The Myrtles Plantation on U.S. Highway 61 in the southern town of St. Francisville, LA has such a sordid past.  It’s no wonder it has been dubbed the most haunted bed and breakfast in the country.

“The Myrtles has been featured in New York Times, Forbes, Gourmet, Veranda, Travel and Leisure, Country Inns, Colonial Homes, Delta SKY and on the Oprah Show, A & E, the History Channel, The Travel Channel, The Learning Channel, National Geographic Explorer, and GOOD MORNING AMERICA. It was also featured in The Haunting of Louisiana,” according to the “Official Website.”

The mansion was built in 1796 by General David Bradford, the infamous leader of the Whiskey Rebellion, then passed to his daughter after he passed away.  His daughter lived there with the Judge, Clark Woodruff and their children.

The Judge turned to one of the slaves, Chloe and made her his mistress.  She spent a great deal of time in the house caring for the children.  She seemed to want more that just a mistress title and tried to gain leverage by listening in on the conversations of Judge Woodruff and his guests.  After several warnings, he caught her eavesdropping one evening on private conversations with very important guests.  To teach her a lesson, he ordered to have her left ear cut off and banished her from working in the home.

Chloe was distraught as the banishment and wanted to be able to work in the home again.  She devised a plan in which she would served the family a poisoned cake, they would become very ill and she would administer herbs to heal them, leaving her the hero.  The dose of poison she used was too high and it ended up killing the judges wife and two of the children.

After she confessed to her crime, he sentenced her to be hung for it.  She was then weighed down and tossed in the Mississippi River.

There have been several reports of the family, who still takes up residence in the home, being seen and hear.  Perhaps they appear because they are unsure of why there are so many strangers in their house on a daily/nightly basis.

On any given day, at any given moment, you may be startled to see rocking chairs rock on their own, hand prints on the mirror that will not come off, the piano playing on its own, glasses shoot from the ceiling from above the bar from where they hang, or feel a tug from the children as they try to get your attention.  You may also see Chloe wandering the 5000 foot old brick courtyard or hear reports of furniture being found to have been moved after the place had been locked up tight the night before.  If you take the tour, by sure to hold on to your earrings.  Many have gone missing in the parlor area and others found in the most bizarre of places by the staff.  Perhaps it is Chloe.  Only one will go missing, and really, that is all she needs.  You may even see her in the picture above from the Plantation’s History page where they believe you can see her haunting the courtyard.

If you dare to tour, but are not sure if you could handle the ghostly appearances that haunt the home as you sleep, they do offer day tours between 9 and 5 daily.  The home is beautifully adorned with southern antique artifacts.  It is a beautiful mansion, sitting on a lush 10 acres of land adorned with beautiful oak trees.

If you are feeling more adventurous, mystery tours are conducted on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Weddings are held on site and can be booked through their main page, located below in the source info.  Take a lot of pictures.  You may find some wedding crashers when your film is developed.

If you decide to stay the night, I’m sure you will feel right at home with the southern hospitality you encounter, not only from the staff, but from Chloe and the Woodruff family as well.  You may check in to one of the 11 rooms at this bed and breakfast but the questions are, “Who is tucking you in,” and “Will you actually sleep?”

This next video is less than a minute and it sent such chills up my spine…

Sleep tight!!

Sources:

• The Official Website – Myrtles Plantation
• Ghost In My Suitcase Webpage
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFkmzNkfzo0
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYa2qLBpE9Y
• First photo from NoAdventure.com