Chasing Vampires in NOLA with Haunted History Tours

Some believe real vampires have inhabited New Orleans for hundreds of years, emerging at night to seek out fresh prey. Author Anne Rice put these nocturnal creatures right on the map in NOLA when she penned her Vampire Chronicles. There’s no question that the city is laden with vampiric mythos, and like the vampire enthusiast I am, I had to book the vampire tour offered by Haunted History Tours. To top it off, I partook in the experience on All Hallows’ Eve!

I’ve known about Haunted History Tours for years. It’s the place you turn to when you want to learn about New Orleans’ paranormal, freaky side. Getting to walk around the French Quarter on Halloween night while soaking up vampire tales made my blood bubble with glee. Our group met at the gates of Jackson Square across from St. Louis Cathedral. Once our guide checked us all in and briefed us on what we could expect, we were off to prowl the streets.

One disclosure the tour company gives is that there’s a chance guests may have a paranormal encounter. They claim 90% of participants have caught something strange when taking photos. We were also told how to protect ourselves from negative energy since we would be visiting spots with high concentrations of psychic forces. The advice was to imagine ourselves surrounded by benevolent white light if we felt anything malevolent.

Since it was Halloween in New Orleans, the French Quarter was packed with partygoers. Costumed revelers flooded the avenues and not a single bar was empty. We did our best to make our way through the crowds and stay together as a group. No one wanted to get singled out by a ravenous undead onlooker. Be that as it may, the joviality that filled the air certainly amplified the excitement during the excursion.

Our host shared some of the city’s vampire folklore. Plus, she took us to areas throughout the French Quarter that were featured in the 1994 film adaption of Interview with the Vampire. Some scenes from the AMC Interview with the Vampire series were also filmed in this part of the city, such as Jackson Square. We also passed by the New Orleans Vampire Café, but I’ll elaborate more on that destination in another blog post.

While the tour was vampire-themed, it also included stops at places known to be haunted. We stood outside of the Old Ursuline Convent and Muriel’s restaurant, which contains a Seance Lounge that has seen strange paranormal activity. One of the more disturbing places we visited was LaLaurie Mansion. If you’ve seen American Horror Story: Coven, then you’re familiar with the horrific backstory related to this location. While the TV series fictionalized the plot, what isn’t made up is the inhumanity of the lady of the house.

Delphine LaLaurie has gone down in history as a sadistic individual and possible serial killer. She was a vicious slaveowner who tortured and brutally mistreated her enslaved workers. It’s suspected she performed cruel experiments on her slaves, including trying to perform one of the first sex-change operations. She wasn’t accused of being a vampire, but American Horror Story did portray her character in a way that resembled Elizabeth Bathory. For instance, there’s a scene where she applies blood to her skin to maintain a youthful appearance.

It’s not surprising that a malicious energy could still plague a building with such a violent history. We weren’t allowed to enter LaLaurie Mansion, and to my knowledge, there are no tours that can take you inside. There was actually a private party at the establishment that evening. It seemed pretty exclusive. There was someone manning the front door and, through the slits of windowpanes, I glimpsed people in masks. It gave me Eyes Wide Shut vibes if I’m being honest. Our host informed us that the property is currently being sold to a production company. There’s a possibility it’ll be used as a filming location and might open for tours in the future.  

We ended the night at Pirate’s Alley Café. I realize it may seem odd that our final destination was pirate instead of vampire-themed, but the establishment is a historic landmark. The bar gets its name from the avenue its located on. Pirates Alley dates back 200 years and was frequented by real pirates. The café itself is small but has a lot of character and is known for serving absinthe. I spotted a few Jack Sparrows enjoying libations. I could tell it’s a lively place for locals and tourists. Perhaps even a few vampires, or shall I say vampirates, frequent the bar undetected.

Haunted History’s vampire tour was an awesome way to explore the French Quarter on foot and hear stories of how these immortal creatures are connected to the Crescent City. While I wish I heard more vampire lore, I did enjoy the other paranormal accounts I learned along the way.

Haunted History Tours offers a variety of supernatural day and night excursions that average about two hours in length. Make sure you’re comfortable walking. Tickets range from $20 to $30.

Where to Stalk

Haunted History Tours