Vampires of New Orleans
Looking for Vampires in New Orleans?
Have you heard of the Vampires of New Orleans? The Crescent City is known for many things, from its vibrant music scene to its delicious cuisine, but did you know that it’s also known for its legendary vampire sightings? That’s right, the Big Easy has a long and storied history of vampire lore.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of catching a glimpse of these bloodsucking creatures, you’re in luck! We’ll be exploring where and how to see vampires of New Orleans, along with some fascinating tidbits of vampire history along the way.
1. Ursuline Convent and the Casket Girls
Have you heard of the Casket Girls of New Orleans? These mysterious young women arrived in the city in the early 1700s with nothing but their casket-shaped coffins. Many believed they were sent over from France as potential brides for the male colonists, but others believed something more sinister was at play.
Legends began to spread about the Casket Girls being vampires, and their casket trunks containing soil from their homeland to keep them alive. Others say the trunks were just empty, possibly where the girls hid during the daylight hours.
2. St. Louis Cemetery #1
Another popular spot is St. Louis Cemetery #1. This is the final resting place of infamous vampire Jacques Saint Germain, who is said to have lived in New Orleans in the early 1900s and who may still haunt the area to this day.
Jacques St. Germain, a charming and enigmatic gentleman who lived in the 18th century. Rumor has it that he was more than just a suave figure, and had some peculiar behavior.
He never ate at his own grand dinners, no one ever saw him during daylight hours, and when he talked of historical moments, he spoke as if he knew it so well because he was actually there.
According to legend, St. Germain was a womanizer who frequented the French Quarter at night to mingle with young ladies. After St. Germain brought a woman home from the pub one evening, cries could be heard coming from his house.
The guest said that she had been attacked by her host, who had grabbed her and bit her on the neck, as she leapt from the second floor of his home. St. Germain was absent when police investigated his home and discovered bloodstains and wine bottles filled with blood.
Despite his mysterious nature, St. Germain was well-loved by the bustling city of New Orleans, and his alleged immortality made him a legend among locals and visitors alike.
The cemetery also offers a number of other stops on its walking tours that relate to vampire lore, including a gravesite that’s rumored to belong to a vampire who was killed during a battle with a voodoo priestess.
In order to get into St. Louis Cemetery #1, you will need to schedule a tour! Due to vandalism and break ins, this is now the only way to enter the cemetery. Thankfully, there are plenty of tours to choose from and we’ve complied some of the best just down below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
3. Royal Street – The Tale of the Vampire Brothers
Just on the corner of St. Ann and Royal Street sits a real house of horrors.
Legend has it that a young girl was found running down Royal Street, terrified. A New Orleans police officer stopped her asking what had cause her to be in such disarray. She had told him that she had just escaped from a pair of mad men. She and others were allegedly restrained at the Carter residence so the two could consume their blood.
Police searched the home, and did not find the Carter brothers, but at least a dozen or so of bound victims, their wounds covered with bloody bandages. Those weak, yet still alive, told the officers how the men would reopen their wounds and drink their blood.
The Carter brothers carried on as normal, unaware that the girl had gone. The difference this time was that the cops awaited the brothers’ return. They were promptly captured, and as soon as they were in custody, they confessed and begged to be killed.
The brothers claimed to the authorities that they were, in reality, vampires and would be forced to continue killing if freed since their hunger for blood was uncontrollable. According to rumors, the brothers were found guilty and hanged after being prosecuted as serial murders.
Some say they can still hear the brothers whispering on the balcony of their former home, or seeing shadowy figures jumping into the streets below. Are the brothers still trying to plan their get away from justice?
4. The Vampire Ball
If you’re in New Orleans for Halloween, you must get your ticket for the Vampire Ball, an annual event that’s a must-visit for fans of all things vampiric.
Endless Night hosts annual events around the whole year in various cities including Los Angeles, Tampa, and Salem. This year, on October 28th, they will be hosting the New Orleans Vampire Ball.
The parties and balls have been going on since 1996, providing a unique environment for those who wish to indulge in their “darker side”.
You can expect to see live performances, DJs, and a Best Dressed Contest. There are other events that require a separate admission if your don’t purchase the VIV (Very Important Vampire) tickets such as a High Tea and Tarot Card reading and a banquet held on a river boat.
You will be expected to dress the part and follow decorum. There will be adult themed entertainment and no one is expected to participate in anything they are uncomfortable with. The ball is meant to be a safe place for all to have a good time.
You can purchase tickets for the event on their website!
5. Vampire Themed Shops
Of course, stalking vampires isn’t the only way to explore New Orleans’ vampire history. You might also want to check out some of the city’s vampire-themed locations. For example, there’s the Boutique du Vampyre, which is a shop that specializes in all things vampire.
You’ll find everything you need from crystals, books, artwork, clothing, and other curiosities.
There are an array of other specialty themed shops that focus on voodoo, witchcraft and tarot, and other occult goods. Be sure to check them out as well!
