New Orleans is known for its unique experiences, from amazing Cajun food to Mardi Gras. Another draw for tourists eager to explore the Louisiana town? Its haunted reputation. If you’re into all things spooky, New Orleans is a must-see.
The city has served as the backdrop for famous other-worldly television shows and movies, from “American Horror Story Coven” to “True Blood” and “Interview with a Vampire” — and for a good reason. New Orleans’ past is rife with experiences of the occult and spiritual.
What makes this town so creepy? The south’s history of slavery and the Civil War led to many tragic deaths — one reason that the city is believed to be so heavily haunted. Other tragedies, like yellow fever epidemics and fires, are also factors. To top it off, New Orleans has its own unique brand of voodoo, which originated when enslaved West Africans were brought to the area in the 18th century.
New Orleans is also considered close to the spirit world due to its unique geography. Much of the city is at or below sea level, making traditional underground burial tricky. As a result, the city’s famous graveyards feature many above-ground tombs. The dead aren’t so dead when they’re above ground with you!
In a city that’s known for (mostly friendly!) spirits roaming the streets, there’s bound to be plenty of haunted hotels. We’ve rounded up some hotspots of paranormal activity below. If you want to visit the most haunted New Orleans hotels, this list is the perfect jumping-off point for your research.
Hotel Monteleone
The Hotel Monteleone is one of the most famous landmarks in New Orleans’ historic French Quarter (where famous Bourbon Street lies). It’s well-known for its beautiful carousel bar, which features a rotating floor. But if you’re a thrill seeker, it’s not the bar that’s the highlight here — it’s the paranormal activity.
One famous ghost is the young boy Maurice Begere, whose parents were guests in the 1800s. According to legend, Maurice fell ill one night while his parents were at the opera. When the parents returned, they found their son dead. Some speculate that the boy’s nanny tried to bring down his fever by putting him in a tub of water — and that he accidentally drowned as a result. Maurice can still be heard whispering in Creole French at night. His mischievous ghost also plays pranks on guests staying on the 14th floor.
The ghostly sightings at this hotel have been so prevalent the location was investigated by the International Society of Paranormal Research. They reached out to several ghosts and made contact with more than a dozen “earthbound entities.”
Bourbon Orleans Hotel: Spirits of the Civil War
The Bourbon Orleans Hotel wasn’t always a hotel. In the past, it served as a ballroom and theater as well as a convent. The various spirits roaming the halls today are thought to hail back to these varied points in the property’s history. Hotel visitors report seeing apparitions of Confederate soldiers as well as nuns and children. The sixth floor is renowned for being home to a young girl playing with a rolling ball; she’s been seen running down the hallway after it.
Another noteworthy specter is a ghostly dancer, who’s been spied dancing under the hotel ballroom’s crystal chandelier. Guests have also reported seeing sinister apparitions hiding behind the draperies. The kids’ spirits seem to be the most playful (but harmless), known for turning TVs on and off while guests are trying to enjoy a movie or show.
If you really want to ramp up the spooky factor on your visit, try to stay in room 644, supposedly the most haunted room in the place. Guests and staff report hearing cries coming from the room. There are rumors that a nun from the Sisters of the Holy Family, the convent formerly housed here, took her own life in this room.
Dauphine Orleans Hotel
Like many of the haunted hotels on this list, the Dauphine Orleans Hotel wasn’t originally an overnight accommodation. It used to be a licensed brothel known as May Baily’s Place. In a nod to this history, the hotel bar is called May Baily’s Place. The bar itself is home to some paranormal activity. Workers report liquor bottles being rearranged and spying the outline of a female figure in the bar’s mirrors.
One frequent ghost sighting here is the “phantom bride,” reportedly Millie Baily, May’s sister. Millie’s husband-to-be was shot on the day of their wedding. She now spends eternity circulating through the hotel, still clad in her wedding gown and searching for her lost love.
Millie isn’t the only ghost seen on the site. There have been sightings of women dancing in the hotel’s courtyards. People also report hearing footsteps coming from rooms that are supposedly empty, and empty rooms are unexpectedly locked from the inside.
Le Pavillon: Chandeliers and Ghostly Children
If you want to combine spirit hunting with a taste of luxury, Le Pavillon Hotel is the place to go. This swanky historic hotel is set in the city’s central business district and features sumptuous furnishing and lavishly decorated interiors with glittering chandeliers, lush drapes and classic southern wallpaper. Its decadent appearance has earned this luxury hotel the nickname “the Bell of New Orleans.”
