The Myrtles Plantation: The Haunted History & Ghost Stories
What is the Myrtles Plantation?
The Myrtles Plantation is a historic antebellum home in St. Francisville, Louisiana, often called one of the most haunted houses in America. Known for its ghost stories, mysterious legends, and reports of apparitions, the property has gained international fame for its eerie atmosphere and long standing paranormal claims. Visitors come from around the world to experience the beauty and the supernatural mystery surrounding this storied Southern estate.
Though its history is complex, the plantation is best known for the Chloe legend, the haunted mirror, spectral figures seen near the veranda, and ghost photos that continue to surface year after year. Balancing recorded facts with deeply rooted folklore makes the Myrtles one of the most fascinating haunted locations in the United States.
Origins of the Plantation and the Stories That Grew From It
The Myrtles Plantation was built in 1796 by General David Bradford, a prominent figure overshadowed by political tension during the Whiskey Rebellion. Bradford sought refuge in Louisiana and constructed a beautiful home surrounded by oak trees, Spanish moss, and fields that stretched far beyond the current boundaries of the estate. The house would eventually pass through several families, each adding chapters to its long and often turbulent story.
Much of the plantation's paranormal reputation began long after its early years. Official records show typical hardships of nineteenth century life, including illness, accidents, and the tragedies common to the era. As decades passed, family lore and local storytelling merged with verified history, creating a dense tapestry of tales that define the Myrtles today.
Tourists often remark that the air feels heavy upon stepping onto the grounds. The atmosphere carries the weight of expectation, history, and the many ghost stories told across generations. No matter how many times the house changes hands, its legends remain anchored in both memory and mystery.
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The Chloe Legend and the Debate Between Folklore and Fact
The most famous story linked to the Myrtles Plantation is the legend of Chloe. According to popular folklore, she was an enslaved woman punished for an act of disobedience and forced to work indoors afterward. The tale varies depending on who tells it, but most versions connect Chloe to an accidental poisoning involving members of the household. The result, legend says, was a tragic outcome that left Chloe terrified of retribution. What happened next differs wildly between tellings. Some say she was killed by other enslaved people, others say she ran and was captured, and still others claim she simply vanished.
However, historians agree that there is no documentation to support the story. No official records mention Chloe, nor is there factual evidence of the poisoning event described. Many believe the Chloe legend was created during the twentieth century when ghost tours grew in popularity, offering audiences a dramatic storyline that blended sorrow, fear, and superstition.
Yet despite the lack of historical proof, Chloe remains one of the most enduring spirits associated with the plantation. Guests report seeing a woman in a green turban wandering the hallways or standing silently near the windows. Some describe a presence watching them as they walk past certain rooms. Others believe Chloe appears in photographs, often as a faint figure emerging from a shadow or doorway.
The debate between history and folklore keeps Chloe alive in public imagination. Some visitors go seeking the truth. Others arrive hoping to meet the legend.
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The Haunted Mirror and the Mystery It Holds
One of the most captivating features inside the Myrtles Plantation is the infamous haunted mirror. According to tradition, the mirror was added to the house during the nineteenth century. Custom at the time dictated that mirrors be covered in the home after a death, but according to legend, this particular mirror was not covered, allowing spirits to become trapped within.
Guests claim to see handprints that cannot be wiped away, smudges that form new shapes overnight, and the faint outline of faces looking back at them. Others report a dark figure that appears only in photographs, never visible to the naked eye.
The mirror’s lore is strengthened by the stories associated with the Woodruff family, who lived in the house during the 1800s. However, like the Chloe tale, the details surrounding the mirror are a mixture of family stories, distorted memories, and decades of reinterpretation. Historians debate the timeline, but many ghost hunters affirm that the mirror is one of the most paranormally active objects on the property.
The mirror has become a symbol of the Myrtles Plantation itself. Beautiful, mysterious, and unforgettable, it invites people to stare a little too long, wondering what might stare back.
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Shadows of the Civil War and the Spirits Said to Roam the Grounds
The Civil War left much of the South in disarray, and plantations were not spared. Although the Myrtles Plantation did not witness large scale battles, local skirmishes, raids, and regional tensions deeply affected the area. Several accounts speak of soldiers passing through the estate, and one persistent legend describes a wounded man who sought shelter inside the home before dying in one of the rooms.
Reports of a ghostly soldier wandering the veranda or crossing the lawn are among the most frequently shared sightings. Witnesses describe a figure in uniform limping near the steps or leaning against a column before fading into the night air.
In addition to soldier sightings, guests often report hearing footsteps on the stairs, the rustle of old fabric brushing against furniture, and sudden cold spots in rooms that should be warm. The Civil War era left emotional imprints across the nation, and many believe the Myrtles Plantation holds echoes of that collective sorrow.
Ghost Photos, Apparitions, and the Evidence Visitors Bring Back
The Myrtles Plantation is famous for something few haunted sites can claim. It is associated with one of the most widely circulated ghost photographs in the world. Taken during the 1990s for insurance documentation, the image appears to show a young girl standing on the veranda. When enlarged, the figure displays depth, shadowing, and movement inconsistent with reflections or double exposure. Paranormal researchers still study the photo today.
Since then hundreds of visitors have captured strange shapes in their photos. Some show drifting mist, others reveal full figures standing behind glass or near the old well. A popular image shows a translucent shape seated in a rocking chair on the porch. Several guests have recorded voices that seem to say names or phrases, even though no one else was present.
