Bourbon Orleans Hotel – Haunted Luxury Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana

Nestled in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, the Bourbon Orleans Hotel is a historic landmark with an eerie reputation. Originally built as a grand ballroom and later converted into a convent and orphanage, the hotel has witnessed centuries of life, death, and unexplained phenomena.

Guests and staff report chilling encounters with shadowy figures, ghostly children, and a mysterious woman in white who lingers in the hallways. With its rich history and spine-tingling ghost stories, this luxurious yet haunted hotel is a must-visit for paranormal enthusiasts.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1817
• Original Purpose: Orleans Ballroom & Theater
• Significant Events:
  • In 1823, the property was acquired by the Sisters of the Holy Family, turning it into a convent, school, and orphanage.
  • The yellow fever epidemic of the late 19th century claimed the lives of many children housed in the convent.
  • The ballroom, once a hub for elegant social gatherings, now echoes with ghostly footsteps and whispers.
  • Numerous reports of Civil War soldiers’ spirits lingering on the premises, likely tied to the hotel’s past.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in Louisiana, with numerous ghostly encounters reported. Common supernatural occurrences include:

• Cold spots and flickering lights in the hallways.
• Disembodied voices and children’s laughter heard in empty rooms.
• Apparitions of nuns and Civil War soldiers spotted throughout the building.
• The “Dancing Woman” ghost, seen gracefully twirling in the grand ballroom.
• Guests frequently report waking up to the sensation of being watched or hearing soft footsteps approach their beds.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The Dancing Woman

One of the hotel’s most famous spirits is a ghostly woman seen dancing alone in the ballroom. Believed to be a tragic figure from the hotel’s glamorous past, she has been spotted in an elegant dress, spinning under the chandelier before fading into nothingness.

The Lost Children

During the orphanage years, many children succumbed to yellow fever, and their spirits seem to remain. Guests hear giggling, running footsteps, and even the feeling of a small hand brushing against them in the hallways. One chilling tale tells of a guest who woke to see a young girl standing at the foot of the bed, only for her to vanish seconds later.

The Nun in White

A spectral nun dressed in white has been seen wandering the corridors. Some believe she was a caretaker of the orphanage who never left, while others claim she is mourning the lost children.

Civil War Soldiers

Apparitions of Confederate soldiers have been seen in the hotel’s stairwells, often described as standing at attention or marching silently through the halls. Some guests have even reported hearing the sound of clinking spurs and boots against wooden floors late at night.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The sixth floor is notorious for paranormal activity. It was once used as a hospital ward for sick children, and today, guests staying on this floor frequently report eerie sounds—whispers, tiny footsteps, and ghostly figures appearing in their rooms.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes, as a functioning hotel.
• Entry Fee: No fee for entry; room rates apply.
• Tour Availability: Ghost tours available through various local operators.
• Photography Allowed? Yes.
• Visiting Hours: Open year-round for guests and visitors.

Best Time to Visit

• Fall and winter months are considered the best times, as most ghostly sightings occur during this period. Halloween season is particularly active for paranormal encounters.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

• The hotel has been featured on paranormal investigation shows, including Ghost Hunters and Most Haunted.
• Investigators have recorded EVP (electronic voice phenomena) of children laughing and unexplained whispers.
• Some guests have captured orbs and shadow figures in their photographs, particularly in the ballroom and sixth-floor hallways.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

• No known restrictions, but guests are advised to respect the historical property and not provoke any spirits.

The Bourbon Orleans Hotel is more than just a luxurious place to stay—it’s a portal to the past, where the echoes of history refuse to fade. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, spending a night here might just change your mind.