Magnolia Plantation is a national historic landmark that recounts a queer history with a unique blend of French, Spanish and African American cultures. A part of Cane River Creole National Historic Park, Magnolia Plantation is located in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
MAGNOLIA PLANTATION, HISTORY
Magnolia Plantation was established in 1830 by Ambrose Lacomte II along with his wife Julia Buard. Soon the sprawling eighteen acre land getting cultivated for cotton production was also simultaneously bringing about an era of the African slave history. The family tree of the Lacomtes’ was gradually associated with the Hertzog family as the two Lacomte daughters married the sons of the Hertzogs. However it was Atala and Matthew Hertzog took charge of the plantation after their marriage in 1852 .
The cotton and tobacco cultivations of this former plantation mainly sufficed and fueled the Pre-Civil War American South.
Perhaps no other house in this area is accounted to be as big as the plantation’s main house with twenty seven rooms built on the 18 acre ranch. Despite unsuccessful attempts by the Federal soldiers to burn it , this plantation home stands to this day giving us a glimpse of the African American heritage trail. The blacksmith shop, gin barn, eight cabins, plantation store and the slave hospital still form a part of the plantation.
GETTING THERE
Magnolia Plantation is located twelve miles South of Natchitoches. Derry, Louisiana happens to be the only town closest to the site.
There are several trolley buses available that provide guided tours of the area. The nearest airports are in Alexandria and Shreveport, Louisiana.
HAUNTED MAGNOLIA PLANTATION LOUISIANA
One of the most striking and eerie feature is that this plantation rests on Indian burial grounds and is pregnant with rich history and hidden mystery of the days gone by. It is really hard to fathom its enigmatic past doused with slavery and voodoo.
Hundreds of slaves had died as a result of starvation, suffocation, humiliation and the worst of inhuman treatment possible. Silent rebellion of the slaves surfaced in the form of voodoo graffiti and black magic. It is believed that the slaves used voodoo to cast evil spells on the heartless masters.
Several of the slave quarters including the main house of this former plantation is said to be haunted by restless spirits of the owners and the slaves who were tortured and killed here.
Many documentaries have been made on the Magnolia Plantation which is acclaimed to be one of the scariest places on earth today.
MAGNOLIA PLANTATION LOUISIANA HOTELS
There are a number of quality hotels that are to be found a few miles away from the plantation area. Some of these hotels are as follows
Americas Best Value Inn
Days Inn Natchitoches
Best Western Natchitoches
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites
Hampton Inn Natchitoches
Quality Hotel Natchitoches
MAGNOLIA PLANTATION TOURS
The plantation area is free and open to the public to indulge in self guided tours daily.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Magnolia plantation which is now a unit of Cane River Creole National Historic Park remains open from Monday to Friday between 8.00 am to 4.30 pm.
The site is closed during the weekends.
The gruesome cries of the slaves who were brutally abused and tortured reverberate to this day and this what makes the Magnolia Plantation unique, trapped in the web of paranormal activity.
Magnolia Plantation plays a major role in the Cane River community.
CONTACT DETAILS
Magnolia Plantation Complex 5487
Highway 119 Derry, LA 71416
Phone No: (318) 356-8441 nps.gov
