Myrtles Plantation: America’s Most Haunted Historic Home

The Myrtles Plantation is in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It was built in 1796. It is one of the oldest estates in America. 

The house has a long white veranda and tall oak trees draped in Spanish moss. It is beautiful and eerie at the same time. Today it runs as a bed and breakfast. It has 20 guest rooms, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and daily guided tours.

Myrtles Plantation: Quick Overview

Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana Location

The Myrtles are in West Feliciana Parish. It sits along U.S. Highway 61. St. Francisville is a small, quiet town. The property covers around 10 acres.

My Visit to Myrtles Plantation

I heard about the Myrtles from a colleague. She called it unlike any place she had ever been. I drove to St. Francisville on a warm spring morning. The house appeared slowly through the trees. The white exterior glowed in the sunlight. Spanish moss swayed in the breeze. The rocking chairs on the porch looked like a painting.

I joined the guided daytime tour of the downstairs rooms. The guide was sharp and passionate. Walking through the entry hall felt like stepping into 1850. Everything looked original and genuine. The house felt lived in and watched over.

The Interior Architecture

The Myrtles is built in the Creole cottage style. The outside is white clapboard with soft blue-grey trim. The front veranda is 125 feet long. It runs the full width of the facade. Ornate cast-iron railings with grape-cluster designs line the gallery. 

Two large pedimented dormers sit on the gabled roof. Six brick chimneys rise above. Enormous live oak trees frame the house on every side. If you love exploring homes like this one, the House Tour collection on our site captures many more properties with this same rare character.

Front Entrance & Curb Appeal

The main entrance has original hand-painted stained glass. It is etched in a French cross pattern. Locals say it was meant to ward off evil. Wide steps lead up from the lawn to the gallery. The double-door entrance was added in the 1850s. It is still one of the most photographed features on the property. The house sits elevated on a small rise. It feels grand the moment you see it from the road.

Entering the Home

The entry hall is wide and long. It runs the full length of the house. A French Baccarat crystal chandelier hangs above. It weighs over 300 pounds.

The original flooring is still in place on the ground floor. Ceilings are tall and light-filled. A cantilevered staircase leads up from the rear of the hall. It is a masterpiece of 19th-century craftsmanship. First impressions here are genuinely powerful.

Living Room & Main Living Spaces

The ground floor has two formal parlors. There is a ladies’ parlor and a gentlemen’s parlor. Both are in the original 1796 section. Furniture is upholstered in deep reds, greens, and golds.

Tall windows let in warm, golden light. Ornate marble fireplaces anchor each room. The gentlemen’s parlor has a stunning Rococo-Gothic design. Gilded mirrors hang above each mantel. The rooms feel elegant and theatrical.

Dining Area

The formal dining room is spacious and refined. A long, polished wooden table sits at the center. A crystal chandelier hangs overhead. Carved plaster cornices line the ceiling with lace-like detail. Just outside the dining room hangs the famous haunted mirror.

Visitors report seeing handprints on the glass that keep reappearing. The on-site Restaurant 1796 serves dinner every night and weekend brunch. The menu features hearth-grilled dishes and house desserts.

Kitchen

The original Myrtles’ kitchen was detached from the main house. This was common in Louisiana to reduce fire risk. That structure still stands on the grounds.

Today, food service runs through the on-site restaurant. It connects to the main house via the 5,000-square-foot brick courtyard. Elta Coffee is in the gift shop building. It serves coffee, snacks, and light lunches every day.

Master Bedroom Suite

The Myrtles has six historical rooms and suites inside the main house. The Judge Clark Woodruff Suite is the largest. It is richly furnished with antiques and period drapery.

All guest rooms feature four-poster beds and classic decor. Upper bedrooms are accessed from the rear staircase off the loggia. Each room is named after a historic figure tied to the estate. Staying overnight here is a deeply immersive experience.

Bathroom

The bathrooms are updated for modern comfort. They keep a period-appropriate style throughout. Some suites have deep soaking or clawfoot tubs.

Vanities use dark wood and classic hardware. Lighting is soft and warm. After a full day on the grounds, these rooms offer real rest and quiet.

