Houmas House Plantation
Tour through this historic Louisiana plantation, and ghosts may come out of the trees to greet you
Ghost Stories of
Houmas House Plantation
- A little girl’s apparition is seen on the stairs
- Trees around the property are purportedly haunted by lost souls
- Sensations of being watched are reported by visitors
- Shadow figures are seen throughout the property
- Apparitions of Civil War soldiers are sometimes spotted
History of Houmas House Plantation
Louisiana is no stranger to historic plantation houses and expansive, old-world estates. Each one of the Pelican State’s plantation homes comes with a unique past, and some similarly unique ghosts.
And Darrow, Louisiana’s Houmas House Plantation may be home to some of Louisiana’s most one-of-a-kind ghost stories.
The history of the Houmas land stretches back to the Colonial Era, before the United States even declared independence. In all that time, many landowners and slaves alike called the property home.
Now, some of those old souls may spend their time spawning new mysteries around the storied property. Today, Houmas House Plantation is said to be a place where ghost stories may just fall right out of the trees.
Timeline of Houmas House Plantation's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Houmas House Plantation through the years
1774
In 1774, European immigrants Alexander Latil and Maurice Conway purchased a large swath of Louisiana land, located in what was then Spanish territory. At the time, the property was owned and managed by a regional Native American tribe, the Houmas. Latil and Conway bartered with the tribe, purchasing the land for $150 worth of common goods. The land quickly became known as ‘Houmas’ in honor of the tribe that had sold it. Despite Latil and Conway’s interest in the property, they were not the ones to fully develop it into a plantation.
1811
Daniel Clark proved to be the first Houmas landowner to start large-scale agricultural work on the property. But, development didn’t truly begin until 1811, when Revolutionary War veteran Wade Hampton bought the land. Hampton and his family expanded on budding sugar operations there, and within a few years grew the property into a massive success. It was in this booming era that, in 1829, Hampton had a large, central plantation house built for his family, the home still seen there today.
1858
The Hampton family’s ownership helped the Houmas Plantation flourish well into the 1850s. In 1858, the Hamptons sold their business to John Burnside for the exorbitant price of $1,000,000. Burnside, with 12,000 acres of tillable land and over 550 slaves, saw a bright future in the plantation business. But, the Civil War quickly turned the industry on its head. Burnside transitioned his labor force to immigrant workers soon after the war. This, and his claim of British citizenship during the war, spared his home from Union torches.
1940
After Burnside died, Houmas Plantation went through numerous owners into the mid-1900s. The sugar production was industrialized and modernized in this period, though the central home remained the same. This changed in 1940, when Dr. George Crozat bought the plantation. Dr. Crozat proved far more interested in the house than the farm fields, and set about making huge alterations to the home. Under Crozat, the home was stripped of old architectural elements and had wings and outbuildings demolished.
1965
When Crozat died in 1965, many of his visions for Houmas House were left either partially completed or totally undone. His family did not complete many of his projects in the years that followed. As a result, by the late 1990s, Houmas House Plantation had fallen into disrepair. In the early 2000s, it was decided that the plantation and its remaining grounds would be parceled out and sold off. Land and artifacts were sold piece-by-piece, until the house itself sat on only 38 remaining acres. In 2003, the house itself was sold to businessman Kevin Kelly.
2003
Kelly’s purchase would prove to be Houmas House’s turning point. Kelly invested immense amounts of time and energy bringing the plantation back to life. He undid some of Dr. Crozat’s updates, and did everything possible to take the house back in time, for the purpose of creating a public attraction. Today, much of the house is open to the public, and even features on-site restaurants and other attractions. But efforts to modernize the house may have awoken spirits within. Now, visits to Houmas House may come with haunting encounters.
Is Houmas House Plantation Haunted?
Many ghost stories swirl around Houmas House Plantation today, but perhaps the most unique tale on the property has nothing to do with the house.
Instead, a popular piece of local lore suggests the Houmas Plantation’s trees are the property’s haunted hotspots.
The story goes that, early in the plantation’s life, long rows of oak trees hugged the path leading to the house. Owner John Burnside took to calling these statuesque trees ‘The Gentlemen.’ Over time, they became cornerstones of the property’s personality.
But in 1927, a flood washed through the region. In response, locals cut down nearby trees to build higher levees, many of The Gentlemen included. And it was in this era where Houmas’ first ghost story appeared.
Ghosts of The Gentlemen
Legend has it that a group of 16 men plotted to steal the felled Gentlemen’s lumber for profit. However, in the process of floating the logs downriver, all of them perished in a mysterious accident.
Little proof of this story exists, and many different versions are spread. Some tales leave the number of men uncertain, and say it was 16 trees that were lost, rather than 16 men.
Regardless of the legend’s origins, the haunting of The Gentlemen remains a popular story today.
Visitors to Houmas say that, when things are quiet, you can hear men sawing and working around the remaining trees. Others say the remaining trees droop and sag in ways no other oaks in the world do. It’s possible the trees themselves mourn their fallen brethren.
Hauntings Inside Houmas House
Inside Houmas House Plantation, other spectral tales linger. One of the most popular house haunts is that of a mysterious, unknown little girl. The little girl’s tale started out in the early 2000s, as extensive renovation work was happening throughout the property.
Purportedly, the first sighting came from an electrician doing work on the house, who saw a little girl in a blue dress descend the main staircase. Concerned for the child’s safety at a construction site, the worker pursued the girl’s figure, only to find the home empty.
Further reports over the years have told of similar encounters with the ghostly little girl.
She is regularly spotted in the same blue dress, most often on the main staircase. But others have seen her frolicking around other rooms of the house, and even following some people around the premises.
Shadow Figures Explore the Plantation
Along with the little girl ghost, Houmas House Plantation is home to other stories of unknown shadow figures. None are as well-known or seen as often as the girl in the blue dress, but some wonder if they might be the little girl’s relatives.
Dark silhouettes are sometimes reported strolling through the halls and down the main staircase. While they are nothing more than shifting shadows, those who have seen them say they all appear adult-sized. Perhaps the little girl’s parents, in search of her?
Do Civil War Specters Linger on the Grounds?
Some visitors to Houmas House Plantation suggest spirits of Civil War soldiers may also linger around the property. Vivid apparitions of young men in Civil War uniforms are reported by some tourists around the property. These are some of the rarer reports at the plantation, and it may take a keen eye to spot a soldier spirit on a tour.
But, even if you don’t see them, the plantation spirits might see you. Another, more common claim is that visitors will feel closely watched in certain rooms. They feel as though someone is in there with them, investigating everything they do.
Find Haunted Happenings at
Houmas House Plantation
Houmas House Plantation remains a popular attraction in Darrow today. It’s one of the most well-known plantation houses in all of Ascension Parish.
While taking in the history of Houmas, visitors can enjoy a meal at one of the on-site restaurants, or sip some tea or coffee from the nearby Dixie Cafe. The property now also includes a cozy bed & breakfast on-site as well. But through the bustle of a busy, multi-faceted attraction, Houmas’ haunting tales are never lost.
Ghost tours are not currently offered as part of any tour package at Houmas. But, interested paranormal enthusiasts can always book a day tour and see what they experience. Many of the plantation’s paranormal reports stem from sights and experiences had on these daytime tours. There is also an available option to tour both Houmas, and another nearby haunt, Destrehan Plantation.
If you’re interested in what may go bump in the night at Houmas, you can book a stay at the nearby inn. But don’t be surprised if the spookiest things you spot through the shadows are the low-hanging branches of The Gentlemen, held down forever by the weight of lost souls.
