Ghosts and goblins are nothing new to New Orleans and the French Quarter, an area known for historic sites and centuries-old buildings, some dating back to 1718 when the city was founded. What many people don’t know is that scores of the original residents and visitors of historic New Orleans never left town. The city has been referred as the Most Haunted City in America, and the Dauphine Orleans Hotel is at the heart of the “old” stomping grounds.
The hauntings at the Dauphine Orleans vary from Civil War soldiers to their well dressed “ladies-of-the-evening.” The epicenter is May Baily’s Place, once a bordello in the wildly popular red-light district known as Storyville, and now serving as the hotel bar. At a recent ghost investigation, performed by an all female paranormal investigation team, higher than average paranormal activity was recorded in May Baily’s. It has been said that at night the spirit of a woman rearranges the bottles in the bar, as the dark-haired male spirit wearing a military uniform wanders through the courtyard. On the evening of the inquiry the ghost hunters recorded unexplained spikes on the K2 meter (used to communicate with an alleged ghost) while discussing the Civil War and reports of the soldier in the hotel. The tale was validated even further when high Electromagnetic Field (EMF) spikes were detected as a male bartender entered the old brothel, perhaps exciting the female spirits, who prefer the presence of a man. “We will continue to investigate the paranormal phenomenon recorded at the Dauphine Orleans in the hopes to unveil more psychic echoes from the past, particularly our former female residents,” states Dawn Ledet, Director of Sales. Over the years guests have caught a lightening-fast glimpse of a woman dancing across the courtyard.
The Dauphine Orleans Hotel completed a total renovation of guest rooms and public spaces in the summer of 2008. As is not uncommon for ghost sightings to escalate when renovations take place, this Halloween season the hotel should be a popular haunt. The Dauphine Orleans is located at 415 Dauphine Street in the heart of the French Quarter, just blocks from many other reputedly haunted locales, including the French Opera House, the LaLaurie Mansion, the Beauregard-Keyes House, and St. Louis Cathedral. The world famous Bourbon and Royal Streets, Jackson Square, the Riverfront, the Aquarium of the Americas, and many of the diverse attractions of the French Quarter and the Central Business District are also within easy walking distance of the hotel.
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