly for weekend and Holiday retreats. Two rooms plus a separate bathroom make it spacious and perfect for staying a couple of days.

The cottages are designed to mirror historic structures, offering a traditional experience that still provides modern conveniences. All rooms include a comfortable bed, luxurious bathroom, and a porch for enjoying the views of the grounds. Both annuals and perennials flourish in south Louisiana’s warm, moist summer climate to create a sub-tropical feeling for summertime visitors. We took the guided tour, and our guide (Darren) was not only very knowledgeable, but also quite amicable.

Each room includes a large flat screen TV, Wifi, coffee and tea makers, and  an iron to name a few. Tickets to tour the Houmas Estate and The Great River Road Museum can be purchased upon arrival. 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. The slave girl appeared in the breezeway between The General’s Store and the Butler’s Pantry of the mansion. This unique plantation definitely has plenty of history and lore that has been passed down for generations.

Mr. Burnside left one of the largest estates in America to his boyhood friend, Oliver Beirne. 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. As we sit here sipping cocktails at Turtles Bar, I cant wait to see what the rest of our trip will bring.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Can you bring weed on a cruise?

On Set With the Cast and Crew of Disneys Jungle Cruise

A family-friendly Italian restaurant with 18 locations throughout Missouri and Illinois