Destrehan Plantation: Haunted Night Tour & Voodoo History

The Only Plantation Tour That Happens After Dark

You get picked up from the French Quarter and driven to Destrehan Plantation for an after-dark tour led by a historian who covers the 1811 slave revolt, the diverse people who built the plantation, and the real history of Voodoo in Louisiana. The tour includes transportation both ways and live commentary throughout the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Haunted night tour at Destrehan Plantation

• Depart from Voodoo Tavern & Poboys
• Arrive at Destrehan Plantation after dark
• Listen to historian's chilling stories
• Explore main house with storyteller
• Learn about 1811 slave revolt history
• Discover Voodoo origins and practices

The experience

The main house at Destrehan Plantation sits differently at night. You arrive at dusk, picked up from Voodoo Tavern & Poboys on Decatur Street in the French Quarter, and driven out past the city limits to a place most visitors see only in daylight. If they see it at all. A historian and storyteller meets you at the entrance, and from there you walk into rooms where the air feels heavier, where the stories people left behind don't fade when the sun does.

What makes this Destrehan Plantation tour different is that it doesn't treat the building as a monument to one family. Instead, your guide walks you through the lives of the people who actually shaped the place: enslaved Africans, free Creoles of color, Acadians, and Native Americans whose labor and presence built Louisiana's first hundred years. The 1811 slave revolt gets its real weight here, not as a historical footnote but as something that happened in these rooms, that changed everything. You hear the stories that linger, the ones people still talk about, the ones that explain why this place feels the way it does after dark.

The tour also unpacks Voodoo as it actually exists in South Louisiana, not the Hollywood version, but the fusion of African, Haitian, and Catholic spiritual beliefs that took root here and became something entirely its own. A lot of people arrive thinking they know what Voodoo is because they've seen it in movies. Your guide spends time on the real history, the misunderstandings that stuck around, and why the religion itself matters to understanding Louisiana's culture. It's the kind of detail that changes how you read the place when you're standing in it.

The whole tour runs after dark, which is the whole point. You're not rushing through between other attractions or competing with tour groups. The pickup is straightforward: meet at the tavern on Decatur, get driven out, spend your evening with someone who knows the stories, and get brought back. Casual clothes work fine. If you're bringing kids, they can come. If you need accessibility, the tour accommodates it.

What’s included

Your evening includes pickup and drop-off from Voodoo Tavern & Poboys on Decatur Street, transportation to and from Destrehan Plantation, a historian guide who leads you through the main house after dark, and live commentary covering the plantation's history, the 1811 slave revolt, the diverse people who built the place, and the real history of Voodoo in South Louisiana.

Options for this experience

3 options

Haunted Plantation TourGuide in English · 19:00

Haunted plantation tour at 5 PMGuide in English · 17:00Halloween

9PM Halloween SpecialGuide in English · 21:00Halloween

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 56

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by NOLA GhostRiders

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand Louisiana's actual history (slavery, resistance, and spiritual culture) rather than a sanitized version, and you'd rather not arrange your own transport out to the plantation or navigate the stories alone.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the Destrehan Plantation haunted tour depart?

Tours depart after dark. Pickup happens at Voodoo Tavern & Poboys at 1140 Decatur Street in the French Quarter. Exact departure time varies by season. Check when booking.

Is this tour actually haunted or is it just storytelling?

It's a historical tour framed around the real stories and events that happened at Destrehan Plantation, including the 1811 slave revolt. The "haunted" angle refers to the atmosphere and the historical weight of the place, not paranormal activity.

What does the tour cover about Voodoo?

The guide explains how Voodoo developed in South Louisiana as a fusion of African, Haitian, and Catholic spiritual beliefs. The tour addresses common misconceptions and covers the real history and practice of the religion.

Is transportation included in the price?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off from the meeting point on Decatur Street are included, along with the guide and live commentary during the tour.

Do I need to dress up for this tour?

No. Casual dress is fine.

Is there parking at the meeting point?

The tour departs from Voodoo Tavern & Poboys on Decatur Street in the French Quarter. Public transportation options are available nearby if you don't have a car.