The Myrtles
4.6(2.8K)google
4.0(250)yelp
PlantationQuirkyHistoryEerie & Haunted
Overview
The Myrtles Plantation is a historic home and former antebellum plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, United States built in 1796 by General David Bradford. In the early history of the property, it was worked by enslaved people.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeExcellent year-round, with the specialized evening 'Historic Mystery Ghost Tour' slots (6:00 PM - 8:30 PM) being the unrivaled premier experience. Universally cited by major national media as one of America's most haunted homes, touring the 1796 French Creole mansion by lantern light creates an unparalleled eerie immersion.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned on the main highway at 7747 U.S. Highway 61 in St. Francisville. Driving is extremely direct: travel north from Baton Rouge on US-61 N for approximately 26 miles; the plantation's iconic black wooden gates and 'The Myrtles' sign will appear clearly on your right, offering free parking on gravel shaded by giant trees.
Travel Tips
- The famous evening Mystery Tours sell out a month in advance online; walk-up ticket configurations are completely unavailable at the gate counter.
- The historic multi-story wood framing drops modern elevator retrofit capabilities; physical wheel access is restricted entirely to the lower parlor levels.
- The heavily wooded swamp perimeter breeds severe swarms of biting midges at dusk; drenching skin in military-grade DEET repellent is critical before touring gardens.
Reviews
Positive
- Dubbed 'America's most haunted home,' its signature white wrap-around French iron veranda is gorgeous; moss-draped giant trees wrap the site in a beautiful mystical aura.
- The nightly Mystery Ghost Tour is thrilling; guides carry vintage lanterns through the dark house, sharing bone-chilling legends of Chloe for maximum immersive fun.
- The property recently upgraded its commercial amenities, opening an upscale modern restaurant serving delicious authentic Creole seafood for a classy dining experience.
- Prime location right off the main state highway; it offers ample free parking with solid security, perfectly merging Gothic thrills with Southern elegance.
Heads up
- Due to its immense pop-culture fame, ticket pricing is quite steep, and the interior tour strictly dictates paths; you must follow the docent closely without freedom to roam solo.
- The primary pain point is that the famous haunted mirror antique glass is always blocked by heavy, dense crowds of tour groups, with street-level noise ruining the eerie aura.
- The historic house features zero modern vertical elevators or accessible ramps; narrow, creaky stairs create an impassable barrier for strollers or wheelchairs to view upper rooms.
- Due to aggressive commercialization, gift shop thriller merchandise carries severe markups; weekend visitor surges slow down front desk ticket lines heavily.