- Voodoo Authentica
- Hex Old World Witchery
- Esoterica Occult Goods
- Reverend Zombie’s House of Voodoo
6. Vampire Themed Restaurants and Bars
The most noticeable is the Vampire Café, which offers a selection of blood-red cocktails and vampire-themed décor. While they do host breakfast and brunch, we were fortunate enough to have dinner there.
We started our dinner off with their deluxe charcutier board and had a sample of their beer flight. Then moved onto the scallops and alligator po’ boy and we can’t say enough how delicious everything was. We finished off our meal with a decadent Death by Chocolate cake, and a Spiked Snowball, an alcoholic slushie like drink.
We plan to come back for their High Afternoon Tea and Leaf Reading and Storyville Séance session.
You must also check out the Boutique du Vampyre’s Apothecary, a delight bar that regularly hosts reading and tarot events. We shared their Baked Brie, followed by a Mushroom and Goat Cheese Panini and Boneless Beef Short Rib. For dessert, we got this cute Flower Cookie Trio and Napoleon Cake. The Macabre Martini, chocolate liquor and vanilla vodka, and After Death cocktail, cognac and irish creme were the best way to end our meal.
7. Vampire Tours
If you’re really serious about seeing vampires, you might want to consider booking a vampire tour. These specialized tours will take you to all the hotspots, as well as offer a deeper understanding of vampire history and lore.
Some of these tours even include visits to private homes that are rumored to be inhabited by vampires. Just be prepared to stay up late – many of these tours take place after dark, when the vampires are said to be most active.
New Orleans Haunted Ghost, Voodoo, Vampire and Mystery Tour
This evening tour of New Orleans might sound daunting on your own, but this ghost, voodoo, and vampire walking tour brings you to the city’s spookiest locations in the company of an experienced guide. As you visit famous sites like the LaLaurie Mansion and the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, listen to your guide’s in-depth tales of the supernatural and otherworldly phenomena.
Adults Only New Orleans Ghost, True Crime, Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour
One of the top-rated ghost tour companies in the area, they offer an adults-only tour that explores the city’s dark past for those seeking a no-holds-barred scare. Storytelling tours give you the option of two alternate paths through the most haunted locales in the French Quarter and beyond, saving the grimmest true-crime yarns, voodoo folklore, and ghostly frights for this one.
New Orleans Vampire Walking Tour
On this two-hour evening walking tour, learn about New Orleans’ most fabled vampire haunts! Your local guide will lead you on a promenade around the French Quarter by lamplight to tour locations steeped in vampire mythology, such as the site where Interview with a Vampire was filmed. Additionally, you’ll hear some tales of the dead from public records and police reports and get a sneak peek inside a well-known vampire bar.
New Orleans Voodoo, Ghost, Murder, True Crime and Vampire Tour
On this enjoyable and reasonably priced walking tour of the French Quarter, learn about New Orleans’ eerie past. Hear firsthand accounts of unsolved murders, enigmatic hauntings, and inexplicable occurrences from a knowledgeable historian-guide. See the notorious crime scenes like Lalaurie Mansion and discover the city’s connections to the occult—from vampires to voodoo, pirates to witches.
New Orleans 5-in-1 Tour Experience
This tour has it all: ghosts, vampires, witches, voodoo, and unsolved mysteries. On this spooky-fun ghost walking tour, learn why New Orleans is recognized as America’s capital of the eerie and macabre. While a guide tells tales of murder, voodoo rituals, bloodsucking folklore, and rumors of zombie inhabitants prowling the legendary streets, visit the French Quarter’s most terrifying locations.
Vampires in New Orleans FAQ
What is the Connection Between New Orleans and Vampires?
New Orleans has such an intriguing mix of cultures, its no wonder that legends of vampires have made their way into the Crescent City’s lore. While some might have one local legend, New Orleans has many different captivating tales of vampires.
Who was the Famous Vampire in New Orleans?
Jacques St. Germain, who claims to be a descendant of Count of St. Germain, was a mysterious figure who told grand tales while hosting lavish parties for the elite of New Orleans.
While he may have lived a colorful life, many noticed his odd behavior such as never eating at his own banquets, and speaking of the past as if he were there. This, and other strange occurrences have lead people to believe he was a true vampire.
Where Did the Casket Girls Stay?
The Casket Girls were said to have came from France to be intended brides for the French settlers. They were called Casket Girls because they could only bring one casket sized truck that contained all their belongings.
Once arriving in New Orleans, they stayed at the Ursuline Convent in order to be educated on their upcoming roles as wives and mothers.
Further Reading
Conclusion: Vampires in New Orleans
It’s no secret that New Orleans is a city with a rich and fascinating history. But for those who are interested in exploring the darker side of that history, there’s plenty to discover in the realm of vampires.
Whether you’re staking out a haunted cemetery or sipping a vampire-themed cocktail, there’s no shortage of ways to connect with the city’s vampiric past. So come to New Orleans and see for yourself – you never know what you might find lurking in the shadows.