Of course, there’s plenty of spine-tingling paranormal activity going on in this hotel as well. Guests have reported shower heads turning on and off on their own, strange noises and mysterious sightings of ghostly figures. Room 301 is known for housing the spirit of a young girl who was reportedly killed in a horse-and-carriage accident in front of the hotel in the 19th century.
There’s also the ghost of a well-dressed young man on site who is known for playing pranks on guests. Another frequent visitor is a “peeping Tom” who peeks into hotel room windows — even if you’re on an upper floor! The hotel is proud of its spiritual residents, and guests can request a pamphlet highlighting the on-site ghosts upon arrival.
Andrew Jackson Hotel: Spirits of the Past
The Andrew Jackson Hotel has one of the creepier histories of the properties on this list. In the past, the building served as a boarding school for young boys who had lost their parents to a yellow fever epidemic. One night, a fire burned down the school and caused the deaths of multiple boys. The boys’ spirits roam the hotel’s rooms and courtyards and are known for turning on the TVs in guest rooms to watch cartoons.
Room 208 is reportedly one of the most frequently visited rooms. Guests staying here have heard the laughter of children and felt their sheets tugged off of them in the middle of the night. One child in particular, Armand, is a frequent sighting. He’s sometimes seen with the apparition of a woman who’s thought to have been his caretaker.
Of course, given the hotel’s name, it should come as no surprise that Andrew Jackson is also a frequent visitor. The American president has been seen in the halls on more than one occasion. Jackson didn’t die here — but who knows, maybe he likes to visit his namesake.
Omni Royal Orleans: Luxury and Mystery
Previously known as the St. Louis Hotel, the Omni Royal Orleans is situated in the famed French Quarter. This part of town is the place to be during the city’s famous Mardi Gras celebrations. Mardi Gras has its own ghostly implications: Germaine Cazenave Wells, the beautiful daughter of a New Orleans elite family in the early 1900s, is one spirit who roams the streets during this time. Germaine was crowned the Queen of Mardi Gras in the past and now comes back to join in the fun.
Within the hotel, the most famous ghost is a mischievous maid. She’s known for flushing toilets, turning lights on and off and even running unwitting guests a bath. Some guests also report getting the feeling like they’re being tucked into their beds at night to keep cozy. Sounds like nice service to us!
Unfortunately, the hotel is also home to some less pleasant ghostly characters. The premises once served as a medical care facility during the Civil War. Guests have reported seeing apparitions of Confederate Soldiers, many wounded. Some have even said they’ve heard the men’s moans of pain at night.
Hotel Provincial: Haunted Hospital Grounds
If your favorite kind of spooky is haunted history, the ghosts of Hotel Provincial are calling your name. This site was used as a military hospital during the Civil War. Today, Confederate soldiers’ ghosts and hospital surgeons can be seen on the land. Hotel workers have reported seeing blood stains appear and then disappear on clean bedding. Gory!
Guests also report hearing the cries of wounded soldiers at night. You might not get a restful night’s sleep here, but it will definitely be an interesting one! If you want to maximize the fear factor, check out the hotels’ Building #5. It’s reportedly the most haunted.
Some guests have reported seeing pools of blood appear on the floor. One guest said he saw an apparition of the former hospital on site. The elevator door to the second floor opened, gave him a peek — and then it was gone again. Suffice to say, a stay at this place is not for the faint of heart.
Hotel Villa Convento: A New Orleans Icon
The Hotel Villa Convento is an iconic American historic haunt. The building used to serve as a brothel. One of the most famous ghosts on the premises is that of the Madame, who ran the former den of iniquity. Guests often report hearing knocking on their doors — a nod to when the Madame would knock on the door of a room with a sex worker and customer, alerting them that time was up.
Supposedly, the Madame’s spirit appears more frequently to male guests than female guests. Men have reported rolling over in bed to find the specter of a woman in black staring at them from the bedside. When they point out the apparition to their wives, the wives often can’t see it.
In another instance, a man got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. He then heard a disembodied woman’s voice whisper the words “Hey, baby!” in his ear. Needless to say, he was pretty freaked out!
Embrace the spirits of New Orleans’ most haunted hotels
New Orleans is often considered the most haunted city in America, making it a must-visit if you’re after a novice ghost hunter — or just after a bone-chilling vacation. The city’s rich (and often tragic) history has made it a place where you can get close to the spirit world.
Make the most of the opportunity by staying in one of the Big Easy’s many haunted hotels. These historic places create an intriguing backdrop for ghost hunters and goblin chasers. Ready to get creepy? Start planning your perfect New Orleans holiday.
