The Myrtles Plantation, located on 22 acres of land in St. Francisville, Louisiana, includes 18 rooms, a gift shop, and a restaurant. The restaurant, known as Restaurant 1796, is open to the public, serving southern cuisine. The Myrtles Plantation provides morning, evening, and private tours for guests who want to learn more about the history of the property. One of the property's most unique aspects is the several occasions where ghost sightings have occurred. The owner has a few photos showing ghostly figures in the background, and the staff has many haunting stories from personal experiences. The property was first constructed in 1796 but has been a B&B since the early 1990s. Due to the B&B's location in a smaller town, the atmosphere of the area can be described as quiet.
The Myrtles Plantation is located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The property sits on 22 acres of land and features 18 rooms available to guests for rent. Each room is decorated with various antique furniture and vintage details. The Coco House, in particular, can accommodate up to six people, whereas the lodges and cottages can house about four guests. An alternative choice for an overnight trip at the B&B is that visitors could have the option to stay in their RV in the property's bus parking lot for up to 2 nights. Additionally, The Myrtles Plantation frequently hosts family reunions, weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, or other similar celebratory events.
Wi-Fi is provided throughout the property, and in the Coco House, Willow Cottage, and some of the garden rooms, there are smart TVs for streaming services. Property maps are given to visitors upon arrival so that they might explore the area and see the various dining options and attractions near the B&B. The outside area of the property includes a gazebo, picnic tables, bocce ball, and several other outdoor games as well. Many trails and paths extend around the property to give guests the option to view the surrounding area a little more closely on a self-guided tour.
One of the property's most iconic characteristics are the ghost sightings and the paranormal activity that occasionally occurs. The Myrtles Plantation provides daytime tours and evening tours, as well as private tours upon request, with an additional fee. The manager mentioned that most guests discover the property from TV shows such as Ghost Adventures or Ghost Hunters.
The property includes a gift shop and a restaurant known as Restaurant 1796 that is open to not only guests but to the public too. Restaurant 1796's menu consists of dinner, brunch, dessert, and beverage options, as well as a full wine list. The food is made of fresh southern ingredients, and the majority of dishes have passed through the hearth at some point as a historical touch to the property. The cuisine featured on the menu is generally made up of less common foods such as lamb chops, duck, hearth ribs, or parm truffle fries. Some other standard options include mac and cheese, cheeseburger, tuna, or beef. Additionally, every reservation includes a complimentary breakfast and a Daily Mystery Tour. The breakfast provided to guests is served in the gift shop, where several tables are placed for visitors. The food is served in the form of a small buffet, continental style, and consists of eggs, sausage, grits, fresh fruit, scones, and a few cereal options.
A fair amount of visitors come to learn more about the history of The Myrtles Plantation, while others come for the ghost stories and haunting tales. Some visitors additionally come for antiquing. The B&B receives visitors of all ages from all around the world. The owner hopes for their guests to experience southern hospitality during their stay. The overall atmosphere of the surrounding area is relatively quiet as the B&B is located in a generally small town. The town frequently hosts special events throughout the year.
The tours that the B&B provide in the morning are more focused on the property's history and experience, whereas the evening tours emphasize more of the ghost stories, legends, and lore. One guest, in particular, mentioned, "The tour guide was very engaging and knew her stuff, especially about hauntings and her personal experiences." The owner and the staff work to help guests have an enjoyable stay as they experience the southern hospitality.
The B&B has implemented a quiet hour in hopes of helping visitors respect other guests who are staying at The Myrtles Plantation. The quiet hour is at 10:00 every night, and a caretaker is there to manage noise complaints if necessary. The property allows service dogs or dogs under 50 pounds, and smoking is not allowed unless it is in a designated area.
The Myrtles Plantation holds a substantial amount of history within the property. It began when a man named General David Bradford, also known as "Whiskey Dave" of the Whiskey Rebellion, fled the US in hopes of avoiding imprisonment. His new life started in Bayou Sara when he obtained a land grant of 650 acres from the Baron de Corondelet. His son-in-law, Judge Clark Woodruff, acquired The Myrtles in 1820, who then sold it to Mr. Ruffin Sterling fourteen years later. Mr. Sterling completed the mansion and made it into what it is today. The stained glass entrance, which was hand-painted and patterned after the French cross to ward off evil, is original to the house, as well as much of the furniture.
The property has been a B&B since the early 1990s. The very first building that was constructed on the property was the gift shop, built in 1794. The owner during that time lived in that building while he built the main house, which was completed in 1796. The Coco House and the garden rooms were during the time since the current owner has owned the B&B. For future plans, the owner hopes to add Ridge Crests or homes that feature four additional rooms.
The owner has a fair amount of photos of ghost sightings from the property. One of them they call "the Legend of Chloe", which originates from 1992. In the photo, a figure of a slave girl standing between the General's Store and the Butler's Pantry of the mansion can be seen. National Geographic Explorers used the photograph in one of their documentaries. Mr. Norman Benoit, a patent examiner, requested permission to research a postcard of the photograph after visiting the Myrtles Plantation in May of 1995. During his research, he discovered that the physical dimensions and proportions of the figure were all, in fact, human. Another ghost sighting of the B&B is when a photo was taken of a teacher and a few of her students in the courtyard. The photograph showed a young girl dressed in antebellum clothing through a window in the background. These historically significant photos can be found on The Myrtles Plantation's website.
7747 U.S. Highway 61 - P.O. Box 1100
St. Francisville, Louisiana 70775
United States
Bed and Breakfast
