ROYAL
STREET COURTYARD GHOST
Royal
Street Courtyard
THE ROYAL STREET COURTYARD
BED & BREAKFAST
Listed
on the National Register of Historic
Places
CLASSIC HAUNTINGS
IN A CLASSY LOCATION!
The Royal Street Courtyard Bed
& Breakfast
2438 Royal Street
New Orleans LA 70117
In The Historic Faubourg Marigny
Phone: +1-504-943-6818
Fax: +1-504-945-1212
Toll-free: +1-888-846-4004
Story by Carol Moran, Artwork by Ricardo
Pustanio
Built sometime around 1850, The Royal
Street Courtyard Bed & Breakfast
is often referred to by locals and tourists
alike as the “only real haunted
B&B in the New Orleans Faubourg
Marigny.” Once inside this stately
150-year-old home you are surrounded
by the antique charm of nineteenth-century
New Orleans; stately carved columns,
trimmed in hand tooled cypress, soar
to the 14-foot ceilings, regal Rococo
galleries open one upon the other exuding
all the elegance of antebellum Louisiana.
PHILLIP
LEGE AT ROYAL STREET COURTYARD
GHOST PHOTO
This stately 150-year-old
home is filled with charm,
alright, but it also happens
to be filled with ghosts:
just ask the owners, Phillip
Lege and David M. Smith,
and they just might be
willing to share stories
about a recent paranormal
encounter. |
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The
Royal Street Courtyard B&B has been
the site of numerous paranormal investigations
over the past several years, but experience
has proven that this haunted B&B
still has quite a few surprises that
continue make believer out of many skeptics.
Lege and Smith don't like to say much
about the purportedly haunted side of
life at Royal Street Courtyard, mostly
out of deference to their many clients
who are not comfortable with or not
interested in the paranormal or unexplained.
But the fact remains that there is a
very strange atmosphere around the old
building and many guests – whether
looking for an encounter or not –
have left with more than just fond memories
of their stay in this Faubourg Marigny
landmark.
The large building was once a private
home and over the generations it has
played host to many special events including
weddings, Mardi Gras parties and other
celebrations. The house has also seen
its share of death and tragedy over
the years; it has often been the site
of funerals, as well. Of course, all
this has played a part in shaping its
very haunted history.
At least once in its lifetime the house
was the site of a children’s group
home and functioned as the location
of a private social club (reportedly
a “secret society”) for
a time. In the early 1980’s the
site functioned as a halfway house for
troubled individuals attempting to re-enter
mainstream society. From 1985 to 1997
it functioned as “L’Chaim,”
a Jewish group home for the mentally
ill. Doubtless these numerous incarnations
have resulted in the variety of hauntings
said to take place within its old walls.
Ghost
stories from New Orleans most haunted
B & B
The
ornate entry door, hand-carved from
heavy Louisiana swamp cypress, has been
the subject of many photographs over
the years and a large majority of these
come back with anomalies in them. Guests
claim to have seen faces and bodies
and even some of the disembodied animals
have appeared in the doorway.
The sound of ghostly footsteps, disembodied
voices, cold spots and cool breezes
from nowhere, a gentle tugging on the
shirt sleeve, the sound of someone sighing
on the staircase or the squeaking of
an invisible wheelchair making its way
down an empty hallway – these
are just some of the experiences reported
by visitors who have braved a night
or two in the haunted rooms of Royal
Street Courtyard B&B.
Probably the most often-encountered
ghost at the Royal Street Courtyard
goes by the name of “Mr. Anthony.”
No one knows who he really is but most
believe him to be the ghost of a former
resident from the 1950’s who became
despondent and shot himself in one of
the slave quarter apartments.
According to Lege and Smith, “Mr.
Anthony” will always make his
presence felt, usually from the moment
a guest arrives. He is said to enjoy
cuddling or hugging guests, male and
female alike, as a kind of warm welcome.
Throughout their stay he might make
himself noticed by other means –
turning water faucets on in the bedrooms,
for instance, or banging about in the
kitchen after hours – and Mr.
Anthony will always be around to wish
guests farewell. He has even firmly
patted cab drivers on their backs at
curbside!
Guests who have been hugged by Mr. Anthony
describe it as a “cold chill”
enveloping the arms and chest, even
on a sweltering New Orleans day. And
although Mr. Anthony is never a threatening
apparition, guests are never too pleased
when he decides to get in bed with them
and snuggle a bit.
One recent female guest had just such
an experience when, in the dead of night,
she sensed someone standing beside her
bed. Half asleep, she realized someone
was getting into bed with her: she felt
strong invisible arms around her and
the coarse abrasion of a thick beard
against her shoulder. That was enough
and she jumped from the bed, throwing
on the lights. The room was empty –
she was completely alone.
