Myrtle Plantations, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
The Curse of the Green Turban: Why You Shouldn't Eat Pie or Glance in Mirrors at Myrtles Plantation
Have you ever wondered why old Southern mansions have so many mirrors? No, not just to check if you are sweating too much from the Louisiana humidity. Legend has it that mirrors are traps. And at Myrtles Plantation, traps are everywhere: in the whisper of the wind, in the creak of the stairs, and in the sweet scent of oleander that smells like... revenge. If you thought your ex was the scariest ghost in your life, congratulations: you simply haven't met Chloe yet. Grab a seat, pour yourself a mint julep (just check who made it first) - we are heading to America's most hospitable and simultaneously spine-chilling spot.
Welcome to Myrtles Plantation, a place that officially holds the title of one of the most haunted homes in the United States. If you are looking for peace and quiet, you are definitely in the wrong place. This mansion was established in 1794 by General David Bradford, and ever since, the list of its guests who decided to stay here forever has only been growing.
If you have already started packing your bags (and holy water), I have laid out all the details step-by-step in the guide at the very end of this article, from current room rates to how to get to this Louisiana "paradise" without getting lost in its mirrors. Be sure to check it out if you don't want Chloe to personally drop by and remind you of her etiquette rules!
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| Explore Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana, a legendary haunted antebellum mansion famous for Chloe's ghost, mirror mysteries, and chilling legends |
The Vibe of the Place: When the House is Watching You
This place is literally saturated with stories about ghosts who couldn't bring themselves to check out of their rooms. You know that feeling when you walk into a room and just know someone is there, even though your eyes tell you otherwise? At Myrtles Plantation, that feeling comes standard with breakfast. Operational status: open for business. Yes, you can actually book a room here if your nerves are stronger than an old Louisiana oak tree.
The air here is heavy, humid, and somewhat... multilayered. It feels like you are walking through invisible curtains woven from memories. At Myrtles Plantation, visitors frequently report the following phenomena:
✥ Sounds: a quiet, barely audible "woman's whisper" drifting from the empty corners of the dining room. Sometimes it is the sound of footsteps on the staircase that always cut off at the exact same step.
✥ Reflections: that very famous hallway mirror. Guests claim they have seen "handprints" on the inner side of the glass. No matter how many times the cleaning crew polishes it to a shine, the prints of small hands appear all over again, as if someone is trying to claw their way out of the cold looking-glass world.
✥ Temperature anomalies: you might be standing under the blazing Louisiana sun, but the moment you step across the threshold of a specific room, you will feel the air around you turn into "liquid ice."
✥ Scents: the sudden aroma of vintage floral perfume or the smell of freshly baked pie in places where there isn't a kitchen within a mile.
The Main Legend: Chloe and Her Poisonous "Gift"
What is the true essence of this haunted place? Chloe, without a doubt. She is the absolute "gold standard" of American Southern Gothic lore. The famous story goes that Chloe was an enslaved woman who possessed just a bit too much curiosity. One day, the master of the house, Mark Woodruff, caught her "eavesdropping" on his private conversations right outside his door. The punishment followed immediately and was horrifyingly severe: the poor woman had her ear severed. From that day forward, she always wore a bright green turban to conceal her disfigurement.
But revenge is a dish best served... as a dessert. Whether it was a fatal mistake in the recipe or a cold calculation, you can let your own imagination decide, but Chloe baked a pie, adding the juice of the highly toxic oleander plant to the mix. She merely wanted to frighten the master, making him weak and bedridden so that he would desperately need her care once again. But fate is a fiercely ironic lady. The pie was eaten by the master's wife, Sara Mathilda, and her two young daughters. Their death was quiet, yet absolutely relentless.
The events that followed remain shrouded in a thick fog of mystery: "whether it was a rope thrown over a branch by the hands of enraged fellow slaves, or if Chloe herself slipped away into the dark midnight bayou, history simply remains silent." However, her silhouette wearing that signature green turban is still spotted lingering in the shadows of the verandas today. She isn't evil, she is just... "keeping an eye on things."
Mysterious Deaths and the 17th Step
If Chloe alone is not enough for you, let me introduce you to William Winter. Back in 1871, he was shot on the porch of his own home by an unknown horseman. As he was dying, William tried to crawl up the stairs to the second floor to reach his wife. He managed to climb exactly 16 steps and drew his last breath on the 17th. Ever since that tragic day, hotel guests and overnight visitors frequently hear "heavy, ragged footsteps" that always fade away precisely at that exact spot. No one has ever heard an 18th step.
This famous object of paranormal research is surprisingly rich in intriguing details:
✥ Activity Type: an entire host of spirits. Ranging from the "benevolent" Sara, who tucks guests into bed at night, to a moody poltergeist that loves moving furniture around.
✥ Resident Count: paranormal investigators estimate there are up to 12 permanent "roommates" haunting the grounds.
✥ Hotspots: the highest level of supernatural activity consistently occurs in the famous mirror hallway and inside the former bedroom of the Woodruff children.
Night with a Shadow
Today, Myrtles Plantation is not just a historical landmark, but a fully operational hotel where the boundary between sleep and reality is as thin as old lace. The most sought-after rooms are located in the main house, right where the echo of William Winter's footsteps sounds the sharpest. Even if you just visit as a tourist for a daytime walking tour, the house will find a way to make its presence known.
Dozens of books have been written and numerous TV shows filmed about this place, including the famous Ghost Hunters, but no screen can ever convey that chilling feeling when you realize that right in the room where you are sleeping, someone has just let out a sigh directly above your ear.
How to Visit The Myrtles Plantation: A Practical Guide
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✥ Location: The Myrtles Plantation, 7747 US-61, St Francisville, LA 70775, USA.
✥ Coordinates: 30.8061, -91.2858.
✥ Transportation: the most convenient way is to fly into New Orleans (MSY), rent a car (you can do this right at the airport), and drive about 1.5 to 2 hours north. The road takes you through scenic swamps and old oak alleys. Public transportation is practically non-existent here, so a car is your only reliable ally (unless, of course, it stalls right at the gates like in a horror movie).
✥ Tours & Prices: a daytime historical tour costs around ~$20 - 25, but we highly recommend the evening Mystery Tour, priced at approximately $35. If you want to stay overnight, prepare to pay from $200 to $450 per room. Booking a "haunted room" requires planning at least 3 months in advance.
✥ Accommodation: you can stay right in the Main House or in the cottages on the property. We suggest the cottages for beginners since they are slightly quieter, while hardcore paranormal fans will find the William Winter or General Bradford rooms ideal.
✥ Insurance: medical insurance for the US with $50,000+ coverage is essential. Keep in mind that insurance might consider late-night falls from the 17th step due to fright as risky behavior, so tread carefully.✥ Gear: pack a good insect repellent (Louisiana mosquitoes are scarier than ghosts) and a voice recorder. The plantation is famous for Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) - Chloe might just want to whisper her "signature" pie recipe to you. - And now imagine this: you are lying in a massive four-poster bed, cicadas are clicking outside the window, and the mirror across the room reflects an empty hallway. Suddenly, you notice the outline of a tiny palm slowly forming on the glass. You know Chloe is somewhere nearby, adjusting her green turban, while someone on the staircase is trying once again to reach the 17th step. They say people do not sleep here, they simply wait for dawn alongside those who never lived to see it...
Did you enjoy our investigation? If our archive helped you peer behind the veil of secrecy, please share this story with your friends who love ghost stories, consider supporting the project, exploring our curio shop, or checking out the Map of Secrets.
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