Ghost hunter Fiona Broome describes two very vivid ghosts at Houmas House in Darrow, Louisiana. This is the plantation home where movies such as “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” (Bette Davis) were filmed.
Once a 20,000 acre plantation, Houmas House has retained its elegance… and its ghosts. Visitors can tour the plantation house & gardens, and enjoy a gourmet meal in Houmas House’s lovely restaurant.
Plan to spend at least half a day at Houmas House, when you visit.
Related links:
Houmas House official website – Learn more about the history, ghosts, and things to see at Houmas House. Be sure to see the virtual tour at their website; the haunted spiral stairwell is likely to make you dizzy!
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Hi,
My husband and I were at Houmas House on 11/22/09. While in the room where Bette Davis stayed while filming one of my all-time favorite movies, our guide was ushering us into the adjacent bedroom to view the vampire hunter’s kit. I wanted a good picture of the fire place and mirror and since it’s a smallish room I was waiting for everyone to move on a bit so I could go to the opposite side of the room to snap a picture. However, as the rest were all leaving i got the sudden urge to turn around and just snap the picture. So I got the fireplace and mirror at an angle. I thought nothing of it at the time, but later noticed what I thought was a partially manifested face on the upper portion of the mirror. Zooming in using the screen on my camera I determined it was a stain, but as I zoomed outward again I saw the reflection of the back of a man’s head, neck, and shoulder in the lower left-hand corner of the mirror. There was no one else in the room with me at the time and no one in our group was dressed in that manner, not even our guide. I wish I could submit it here, but I’ll be getting it up on my blog over the next few days, or if you want me to email you a copy, just let me know at ScrapNWoman@aol.com.
Mary Ellen,
Thanks for commenting and sharing your experiences. Houmas House is a great, haunted place to visit, and the room where Bette Davis stayed is definitely one of the most haunted parts of the house.
Due to copyright and liability issues, it’s not practical for me to post other people’s photos here, or permit them in comments.
However, the house’s owner, Kevin Kelly, likes seeing ghost photos taken at his house. I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you emailed the picture to him.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your experiences at Houmas House. I’m looking forward to returning there, when I resume work on my New Orleans book. I’m definitely listing Houmas House in its own chapter, as an important day trip for ghost enthusiasts.
Fiona
Ms. Mary Ellen,
I worked at Houmas House Plantation and was working there when you sent us that photo. I just wanted to let you know the photo you took was in the men’s parlor , not the betty davis sweet. It dosn’t really matter ofcourse the house is haunted but i just wanted to let you know.
Thanks
i visited the houmas house last year. i agree with mary ellen that there IS something in the room next to the bette davis room. i am not a ghost expert, however i have always had “feelings” about things and this was a strong one. i was okay until we were walking from the bette davis room about to enter the next room. it felt dark. i did not want to be in there. i was very ill at ease. i began feeling physically ill to where i had to walk out into the hall. when i did, i began feeling better immediately but could not bring myself into entering the room again (even though judy our tour guide, who did an AWESOME job, was talking about items such as a cradle and a wedding dress and some other things in the room. i do know that the vampire kit and a few other items of the sort, including voodoo paraphernalia where on display in the room as well.
Hi Donna,
Thanks for your comments and Mary Ellen’s.
The room next to the Bette Davis room used to have a vampire hunter’s kit and some other items that were disturbing. If they’re still there, well… John Zaffis (The Haunted Collector from Syfy) would have a field day at Houmas House! *LOL*
There are many items belonging to Anne Rice that are among the home’s furnishings, generally in areas that the public doesn’t see. I’m not sure how much they contribute to the energy there, but — wow — Houmas House is a great place to visit!
Cheerfully,
Fiona
well that sounds fun working in a haunted plantaion.
I had a wonderful time at Houmas House and I felt a ghostly presence in the house on the second floor, it was a strong feeling that cause me to be physically ill and almost faint.