Sleeping guests are often disturbed
by the laughter of ghostly children
playing in the hallways outside their
rooms. When guests get up and go to
the hall to investigate they are met
with silence and there is no one in
sight. Often in the night there are
shrieks and cries that many guests find
disturbing. Sometimes there is undecipherable
babbling and on one occasion a Tennessee
professor visiting New Orleans for an
educational conference reported that
he listened “for the better part
of an hour” as a ghostly voice
recited or read aloud in Hebrew –
obviously residual hauntings from the
building’s days as a Jewish mental
home.
But the once-human residents are apparently
not alone in their preternatural world.
Royal Street Courtyard seems to have
more than its share of ghost animals
haunting the place. There are several
ghostly cats that prowl about mingling
with the real ones that like to lie
on the sunlit porches or lurk about
in the bushes. No one can tell just
by looking which cats are real and which
are phantoms.
A small ghostly black dog is often encountered
late at night scratching at the doors
to be let in or out, or running up and
down the empty hallways. This dog has
the unnerving habit of disappearing
through walls and doors, however! The
ghost dog has also been seen in the
kitchen, probably looking for handouts
just as it did in life!
But probably
the most well-known animal visitant
is Lil’ Marie, the black and white
voodoo cat who became the mascot of
this B&B by virtue of her 14 years
of porch napping and lizard chasing
at the location. Lil’ Marie was
a friendly and loving cat who always
liked to greet new guests by curling
about their legs and purring loudly.
Many people tell Lege and Smith that
Lil’ Marie is still welcoming
visitors in the same manner! She’s
also fond of visiting guests in their
rooms where she is likely to find a
nice spot to curl up in and doze: the
sound of purring from an empty chair
is one of the simple pleasures at Royal
Street Courtyard and, says Smith, many
people just feel comfort knowing Lil’
Marie is choosing to room in with them.
Returning guests have often commented
hopefully that “Lil’ Marie
might be in our room!”
Ghost hunts and investigations have
documented at least seven, possibly
eight, specific discarnate entities
at the Royal Street Courtyard B&B.
The ghostly Mr. Anthony is the most
prominent, of course, but there are
also the phantoms of at least three
children – two playmates who like
to run around the upstairs hall –
and one reclusive and shy dark haired
boy who is most often seen standing
in the shadows near the foot of the
stairs. The ghost of a white-clad nurse
is sometimes seen upstairs and is often
mistaken for a maid because she is usually
carrying fresh white linen over her
arms. She will cross in front of guests
and disappear through closed doors in
the upstairs hall.
One entity has been identified in the
attic area of the house and this is
perhaps the most disturbing energy identified
to date. Resounding thudding as of heavy
footsteps has been heard throughout
the house – even outside the house
on at least one occasion – and
staff members are reluctant to go to
the attics in fear of what is lurking
there. Employees have described the
being as a “shadow ghost”
in the shape of a large man and say
that they can always tell when he is
about by the icy, graveyard chill that
permeates the air. This spirit does
not like noise and will usually make
his presence known to the upstairs guests
when there is too much talking or laughing
going on. The owners can only speculate
on the identity of the ghost although
at least one paranormal investigator
has linked the specter to the building’s
one-time use as a headquarters for a
mysterious secret society.
The Dinning area is the haunt of another
ghost, possibly a cook who served the
building in its institutional days or
a one-time owner. This spirit is known
to move things and plates about and
to hide other cooking utensils; most
of its activity is plain mischief. Another
possible spirit manifests itself, oddly
enough, only during the Mardi Gras season.
She is a ghostly old lady who is seen
only in the upper windows, wearing a
feathered mask, plenty of beads, and
nodding in time with the Mardi Gras
music. Several people claim to have
seen her, although her presence has
not been documented.
There have been several manifestations
of ghostly activity on photographs taken
by visitors and staff in the Royal Street
Courtyard – that is, when cameras
and electrical equipment works at all.
Problems with batteries power loss and
cameras not functioning are most prevalent
in the upstairs area and in the attics.
However, many people have caught misty
images and orbs in several keepsake
photographs.
MANY
VISITORS TO ROYAL STREET COURTYARD B&B
CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY MANY OF THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS
JUST DON'T COME OUT RIGHT. SEVERAL OF
THESE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO US. CHECK
THEM OUT <<HERE>>
In addition
to strange photos, several ghost hunters
have obtained what they believe is evidence
of EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena)
during their visits to the haunted B&B.
One such EVP is said to be the voices
of two young children saying, in whispers,
“They don’t know we’re
here!” Another EVP is alleged
to be the voice of a male entity, possibly
the violent entity inhabiting the attics;
this voice whispers obscenities and,
later says what sounds like, “you
people make me crazy!”
