Nestled against the banks of the Mississippi River, the Houmas House Plantation is a beautifully restored sugar plantation located in Darrow, Louisiana.
In addition to touring the historic plantation and learning about the lives of the many families that have lived here, the plantation is also known for their lush 38 acres of beautifully manicured gardens which truly need to be seen to be believed.
As you stroll through the gardens, take note of the many majestic oak trees that are peppered throughout the property.
There used to be many more, which leads us to the "Legend of The Gentlemen."
Before the levee was built, the Houmas House’s Oak Alley was a sight to be seen. Dozens of beautiful, majestic oak trees scattered the lawn and throughout the property.
John Burnside, who owned the plantation in the late 1800s referred to these ancient oaks as "The Gentlemen."
When the levee was being constructed, several of "The Gentlemen" were cut down.
During the construction of the levee and the demolition of these trees, several workers had planned a scheme to profit off of the oak trees. Their plan was to float the oak trees down the Mississippi River where they could be milled in New Orleans. 16 men set sail on the trunks of these mighty oak trees, only to meet their untimely deaths. Their bodies were never recovered.
Of the 24 oak trees, only eight remained.
Mr. Green, the caretaker of the property, said that overnight the remaining eight Gentlemen had reshaped themselves, their limbs drooping, as though they were in mourning.
While engineers cited that the trees transformation was due to the trauma from all of the heavy equipment and overall construction in the area, many believed otherwise.
These are trees that had survived a great flood years prior. They had withstood hurricanes, droughts, and the many severe weather fluctuations that Louisiana brings.
But the members of the Houmas Tribe had another theory.
They insisted that the Gentlemen had transformed when the spirits of the men that had cut down the trees had become trapped inside the remaining eight Gentlemen. When you visit the plantation, take a look at these majestic oak trees… What do you think?
But that’s not the only ghostly tale surrounding the Houmas House.
There have been several reports of people seeing a young girl, around 7-10 years old. She wears a blue dress, has dark eyes, and brunette hair. She was first spotted after Kevin Kelly purchased the plantation in 2003 and began renovations. Many believe the renovations may have awakened her spirit, as a few different construction workers had reported seeing her.
Tour guides and visitors have reported seeing a young girl, around 7-10 years old in the hallway or on the stairs. She appears inquisitive, yet vanishes when approached.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.