So you’re planning a trip to New Orleans and friends tell you that you should do a ghost tour while you are there. Which brought you here, in search of the BEST New Orleans ghost tour. Right?
When planning a trip to New Orleans, there are several things you want to consider: food, drink, music and history. And what better way to explore the city’s deep rooted history, than to delve into the ghosts and monsters that make up it’s past? As one of the oldest cities in America, New Orleans, more specifically the French Quarter, has hosted many personalities since it was founded in 1718. It’s seen European royalty and militants, pirates and smugglers, even vampires, witches and voodoo queens!
After some online research, we agreed on French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tours. This company hosts various tours in New Orleans, including ghost, cemetery, music and Garden District tours as well. They have been awarded “Best of New Orleans” by various travel agencies including Trip Advisor and National Geographic. We ultimately decide on their Ghost & Vampire Walking Tour. Note: this tour does not include access to any houses along the way.
French Quarter Phantoms
This tour lasts about 90 minutes, covers nearly one mile (by foot), and starts at the Voodoo Lounge, located near the entrance to Louis Armstrong Park. We arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour, as advised, to pick up our wrist bands. We also take advantage of the 2-for-1 Hurricanes deal they are running for tour guests. As the crowd begins to gather curb-side in anticipation of the tour, it’s evident that the tour appeals to all kinds. There are families, Mardi Gras goers and cruise ship patrons patiently awaiting their tour to begin.
Tonight, we have two tour guides, Luke and Denis, both of whom have a great sense of humor. Luke takes the lead on our tour, which we are quite pleased with. He has been guiding these tours for over 10 years and is so obviously passionate about New Orleans’ dark side. He says he “really became a believer after taking the job”. Luke goes on to explain the ‘rules’ of the tour and encourages everyone to take pictures. He really likes to hear from tour guests after their experience about the creepy/unexplained items that appear in their photos. As a now leader of paranormal expeditions, he explains that he has personally experienced other worldly encounters at each of the sites he visits on his tours.
Every French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tour is unique in that they vary the locations they visit regularly, so it’s likely your experience will differ from ours. All of their guides are permitted by the city and very knowledgeable of the local paranormal activities.
Ghosts and Vampires a Plenty!
At our first stop, we learn about the French Quarter’s “Romeo and Juliet” story and the purpose of the strategically designed “Romeo Spikes” that still adorn some of the French Quarter mansions to this day.
Our next stop is one of two vampire stories we will be treated to this evening. Luke goes into great detail about the dates during which the culprits in question inhabited the house as well as the events surrounding the discovery of the vampire den. At a later stop, we indulge in tales of vampire imprisonment and modern day beliefs that the Catholic church is still heavily involved with keeping it a secret.
As far as we are concerned , the creepiest stop on our tour is the Andrew Jackson Hotel. This hotel is known to be haunted by small children and to this day, the front desk regularly receives calls from guests complaining that children are running around the hotel at night. Luke goes on to describe first hand encounters that overnight patrons have experienced, as the hotel is active and you can rent a room here for the night. Do you dare?
Ghostly Half Time
After visiting three haunted sights, there is a mid-tour pause for restroom and beverages, accompanied by another haunting story of course! Many of the buildings in the French Quarter have gone through various transformations over the years, but those transitions can’t shake the ghosts that have resided in the buildings for hundreds of years. Be sure to keep an eye out while on your 15 minute break, you never what you might experience! The tour resumes with another three stops.
The Most Famous of Them All
One of the stops on our tour is in front of the most famous mansion in all the French Quarter. This mansion belonged to a Creole socialite and serial killer. Any guesses? The LaLaurie Mansion. Made even more famous by the third season of ‘American Horror Story: Coven’, you have to hear the incredible tales that originated in this house. There are some sick and twisted stories associated with the slaves that once lived and served under it’s roof.
Fun fact: Nick Cage owned and lived in the LaLaurie Mansion for a month. Rumour is that’s all he could tolerate.
Now, we don’t go into any detail about the tales or locations as we wouldn’t do them any justice. We want you to experience this haunting New Orleans ghost tour for yourself! So what do you think? Are you ready to go on a ghost tour? You can buy your French Quarter Phantoms Ghost Tour tickets ahead of time on TripAdvisor. And if you get a chance to take your tour with Luke or Denis, you’ll be glad you did!
Too Scared to Go to Bed?
After the walking tour, take advantage of New Orleans after dark and peruse the artsy windows along Royal Street. Then, pop over to Café du Monde for an order of the famous beignets without the wait!
Have you ever been on a New Orleans ghost tour (or any ghost tour for that matter)? Share your favourite ghost stories with us below!
*Disclaimer: This tour was in partnership with French Quarter Phantoms. All opinions are 100% that of Staying Afloat Blog.
