Take a Haunted History Tour in New Orleans
History can be fascinating. Combine that with narrow dark streets and ghost stories, and you’ve got a fun adventure through the French Quarter for your visit to New Orleans (a.k.a. Nawlins).
Here’s what you can expect when you book a Haunted History Tour of the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Book Your Tour in Advance
Haunted History Tour offers multiple tours around New Orleans. There’s a cemetery tour, a voodoo tour, and of course, the Ghost & Legends Tour of the French Quarter. That’s the tour our group went on.
The best way to secure a spot on the Ghost & Legends Tour is to book online. We booked our group three weeks in advance. While you may not need to make your reservation that far out, it helps guarantee a spot.
There are two starting times for the Ghost & Legends Tour: 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. A 3 p.m. tour is offered at other times during the year, but I think it’s better to take a haunted history tour when it’s dark outside. 😉
When the day of your tour has arrived, meet at Reverend Zombie’s VooDoo Shop. It’s located at 723 St. Peter Street, between Bourbon and Royal Street in the French Quarter. They ask that you arrive no later than 15 minutes before your departure time.
Remember: It’s a Walking Tour, so Wear Good Shoes
The two-hour tour through the French Quarter isn’t a long walk. But there isn’t really a place to sit down during the tour. So you’ll want to make sure you have some comfortable walking shoes.
After meeting at Reverend Zombie’s VooDoo Shop and getting assigned a tour guide, you’ll make your way through the streets of the French Quarter. You’ll stop every couple of blocks to listen to history and hauntings. The stories are pulled from city archives, police records and the company’s own paranormal experts.
We had a great historian leading our tour group. Other groups had guides that seemed right out of an actors guild. They were dressed the part and told their stories like you were sitting around the campfire.
While on the tour, the guide explained a few rules: keep the sidewalks clear, don’t stand in the road, and don’t lean up against the old buildings. All of these rules are to keep the group safe, and avoid damaging the homes and buildings.
You Don’t Have to Believe in Ghosts to Enjoy the Tour
Some people may not believe in ghosts. Others may curl up in the fetal position at the hint of a ghost. But knowing what to expect on the tour will help your expectations be met.
Don’t be surprised if you get a few hecklers who walk by, telling your tour group that ghosts aren’t real. It’s nothing to get in a brawl over.
The tour is NOT a voyage into haunted buildings with equipment that will detect ghosts. It’s not a race through the French Quarter trying to catch ghosts – we aren’t ghostbusters after all.
While on the tour, you’ll hear stories like this:
- An old school for boys burnt down years ago. That building is now a hotel. Guests have reported that their camera was used to take photos inside their room, but it wasn’t taken by them. The vantage point of the photographer was near the top of the high ceilings.
- Behind St. Louis Cathedral, where people used to have sword duels, there are reports of clamoring voices – but no one is visible.
The tour guide may also explain what Romeo Spikes are. You’ll see them on many of the homes in the French Quarter. While Romeo may use those spikes to climb up to his Juliet’s bedroom, if he comes down too quickly, Romeo may become a Juliet. Haha!
Haunted History of the Lalaurie Mansion
One of the more infamous houses in the French Quarter is the Lalaurie Mansion. While it looks harmless enough on the outside, the tour guide explained some of the torturous history from its insides. It’s been identified as one of the most haunted locations of the French Quarter.
The stories date back to the 1830s when Dr. Louis and Delphine Lalaurie owned the mansion. While Madame Lalaurie loved throwing social functions at her mansion, there was a dark side to her treatment of the slaves they owned.
While I don’t want to ruin what you’ll be told on the tour, I will say that standing in front of the Lalaurie mansion was a little creepy. The rumors of her locking slaves in cages, chaining them to walls and mistreating them was difficult to hear.
The bad luck of the Lalaurie mansion owners has continued through the ages. In fact, actor Nicholas Cage owned the house years ago. The guide explained that some have attributed that to his financial difficulties years ago, until he sold the house to someone else.
Once the tour is over, your free to wander the streets of the French Quarter or take a stroll down Bourbon Street to join the party scene. You can even swing by Cafe du Monde for some beignets and hot chocolate.
The Details
Address: Rev. Zombie’s Voodoo Shop, 723 St. Peter Street in New Orleans.
Cost: $25.00 for adults; $18.00 for students/seniors/military; $14.00 for children 6 – 11.
Hours: Tours start at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. nightly. The tour is also offered at 3 p.m. December 26 – August 15, and October 1 – November 30.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary admission to the Haunted History Ghost Tour for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.
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