Outdoor Living Spaces

The 10-acre grounds are well-maintained. A large central pond sits at the heart of the landscape. A small island with a gazebo is reached by a footbridge. Guest cottages are scattered along walking paths through the trees. 

The brick courtyard connects the main house to the restaurant and gift shop. The front veranda is lined with white rocking chairs. It is a perfect spot to sit in the evening and take in the plantation atmosphere.

What Makes the Myrtles Plantation So Mysterious?

The Myrtles Plantation is a famous haunted house in Louisiana. People say it was built on an old burial ground. Many ghost stories are linked to it. One famous spirit is Chloe, a former slave. She is said to wear a green turban. 

Visitors also report seeing children’s ghosts. Strange sounds, footsteps, and moving objects are often noticed. Mirrors in the house are believed to trap spirits, a belief that echoes the legends surrounding the Winchester Mystery House, where secret rooms and hidden passages were said to confuse wandering spirits. Some guests claim to feel cold spots or see figures. The story mixes history and legend. This makes the plantation one of America’s most well-known haunted places.

Myrtles Plantation History

David Bradford built the original home in 1796 on a Spanish land grant. The plantation grew cotton and indigo. After Bradford’s death, several families owned the estate. The Stirling family made the largest changes, expanding the house and furnishing it with European imports. 

The Civil War left it stripped of its finest pieces. William Winter, a later owner, was shot on the front porch by an unknown man. Much like the Gamble House, which carries its own layered story of the family who shaped it, these layers of ownership and loss make the Myrtles one of the most storied properties in the American South.

Myrtles Plantation Slaves

The Myrtles was worked by enslaved people during its early years. This is an important and documented part of its history. In 2026, the estate acknowledges this openly. Their stated mission is to welcome all visitors while honoring the full story of the land. 

The legend of Chloe, an enslaved woman in the Woodruff household, is widely known. Historians note her existence is hard to verify through records. Her story remains central to the plantation’s identity.

Myrtles Plantation Haunted

The Myrtles is one of the most haunted places in America. National Geographic has featured it as a top paranormal destination. Evening Mystery Tours run seven nights a week. Guests report strange sounds, moving furniture, and perfume in empty rooms. 

The plantation has appeared in TV documentaries and films. For those who are drawn to homes with history this deep, Urbansfreaks.com covers estates and properties where architecture and atmosphere go hand in hand.

Myrtles Plantation Ghost Photos

The most famous photograph was taken by Mrs. Moss in 1992. It was shot during an insurance inspection. The developed image showed a figure standing between two buildings.

Many believe it is the ghost of Chloe. The haunted mirror near the dining room is another source of strange images. Visitors have photographed handprints and figures in the glass.

Myrtles Plantation Owner

The Moss family owns the Myrtles today. They purchased it as their private residence. Under their leadership, the property has expanded greatly. In 2026, it will have 20 guest rooms, a full restaurant, a coffee shop, and a busy tour schedule. They have invested heavily in preservation and hospitality.

How Much is Myrtles Plantation Worth?

The Myrtles sits on 10 acres in St. Francisville. It includes a 22-room main house, guest cottages, a restaurant, and a coffee shop. Comparable Louisiana plantation estates sell between $1 million and $5 million. 

The Myrtles carries extra value from its brand recognition and active business. Its National Register status adds further significance. Its cultural worth, however, is impossible to calculate.

Final Thought

The Myrtles Plantation is a rare place. The architecture is stunning. The interiors are full of period detail. The grounds are peaceful and dramatic all at once. The stories are real and deeply layered. This is where beauty and history meet.

Walking through these rooms, I thought about everyone who came before me. The people who built it, worked it, and lived here. The Myrtles honors all of them honestly. That is what makes the visit unforgettable.

Our clients at UrbansFreaks.com are always asking for homes like this. They want dramatic architecture, wide verandas, tall ceilings, and interiors full of character. The Myrtles Plantation is exactly what they have in mind. If this is the kind of space you are looking for, we can help you find something just like it.