Louisiana, particularly its jewel, New Orleans, has a history steeped in Voodoo, slavery, colonial tragedy, and intense spiritual practice. This rich, dark heritage ensures that the state is home to some of the most active and atmospheric paranormal sites in the world. If you seek genuinely spooky and deeply historical encounters, exploring the most haunted places in Louisiana is essential. This guide covers five key locations where the veil between the living and the dead is rumored to be thin.

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The Lalaurie Mansion is perhaps the most notorious of all haunted places in Louisiana. Owned by the wealthy and prominent socialite Madame Delphine LaLaurie in the 1830s, the house became infamous after horrific discoveries related to torture and abuse of enslaved people were made following a fire. Though the home is now a private residence, its gruesome history has sealed its reputation.

Paranormal Activity: The mansion is reportedly plagued by incredibly intense and violent hauntings, often linked to the suffering that occurred within its walls. Witnesses and neighbors report hearing spectral screams, chains rattling, and seeing apparitions of figures in distress. The sheer intensity of the tragedy ensures its lasting place among the most terrifying haunted places in Louisiana.

As one of the oldest and most atmospheric cemeteries in the city, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a required stop on any tour of the haunted places in Louisiana. Due to the high water table, the dead are interred in elaborate, above-ground vaults and tombs, creating a dense city of the deceased.

Paranormal Activity: This cemetery is the final resting place of the famous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. Visitors often report seeing her apparition near her supposed tomb, feeling strong temperature shifts, and experiencing vivid, strange visions. The close proximity of the vaults creates a palpable energy that many attribute to residual spiritual activity.

Known widely as one of America’s most haunted homes, the Myrtles Plantation is a beautiful Antebellum estate that has seen murder, tragedy, and intense paranormal phenomena. This spot epitomizes the haunted, decaying beauty often found among the haunted places in Louisiana.

Paranormal Activity: The most famous resident ghost is Chloe, a former enslaved woman with a distinctive turban, who is frequently sighted around the property, particularly in the slave quarters. Reports include piano music playing without a source, furniture moving, and the apparition of a little girl peering out of the windows.

Located in the French Quarter, Muriel’s Restaurant is built on the site of the former town home of Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan. Jourdan supposedly committed suicide on the second floor after losing his home in a gambling bet.

Paranormal Activity: The most active spirit is that of Jourdan himself, who is said to be a harmless but mischievous presence. The staff routinely set a table for Jourdan in the “Séance Room” to appease his spirit. Phenomena include glasses flying off shelves, lights turning on and off, and the sound of muffled footsteps on the balcony outside the séance room, cementing its reputation as a haunted hotspot.

The Calcasieu Courthouse is one of the most famous non-residential haunted places in Louisiana, centered on the tragic execution of Toni Jo Henry. Henry was a sex worker convicted of murder who was executed in the courthouse jail in 1942.

Paranormal Activity: Toni Jo Henry is believed to haunt the courthouse and the jail (now demolished). Reports include the smell of her favorite jasmine perfume, lights flickering, and the sound of her high heels clicking on the marble floors of the courthouse, particularly near the site of her former cell.

Louisiana offers a unique mix of historical horror and deep spiritual mystery. When visiting, always be respectful of the sites and their histories.

Ready for your deep dive into the paranormal? Before you book your spooky tour, make sure you have the right gear. Read our guide. Happy haunting!