13 Louisiana Cemeteries That Locals Swear Still Hold Spirits

Louisiana’s cemeteries aren’t just final resting places they’re portals to our haunted past. With their above-ground tombs and centuries of history, these graveyards have become legendary for paranormal activity.

From misty apparitions to unexplained voices, locals have passed down stories of encounters with the other side for generations. Ready to explore the spookiest burial grounds in the Bayou State?

1. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans

The oldest cemetery in New Orleans houses the tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Visitors who draw three X’s on her crypt and turn around three times supposedly receive her blessing or her curse if they fail to leave an offering. Locals report seeing her spirit wandering the narrow alleyways between tombs after sunset.

Tour guides tell of cold spots that appear even during sweltering summer days. Cameras frequently malfunction around certain graves, and many tourists capture unexplained orbs in their photos.

Did you know this cemetery has been featured in numerous horror films? With over 100,000 souls buried in less than a square block, it’s no wonder the spiritual energy here feels so intense!

2. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, Garden District

Garden District residents walking their dogs near this cemetery often report their pets refusing to enter certain sections. The most frequent apparition is a young girl in a blue dress who appears to be searching for something among the tombs—believed to be a yellow-fever victim from the 1800s.

Visitors frequently feel tugging on their clothes or hair when no one is nearby. The cemetery’s famous “floating orbs” appear in photographs taken at dusk, especially around the Brunies family tomb.

If you’re brave enough to visit, bring your camera at sunset. The massive oak trees create eerie shadows across the whitewashed tombs, and locals swear that’s when the spirits are most active.

3. Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans

Once a horse racing track, Metairie Cemetery transformed into one of Louisiana’s most elaborate burial grounds after the Civil War. Security guards working night shifts report hearing phantom hoofbeats and cheering crowds echoes from its racing days. The Moriarty tomb, shaped like a ruined castle, is said to be particularly active.

Visitors often feel a presence following them through the cemetery’s winding paths. Many report seeing a Confederate soldier limping between graves, presumably searching for fallen comrades.

Though it’s one of the more elegant cemeteries in Louisiana, don’t be fooled by its beauty. When fog rolls in from Lake Pontchartrain, the massive angels and weeping statues seem to come alive in the mist.

4. St. Roch Cemetery, New Orleans

St. Roch’s gothic chapel houses a bizarre collection of prosthetic limbs, crutches, and other medical devices left by those who believed they were cured by praying to St. Roch. Locals claim these items move on their own at night, and the sounds of coughing and wheezing echo through the chapel.

Groundskeepers refuse to work alone, especially in the older sections where a hooded figure has been spotted vanishing around corners. The figure is believed to be St. Roch himself, still watching over the sick who come seeking miracles.

When visiting, many people report feeling someone breathing on their neck or whispering in their ear. The cemetery’s wrought iron gates are said to creak open and closed on windless nights.

5. Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans

Hurricane Katrina unleashed more than floodwaters at Greenwood Cemetery—it stirred up the spirits too. Locals living nearby report seeing glowing figures wandering among the tombs on rainy nights. The cemetery’s famous weeping angel statue allegedly sheds real tears during thunderstorms.

Visitors often capture strange mists in photographs that weren’t visible to the naked eye. One particular mausoleum, belonging to a wealthy merchant family, is said to emit soft piano music around sunset.

Though less famous than other New Orleans burial grounds, Greenwood holds some of the most active spirits. The massive oak trees seem to whisper as you walk by, and many visitors report feeling watched from empty tombs. Even skeptics leave with goosebumps!

6. Chalmette National Cemetery, St. Bernard Parish

Resting place for Union soldiers who died during the Civil War, Chalmette National Cemetery has a heavy atmosphere that even skeptics can’t deny. Park rangers report hearing military drums and seeing lantern lights moving between graves at night, long after the cemetery closes.

The most common apparition is a Union soldier who appears to be standing at attention near the flagpole. He vanishes when approached but has been seen by dozens of visitors over the years.

Many visitors feel overwhelming sadness in certain sections particularly where soldiers who died far from home are buried. Electronic equipment frequently malfunctions, and batteries drain unexpectedly. If you visit around sunset, listen carefully for what sounds like distant battle cries carried on the wind.

7. Girod Street Cemetery (Former Site), New Orleans

Though paved over in 1957 for the Superdome, the spirits of Girod Street Cemetery refuse to rest. Security guards working night shifts at the Superdome report doors opening by themselves and elevators moving between floors with no passengers. Many believe these are the displaced ghosts of the cemetery’s residents.

Visitors attending events sometimes feel cold spots in specific sections of the complex. Several employees have quit after encountering a woman in Victorian-era clothing who vanishes when approached.