During one investigation a séance
was held in one of the guest rooms.
A well-known New Orleans spirit medium
was in attendance and before long a
spirit who identified herself as “Ms.
Irma” made her presence known.
The bathroom door of the guest room
slammed shut and the table being used
for the séance began to shake
violently; evidently Ms. Irma didn’t
like guests staying in her room, disturbing
her with their presence. When the window
curtains began to stand out on their
own as if being held by unseen hands,
the guests fled their room in terror.
Once downstairs they regained their
composure and immediately checked out,
asking staff members to retrieve their
luggage and personal items from their
haunted room.
Says Smith, “The fright on their
faces said it all! Although I didn’t
witness it, something definitely happened
to those guests. Unfortunately, it caused
them to cut their visit with us short.”
Smith says he likes to keep an “open
mind” and that staying skeptical
keeps his “head on straight”
when it comes to dealing with the exploits
of his alleged ghostly residents.
The beautiful antebellum Royal Street
Courtyard Bed and Breakfast is located
in one of the most progressive neighborhoods
in New Orleans and just a short 15-minute
stroll from the history, art and non-stop
entertainment of the French Quarter.
It is also within walking distance of
many popular clubs and restaurants and
is just blocks away from Mambo Sallie
Ann Glassman’s Island of Salvation
Botanica and Rosalie Alley Peristyle.
Each Mardi Gras season several popular
offbeat parades pass directly in front
of the B&B including the notorious
Krewe du Vieux, the Court of St. Anne
Walking Club, and the infamous Ducks
of Dixieland Walking Club. The location
is also ideal to experience the festivities
of St. Patrick’s Day and the annual
Italian-American Society St. Joseph
Day Parade.
Royal
Street Courtyard
2438 Royal Street
New Orleans LA 70117
Faubourg
Marigny
Phone: +1-504-943-6818
Fax: +1-504-945-1212
Toll-free: +1-888-846-4004
*
Nearest major city: New Orleans, LA
( In city)
* Directions to property:
Six blocks due east from the French
Quarter on Royal Street.
* Nearest major airport: New Orleans,
LA (MSY) 12 miles
* Directions from airport:
New Orleans International
Room Rates (USD American Dollars)
All occupancy rates are subject to change
* State and local
taxes may apply
* Accommodations: Rooms
* There are 8 guest accommodations (8
with private baths)
* Single occupancy rate is between $
65.00 and $ 249.00
* Double occupancy rate is between $
65.00 and $ 249.00
* The rate for each additional person
is $ 10.00
Amenities
In Room On Site
* Air conditioning
* Alarm clock
* Ceiling fans
* Fridge
* Radio
* Satellite/Cable TV
* TV
* Fax Machine
* Hot tub/whirlpool tub
* Piano
* Telephone
Meals
* A Continental breakfast
is included with room rate
* Breakfast is served from: 8:00 - 10:30
am
* Breakfast is served in the Breakfast
Room
Policies
* Minimum stay required
(3, 4 or 5 night minimums during peak
season, see deposit section for peak
season)
* Smoking is not allowed (Smoking areas
outside.)
* Guest pets are welcome (Most pets
accommodated - please call)
* Limitations on children staying (16
and over)
* No childcare is provided
* Consumption of alcohol is permitted
(Bring your own drinks)
* Deposit amount required (One night
during non-peak season. 50% of stay
during Peak season: Sugar Bowl, Mardi
Gras, French Quarter Festival, Jazz
Festival, Essencefest, Southern Decadence,
Halloween & New Years.)
* Check in time is 1:00 pm and Check
out time is 11:00 am
* Cancellations:
14 days during non-peak season. 60 days
during Peak season: Sugar Bowl, Mardi
Gras, French Quarter Festival, Jazz
Festival, Essencefest, Southern Decadence,
Halloween & New Years. A $25.00
cancellation fee will be retained.
* Accepted by the following agencies:
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention
and Visitors Bureau
Professional Innkeepers of New Orleans
Innkeepers
* Innkeeper(s): Phillip
Lege and David M. Smith
* The innkeepers speak: English
Area Attractions
Antique Shopping,
Aquarium, Art Galleries, Casino, Gourmet/Fine
Dining, Historical interests, Live Music,
Museum, River, Zoo
Onsite or Nearby Activities
Bicycle riding trails,
Shopping, Sight-seeing
* Conventioners
* Downtown
* Antiques/decor
* Economical rates
* Gay / Lesbian Travel
* Peaceful getaway
* Romantic escape
Establishment Type
* Bed and Breakfast
Property Details
* Architectural style
is Greek Revival
* Built in 1850
* Opened for business in 1996
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