A Night in a Haunted Hotel, New Orleans 🇺🇸

Part of my New Orleans blog

We arrived into New Orleans early afternoon on a flight from Orlando. The cab dropped Craig off at the superdome stadium, where he was watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers v New Orleans Saints – and took me on into the French Quarter.

The cab pulled up at 919 Royal Street, the Andrew Jackson Hotel.

Little had I known at the time of booking our stay that this hotel tops the list of most haunted in New Orleans! So much so that it has its own stop on the city ghost tours. I’m really not great with ghosts (who is!), so needless to say, I was feeling a bit of intrepidation.

The history of the Andrew Jackson Hotel

In 1792 the property was an orphanage and all-boys school for those who had lost their parents during the yellow fever epidemic that ravaged the city each summer. In 1794, a huge fire destroyed numerous houses in the French Quarter, including the orphanage. Sadly, five young boys were said to have horrifically burned to death on the site. And this is where the link to the hauntings begin.

After the fire demolished the orphanage, a US Federal Courthouse was built. Major General Andrew Jackson was tried here for contempt of court, shortly after he and his troops defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans. The property was demolished in the late 1800s, after which the Andrew Jackson Hotel was constructed in its place, named after him. I’m to believe he received an apology shortly before his death, hence there being no ill-feeling!

First impressions

Before I’d arrived I had read that room 208 is supposedly the ‘most haunted’ room. Of course I googled it! The room is said to be occupied by one of the boys who died in the fire, who has the strongest presence. If you believe what you hear, guests have been pushed out of the bed, had valuables go missing or woken to the little boy’s laughter at the foot of the bed. Nice.

As I checked in with the receptionist, I specifically asked not to be put in room 208, half expecting to be told we already were, but to my relief was told that we were in room 201.

My relief was short-lived when the ‘helpful’ receptionist told me that room 201 is equally as bad, with lots of ghostly goings on there too! Great.

Unlike the modern lobby with its chandelier and plush furniture, the main hotel was very dated and each and every stair up to the bedroom creaked. Of course they did.

Apparently many guests and hotel staff have reported seeing Andrew Jackson himself roaming the hallways, but he didn’t present himself to me, in the time I ran full pelt up the stairs and into my room. Thankfully.

Room 201 was a surprise, in a very good way – hugely spacious, massive bed and gorgeous high ceilings. The bathroom was a little less exciting, aside the strange air conditioning unit, which almost resembled the type of thing that old horror films ‘bring to life’ – complete with grills for teeth. Or perhaps that’s just me?

What impressed me most was the amazing private balcony, accessed from the room. It overlooked Royal Street, which gave a front row seat to the jazz buskers outside and horse drawn carts riding past. Now this really was an unexpected and pleasant surprise!

Just ‘to be on the safe side’, I tried the age old test you see on films like The Omen and took a photo of myself.

No photo-bombing ghosts. Check.

No strange coloured ‘aura’ above my head. Check.

I felt safe to stay there, soak up the atmosphere and sink a bottle of wine. For extra confidence.

As late afternoon turned to dusk, the hourly ghost tours came out in force! Trust me, nothing unnerves quite as much as relaxing on your balcony to cries of “Are you crazy, dude?”. Honestly, had I not had a glass or three of wine, I might not have stayed around to listen in on the tour guides talking about the hauntings that had taken place in the very room I was staying. It was actually very interesting, not to mention fun to play along and be a part of the show! Crazy, drunk English person!

So…..did I have a ghostly encounter?

Part of me would love to say yes, but I won’t lie – no. In fact, I had a great nights sleep (possibly due to the spirits of the alcohol variety).

Have you stayed the night in a haunted hotel? If that’s a yes, tell me about it below 👇🏻