When construction began on the Superdome, workers reported finding human remains despite official claims that all bodies had been relocated. Perhaps that explains why paranormal activity increases dramatically during night games. Some Saints fans even attribute unexpected plays to ghostly intervention!

8. Cypress Grove Cemetery, New Orleans

Firemen’s tombs dominate Cypress Grove, creating a uniquely haunted atmosphere. Visitors report hearing phantom fire bells and seeing smoke with no source drifting between the elaborate monuments. The cemetery’s famous “Weeping Woman” statue has been photographed with what appears to be real tears streaming down her face.

Local paranormal investigators consider this one of the most active sites in Louisiana. EVP recordings capture what sound like muffled conversations and distant shouting. Many visitors feel sudden temperature drops, even on the hottest summer days.

Photographers are particularly drawn to the cemetery’s magnificent tombs, but many capture more than they bargained for. Shadowy figures appear in images taken near the firefighters’ memorial, and batteries drain inexplicably fast. The spirits here seem particularly active around the anniversary of major fires.

9. Odd Fellows Rest, New Orleans

Abandoned and overgrown, Odd Fellows Rest has become a hotspot for paranormal enthusiasts. The cemetery’s neglected state seems to have intensified spiritual activity, with locals reporting strange lights floating above the tombs at night. The distinctive three-link chain symbol of the Odd Fellows fraternity reportedly glows on certain graves during full moons.

Nearby residents hear whispered conversations and children laughing after midnight. Those brave enough to peek through the locked gates often see shadowy figures darting between the crumbling monuments.

Though officially closed to the public, ghost hunters frequently attempt to record evidence here. Many capture orbs and unexplained voice phenomena near the massive society tomb. The spirits seem particularly active during October, perhaps drawn to the thinning veil between worlds as Halloween approaches.

10. St. Louis Cemetery No. 2, New Orleans

Less famous than its older sibling but equally haunted, St. Louis No. 2 houses the remains of many voodoo practitioners and jazz musicians. Visitors report hearing phantom saxophone notes floating through the air at dusk. The most active section contains the tombs of several prominent voodoo queens who practiced alongside Marie Laveau.

Tour guides tell of tourists who feel invisible hands grabbing them or experience sudden overwhelming emotions near certain graves. Many leave trinkets and offerings at the tombs of musicians, believing their spirits still appreciate earthly pleasures.

If you visit on a quiet weekday, you might catch the sound of distant drums or chanting. Locals say the cemetery comes alive after hours when the spirits gather to continue their rituals and celebrations. Photographers often capture strange light anomalies that form perfect circles in their images.

11. Holt Cemetery, New Orleans

Unlike most New Orleans cemeteries, Holt features in-ground burials, creating a different kind of haunting. As one of the few potter’s fields in the city, it holds the remains of those who couldn’t afford above-ground tombs. Locals report seeing misty figures rising from the ground after heavy rains as if the spirits are trying to escape the floodwaters.

Homemade markers and personal items left on graves sometimes move overnight. Visitors find toys relocated from children’s graves to different sections of the cemetery. The sounds of singing and humming often float through the air at sunset.

Despite its humble appearance, Holt holds some of New Orleans’ most active spirits. Many believe the souls here are more restless because they lacked proper funerals. Ghost hunters report their equipment going haywire near the unmarked section where victims of yellow fever epidemics were buried.

12. Carrollton Cemetery, New Orleans

Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, Carrollton Cemetery flies under the tourist radar but locals know it’s one of the most haunted spots in the city. Residents living nearby report seeing a woman in white wandering through the cemetery at dawn, always disappearing behind the same mausoleum.

Children playing in the adjacent park tell stories of a friendly old man who watches them from inside the cemetery gates, then vanishes when adults approach. Many believe he’s the spirit of a former groundskeeper who maintained the cemetery for over 40 years.

Though smaller than other New Orleans burial grounds, Carrollton packs plenty of paranormal activity into its modest boundaries. Visitors often feel someone walking beside them on the narrow paths, and many report hearing their names whispered when no one else is around.

13. Plaquemines Parish Cemetery, Port Sulphur

Hurricane Katrina devastated this rural cemetery, washing away headstones and disturbing graves. Since the disaster, paranormal activity has increased dramatically. Fishermen on nearby bayous report seeing glowing figures wandering along the shoreline at night, seemingly searching for their lost grave markers.

The cemetery’s iron gates reportedly swing open on their own during storms. Locals believe the spirits become agitated when bad weather approaches, perhaps fearing another hurricane will further disturb their rest.

Though restoration efforts have repaired much of the physical damage, the spiritual disruption remains. Visitors often hear splashing sounds with no visible source, and cameras frequently capture orbs near areas where graves were washed away. Many locals refuse to visit after dark, believing the displaced spirits are more likely to follow you home.