Spanish Moon - Baton Rouge, LA (Spirits of All Kinds!)

Photo Courtesy of Nola.com

1109 Highland Rd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

30.437085,-91.185756

www.thespanishmoon.com

            Ah, another haunted bar! Definitely cannot go wrong with the Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge. Whether it is for great music, stiff drinks, or sociable company, spirits flow freely at this old neighborhood establishment in more ways than one!
            The building was initially constructed in the 1880’s as a firehouse. During the infamous 1918 Flu Pandemic that killed roughly twenty million people worldwide, the location served as a makeshift morgue for that many who succumbed to the deadly illness. From then on, history is a bit cloudy in regards to what the establishment was used for. Some say a feed store, while others remember a thrift store being located here. One fact that most people can agree on is that by the 1970’s, the once fire station had now become a literal “flop house”, basically a low class watering hole for the local vagabonds, pimps, drug addicts, etc. Basically, this was not the place to hang out if you wanted to spend a relaxing Saturday night chilling with a beer! In the early 1980’s the bar was named the Cypress Hollow, with clientele slowly improving. Finally, in 1997, the Spanish Moon opened here, turning the historical building into the successful establishment it is today.

Front Entrance

            For quite some time, staff and patrons have reported multiple accounts of paranormal activity. Most commonly, the apparition of a young man has been seen wandering the bar late at night. He appears to be in 1950’s-era clothing and mischievously enjoys turning on beer taps and pushing ashtrays around. Folks have also reported hearing voices from the upstairs area after the bar had been closed for the night. Vendors making their early morning and late night deliveries have often reported a sense of uneasiness and/or being watched while wandering the empty bar.

Would you like a tetanus shot with that drink? 

            No one knows for sure the true source of the hauntings at the Spanish Moon. With such a divergent history, activity could be attributed to the buildings stint as a temporary morgue, its days as a rebel-rousing dive, or some other mysterious event that we are unaware of. I have also heard the tale of a young girl being trampled to death by horses here years ago, but I have never been able to verify that. Even as recent as 2013, tragedy struck once again, as a man was accidentally electrocuted at the bar. Regardless of the source, visitors are guaranteed to encounter some form of spirit; whether it be in liquid form or not!