Pontchatrain Hotel - New Orleans, LA

2031 St. Charles Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.935133,-90.079629

www.thepontchartrainhotel.com  

            In such an upscale part of town as the Garden District, it is only suiting that an equally-refined hotel tower over the area. The fourteen-story Pontchartrain Hotel does just that, as it overlooks the neighborhood, giving its guests a great view of the ancient oak trees with a calm shot of the Mississippi River in the distance. For nearly a century, this grand hotel has been home to numerous celebrities such as Tom Cruise, ZsaZsa Gabor, Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, and Walt Disney, Sears and Roebuck heiress Edith Stern, and Frankie Besthoff, whose family co-founded the K&B drugstore chain.
            The Pontchartrain Hotel officially opened in March of 1927 and was named after Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain, or Count de Pontchartrain. Some researches claim that prior to this, another hotel stood on the property, dating back to 1825. I have been unable to verify this information and I strongly feel that this may have been confused with another piece of land further north near Lake Pontchartrain, near Bayou St. John. Here, a Spanish Fort, Fort San Juan del Bayou, stood. When Congress first allowed the sale of obsolete military sites in 1823, the land that the fort sat on was sold to Harvey Elkins, who built a hotel there. Here is where the confusion sets, where the name of the hotel was said to have been called either the Bayou St. John Hotel or the Pontchartrain Hotel. Bayou St. John never traveled down far enough to allow the current hotel to be near it and I feel that, over time, people confused the names.

Morris-Isreal House - New Orleans, LA (Skeletons in Your Closet....Literally!)

1331 First St.

New Orleans LA, 70103

29.930273,-90.08085

            I had a hard time deciding on whether or not to give this location its own blog or simply add it to the list of “honorable mentions”. Although a private residence, I decided to devote more than just a quick summary of the home, as I truly feel its past deserves a little more recognition than that. As I mentioned, this is a private residence and is not open to tours, loiters and/or solicitors, so please be courteous and not bother the fine people who own the home. Simply read these pages and file it in your “haunted New Orleans” mental file.
            Construction of the home began around 1860 by an Irish architect by the name of Samuel Jamison for local, Joseph C. Morris. Construction would be greatly delayed for eight to nine years due to a little spat known as the Civil War. By 1869, the home had finally been complete and was quite luxurious for the time. Stepping away from the traditional Greek Revival of the time, the home stood out in the neighborhood with extremely ornate amounts of wrought-iron work, almost appearing to be a riverboat, as opposed to an actual residence.

Commander's Palace - New Orleans, LA (Five Stars and a Phantom)

1403 Washington Ave. 

New Orleans, LA 70103

29.928899,-90.084229

www.commanderspalace.com

           Of the near endless number of great restaurants in New Orleans, none is finer, older and more well-known than Commander’s Palace. If you’re in the search of five-star dining at its apex, this restaurant is the place to go. The beautiful design of the building equally matches its extensive cuisine and wine list. Mind you, this isn’t the place you want to show up wearing flip flops and clothes you just finished digging a ditch with! Arrive well dressed and you will be rewarded with some of the best food you can possible find in the Crescent City.
            Commander’s Palace was built in 1880 by Emile Commander. Built on the corner of Washington Avenue and Coliseum Street, the building was initially used as a small saloon. Ironically, it is built right across the street from Lafayette Cemetery number one, said to be the oldest and most haunted cemetery in the city. Within a couple of years, the bar would quickly transform into a fine dining restaurant. By the early 1900’s, the restaurant had quickly become one of the hot spots for gourmet lovers and well-known chiefs.

Columns Hotel - New Orleans, LA (Haunted Home or Antiques?)

3811 St. Charles Ave. 

New Orleans, LA 70115

29.927379,-90.096146

www.thecolumns.com

Blocks away from the bustling French Quarter and deep into the Garden District sits Saint Charles Avenue. This area features some of the most beautiful and historical homes in the city, many of which have been owned by celebrities over time such as John Goodman, Anne Rice and Trent Reznor. As the sounds of the streetcars pass you by, looking up into the centuries-old oak trees you can see evidence of past Mardi Gras parades gone by, as the last few years of abandoned beads that are still entangled into the tree limbs. This portion of the city also holds quite a few great hotels if you are truly wanting a vacation filled with peace and quiet.

Castle Inn - New Orleans, LA

Photo courtesy of www.salemcat.deviantart.com 

1539 4th St.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.930666,-90.084573

Another beautiful home that quietly sits tucked away in the upscale Garden District is the Castle Inn. Although the Inn has been a popular bed and breakfast since 1950, recent research has found that it may now be closed to the general public. Apparently there were some issues amongst the owners and the Garden District Association, who unfortunately revoked the Inn’s license. This is sad to hear, as it’s always a shame to hear such historic homes being shut off from the public due to unnecessary bickering from the powers that be. Fortunately the owners operate another bed and breakfast in the area known as the Creole Gardens, so be sure and pay them a visit.
As one would ask “Who is buried in Grant’s Tomb?” can anyone guess what year the 1891 Castle Inn was built? If you guessed 1927, then maybe it’s time to put your computer down and call it a night! From 1891 until 1950, the Inn was a private residence. There are rumored to be a minimum of at least two spirits that still haunt the home.

Buckner Mansion - New Orleans, LA (The American Horror Story Home)

1410 Jackson Ave.

New Orleans, LA 70130

29.931931,-90.079137

            Off the beaten path of the busy French Quarter, sits one of the largest and most beautiful mansions in the city. Situated in the Garden District, the Buckner Mansion is over twenty thousand square feet of intricate design and utter awesomeness. For horror buffs, one look at the mansion will immediately look familiar, as it was the home used to film the famed television series “American Horror Story”. However, behind the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, there is a very real ghost tale associated with the home.
            The massive home was built in 1856 by cotton tycoon Henry S. Buckner. His goal was to outdo his ex-business partner’s Stanton Hall in Natchez, Mississippi. With his extravagant taste and hefty bank account, this task was easily accomplished as the grand Buckner Mansion became the pinnacle of homes for the area. The mansion stayed in the Buckner family until 1923, until the home was sold and converted into the well-known Soule Business School. During its years in existence, the institute would be known as one of the best and highly decorated business schools in the south until it closed for good in 1983. The Buckner mansion was then turned back into a private residence and is occasionally rented out for parties and group functions. You too can feel like royalty for a day by staying at this gorgeous mansion for the hefty some of twenty thousand dollars or so per night!