New Orleans is a city rich in culture, steeped in traditions from the vast mix of inhabitants drawn to the city over the years. With legends of voodoo queens and tales of creatures of the night ringing in my ears, I wanted to wander the dark streets and learn more about a city that has been called “Necropolis.” I researched until I found “French Quarter Phantoms,” a group of highly trained historians and master storytellers who love to share their knowledge. We attended the 8 PM “Ghost and Vampire” tour, beginning at Flannigan’s Pub, to ensure the maximum scare factor.
The tour began at the infamous Lalaurie house where we learned the story of its depraved inhabitants, a couple so heinous their slave decided to burn the house down rather than face another moment of horror under their roof. Do these souls wander the halls of the home today? Some people believe they do and still refuse to pass under the eaves of the house.
We continued our tour to Ursalane street where several ladies met unfortunate ends at the hands of their lovers. Their eerily similar circumstances, spread over a number of years, have caused some people to believe their phantoms still roam the streets today.
Other phantoms waited in the shadows for us as we journeyed along. Does the Andrew Jackson hotel contain the spirits of young boys who like to play tricks on the unsuspecting guests? What lies in wait in the former morgue? And what of the New Orleans vampires? Do they prey on innocents? Have there been documented vampire murders? Far be it from me to spoil the stories!
Our guide, Hope, was an enthusiastic storyteller, pausing for dramatic effect, building suspense while adding humor to her horror stories. The tour lasted roughly two hours, with a break after one hour to grab a drink. Tip: Flanagan’s Pub offers free water and two for one Hurricanes to tour participants who want something a bit stronger. During our break, I chatted with Hope, who has worked with French Quarter Phantoms for over three years, about insider tips to exploring the city. We left the tour a little wiser about the history of New Orleans and with my kids exclaiming how much they enjoyed the stories.
For anyone interested in learning more about the history of New Orleans, French Quarter Phantoms offers a variety of tours for every taste- a True Crime Tour, a Ghosts and Vampires Tour, a Cemetery Tour, a Saint and Sinners Tour, and a Treme Tour. After our tour with Hope I could see why the company has received Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2011 and 2012 and been in the Top Ten Haunted Ghost Tours in America from 2009-2012. Tip: Purchase tickets online to receive $4 off each tour.
We received two complimentary tickets to the Ghosts and Vampires Tour for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
sure looks like you had a blast. I soo want to go to New Orleans one day… thanks for sharing these amazing pictures….
i get totally freaked out about this stuff lol so i wouldnt be able to do a tour like it
I would love to go on a tour like this one. How fun and interesting it must have been. I’m sure there are so many ghost stories New Orleans has to tell.
This is one city that I have always wanted to see. I would love to try some of the food there too!
Oh my goodness! What an amazing experience to tour such a historically rich place! I would love to take a guided tour through the ghosts of the french Quarter.
This is such a cool and spooky place. I’m sure that there is so much history there and it really is a beautiful place to visit. I love horror movies so I’m into visiting haunted houses and scary places.
Oh my gosh, that looks like so much fun! I have never done anything like that before.
The tour sounds like a great time and definitely something my stepmom and I could do together. She loves that kind of stuff! Thanks for sharing Pam.
This sounds like a fun tour – I want to visit New Orleans someday!
That looks so fun!!! I would probably be a huge sissy on the tour, though! But, I’d still want to go!!
Yikes!! Now that’s something I’d never do 🙂
this would scare the daylights out of me. but it would be awesome.
I would love to got to New Orleans. Looks like it was a lot of fun!
I’ve been on a few ghost tours but never in NOLA! What a great trip!
This looks like such a unique tour!! Sounds fun!
I have told my son that I want to do something like this. We kind of have a fascination spirits or ghosts.
That sounds like neat tour. How fun.
How eerie and fun all at the same time. I would love to take the Ghost and Vampires tour. Def on my to do list if we visit NOLA in the next year like we have planned.
Oh boy! That sounds like some good and spooky fun! I absolutely LOVE to learn about history and hauntings, NO seems like the perfect place to get in on the action!
Sounds fun! I will definitely check this out if I’m ever in New Orleans, sounds so interesting!
My sister and I need to go on this tour! It sounds like a blast.
The photos look scary! I think that my heart would race on this tour. My husband would love it too.
I got chills!! Great post, I would LOVE to take this tour one day.
I would love to visit NOLA – looks like a great time and something different to do!
This looks like a lot of fun! I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’d love to give it a try. 🙂