Nestled among ancient live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, looks like a postcard from the antebellum South. But behind its white columns and wraparound veranda lies a dark history. Built in 1796 by General David Bradford, the plantation has been the site of reported murders, poisonings, and countless paranormal encounters over its 200-plus years. Today, it operates as a bed and breakfast, where guests pay to sleep in rooms where spirits are said to walk. The plantation is reputed to be built on an ancient Native American burial ground, adding another layer to its haunted reputation. With at least 12 different ghosts reportedly residing there, the Myrtles Plantation has earned its title as "America's most haunted home."
The Legend of Chloe: The most famous ghost of the Myrtles Plantation is Chloe, a slave woman who worked in the house in the early 1800s. According to legend, Chloe was caught eavesdropping on the master of the house, Judge Clark Woodruff. As punishment, her ear was cut off. Seeking revenge - or possibly to prove her value by nursing the family back to health - Chloe baked a birthday cake laced with oleander poison. The plan went horribly wrong. The cake killed Woodruff's wife and two of his three children. The other slaves, fearing the master's wrath, dragged Chloe from her cabin and hanged her. Her body was weighted and thrown into the Mississippi River. Since then, her restless spirit has haunted the plantation. She is most often seen wearing a green turban to hide her missing ear. Guests and staff report seeing her wandering the hallways, peering into rooms, and appearing in photographs.
🪞 The Haunted Mirror
The Myrtles Plantation houses a large antique mirror that is said to be one of the most haunted objects in America. According to legend, the mirror was in the house when the poisonings occurred. It allegedly trapped the spirits of the murdered mother and her children. Visitors and staff report seeing handprints appearing on the glass that cannot be cleaned away. Some have reported seeing the faces of the dead children staring back at them from the mirror. Photographs of the mirror sometimes show strange figures and lights that were not visible to the naked eye. The mirror is now covered with a cloth, as some believe that gazing into it too long can bring misfortune or allow the spirits trapped within to affect the living.
👻 Other Ghosts of the Myrtles
👧 The Ghost Children
The spirits of the two Woodruff children who died from the poisoning are said to haunt the plantation. Guests in certain rooms report hearing children laughing and playing. Some have seen the apparition of a small girl standing at the foot of their bed. Others have felt invisible hands tugging at their blankets.
👨 William Drew Winter
In 1871, William Drew Winter, an attorney who owned the plantation, was shot on the side porch by an unknown assailant. Mortally wounded, he staggered into the house and attempted to climb the stairs, but collapsed and died on the 17th step. To this day, guests and staff report hearing the sounds of a man's dying footsteps on the staircase.
👩 The Voodoo Priestess
Some versions of the plantation's history claim the land was originally a Native American burial ground and later used by a voodoo priestess for rituals. Her spirit is said to appear as a dark figure in the garden and among the oak trees. Some guests report hearing drumming and chanting coming from the grounds at night.
📸 Paranormal Evidence
The Myrtles Plantation has produced a substantial body of alleged paranormal evidence. Photographs taken by visitors show mysterious figures, unusual lights, and what appear to be full-bodied apparitions. One famous photograph, taken in the 1990s, appears to show a slave woman in period clothing standing between two buildings. The image has been analyzed and debated extensively. Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) recordings have captured unexplained voices, including a female voice saying "help me" and children's laughter. Guests report cold spots, unexplained touches, and the feeling of being watched. The plantation has been featured on numerous television shows about the paranormal, including "Ghost Hunters" and "Most Haunted."
"I saw her standing at the foot of my bed. A black woman in old-fashioned clothing, wearing a green turban. She looked at me for a moment, then simply faded away."
🤔 Theories
👻 Genuine Haunting
Believers point to the volume of independent witness accounts spanning decades, the photographic evidence, and the consistency of the apparitions described. The plantation's tragic history provides fertile ground for paranormal activity.
🏨 Commercial Exploitation
Skeptics note that the Myrtles Plantation is now a commercial bed and breakfast that profits directly from its haunted reputation. The legend of Chloe, in particular, has been questioned by historians who found no documentary evidence of the poisonings in court records or contemporary accounts.
📖 Embellished History
Research suggests that many of the plantation's most famous ghost stories were embellished or invented by a former owner in the 1950s to attract tourists. The actual documented deaths at the plantation are far fewer than the legends suggest.
Conclusion: Whether the Myrtles Plantation is genuinely haunted or simply the beneficiary of clever marketing, there is no denying its power to captivate visitors. The ancient oaks, the Spanish moss, the creaking floors, and the whispered stories create an atmosphere thick with mystery. True or not, the legends of Chloe, the haunted mirror, and the dying footsteps on the stairs continue to draw thousands of visitors each year. In the flickering candlelight of a Louisiana evening, it is easy to believe that the spirits of the past still walk among the living.