Not every image stands up to scrutiny, but enough remain unexplained to keep the Myrtles Plantation at the center of paranormal interest.
Rooms, Hallways, and Hotspots of Paranormal Activity
The Myrtles Plantation has several locations known for intense supernatural claims. Each area has its own lore and its own dedicated community of believers.
1. The Foyer
Visitors often describe feeling watched as soon as they step inside. Some hear footsteps on the stairs or see movement on the landing. The chandelier reportedly sways on its own, even when the air is still.
2. The Haunted Mirror Room
The room that holds the mirror is famous for sudden temperature drops. Several visitors claim they felt a hand brush across their arm while standing near the frame.
3. The Veranda
Both Chloe and the Civil War soldier are frequently spotted here. Nighttime tours pause at this location so guests can take photographs. Many unusual images come from this exact spot.
4. The Hallway of the Children
Stories of children laughing or running through the hall are common. Doors open slightly on their own. Toys that were placed in one corner sometimes appear in another.
5. The Old Dining Room
This room is tied to several unexplained sounds. Guests have reported hearing the clinking of silverware or faint murmurs of a conversation, even though no one is inside.
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Folklore, Fact, and the Mythmaking of the American South
The Myrtles Plantation sits at the intersection of verifiable history and powerful storytelling. Southern folklore has a long tradition of blending memory with legend, creating narratives that are meaningful even when not entirely factual. The Chloe story is a perfect example. While historians cannot confirm her existence, her presence remains deeply felt by tourists, ghost hunters, and locals alike.
Other legends, such as the mirror hauntings or the wandering soldier, are harder to trace but have persisted for decades. The United States has many haunted houses, but few with such a strong combination of visual evidence, oral history, and modern encounters.
Part of the plantation’s appeal lies in its ability to hold all versions of the story at once. The truth, the myth, and the in between linger together, creating a haunted environment unlike any other.
Skeptical Perspectives and Natural Explanations
Skeptics propose several explanations for the phenomena associated with the Myrtles Plantation. The house is old, and old houses have drafts, settling noises, and shifting shadows. Photographs taken with long exposures or bright flash can easily distort figures or create ghostly illusions.
Other explanations include:
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Reflections on glass or polished surfaces
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Dust, insects, or moisture caught by flash photography
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The power of suggestion during ghost tours
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Emotional projection and psychological expectation
Yet even skeptical investigators admit that not all the evidence can be dismissed so easily. Some photographs lack obvious errors. Some experiences align with multiple independent accounts. And some visitors report sensations that feel far too real to attribute to imagination alone.
The Myrtles Plantation in Modern Culture and Tourism
The plantation is now a popular bed and breakfast as well as a major destination for paranormal enthusiasts. Visitors can stay overnight, walk the grounds, and participate in guided tours that blend historical education with supernatural storytelling.
Its appearance in countless books, documentaries, and television shows ensures a constant flow of curious travelers. Many come for the beauty of the home. Others arrive only for the ghosts.
The plantation thrives as one of the South’s most iconic haunted landmarks. Its mixture of myth and mystery has become part of Louisiana’s cultural identity.
Closing Thoughts
The Myrtles Plantation stands as a living ghost story. Its oak lined driveway, ancient mirrors, lantern lit porches, and whispered legends invite visitors to cross the threshold between history and the unknown. Whether one believes in the Chloe legend or views it solely as folklore, the house undeniably holds an atmosphere that stirs the imagination.
Some places feel haunted because of what they witnessed. Others feel haunted because of what people remember. The Myrtles Plantation feels haunted for both reasons.
The ghosts that wander its halls might be real or might be echoes of stories told so many times they have taken on a life of their own. But when night settles over the veranda and the air grows still, most visitors agree that something remains at the Myrtles, watching quietly from the shadows.
Q and A
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Q: What is the Myrtles Plantation?
A: It is a historic home in Louisiana famous for ghost sightings, legends, and paranormal activity. -
Q: Where is it located?
A: In St. Francisville, Louisiana. -
Q: Why is the Chloe legend so famous?
A: It combines folklore, tragedy, and mystery, making it one of the most retold stories on the property. -
Q: Is there proof Chloe existed?
A: No documented evidence confirms her identity. The tale is considered folklore by historians. -
Q: What is the haunted mirror?
A: A mirror said to contain trapped spirits due to a burial custom being broken. -
Q: What ghost photo is the plantation known for?
A: A picture taken in the 1990s that shows a figure resembling a young girl on the veranda. -
Q: Are Civil War soldiers said to haunt the grounds?
A: Yes. Visitors often report seeing a limping soldier or hearing footsteps tied to that era. -
Q: Can guests stay overnight?
A: Yes. The plantation operates as a bed and breakfast. -
Q: How do skeptics explain the hauntings?
A: They attribute them to reflections, photography distortions, old architecture, and suggestion. -
Q: Why is the Myrtles Plantation still so popular?
A: It blends history and folklore, producing one of America’s most enduring haunted legendsAbout Strange & Twisted
Strange & Twisted is a dark-folklore brand and growing online encyclopaedia dedicated to cryptozoology, horror, witchcraft, hauntings, true crime, paranormal legends, and unexplained mysteries. Alongside our in-depth articles, we create original T-shirts, hoodies and tank tops inspired by the eerie stories we cover. Our goal is to become the internet’s largest hub for horror culture, cryptids, folklore research, ghost stories and strange apparel.
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