best . Breakfast at the Dixie Cafe is complimentary with your stay . The extensive buffet comes complete with home-made biscuits . Here , you may be greeted by canine royalty , Princess Maggie , Princess Daisey , ( labs ) and the owner of Houmas House , Kevin Kelly . Kevin is one of America ’ s foremost visionaries who transformed Houmas House into the world-famous estate it is today .
Houmas House Tours
On a great curve of the Mississippi River , the land was fertile which became the home to great sugar cane fields and more . This attracted settlers in the early 1700 ’ s and eventually into the hands of the great Sugar Barons in the early 1800 ’ s . Here , Houmas House was transformed from the simplicity of the 1700 ’ s cottage to the Classical Revival Mansion that stands today . The great colonnade has not changed since 1829 .
The sixteen-room mansion , known as the Crown Jewel of Louisiana ’ s River Road , is completely restored with fine chandeliers , lush draperies , and prized antiques . My favorite items are the original Houmas China , a 1792 chandelier , and chairs that once belonged to President Polk . Notice the rare-period artwork displayed . Our tour guide walked us through 250 years of history . Houmas House is so stunning that film crews abandoned their Hollywood stage lots on numerous occasions to film on location — proving this unmatched beauty cannot be duplicated . Be sure and watch the Hollywood classic film , Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte , that was filmed here , featuring Betty Davis . The stunning staircase leads to the room where the actress lodged while filming . I promise you will remember the staircase after watching the film . The Green Book was also filmed , in-part , at Houmas House in 2018 .
We usually spend most of the day roaming the thirty-eightacres of Eden-like gardens . There are perfect situated seating areas for spectacular views of fountains and floral delights . Spend some time under the wisteria arbor with the Hampton Fountain in the background . This is a great place for a selfie . The Japanese Tea House is a perfect vantage point to view one of the stunning waterfalls . For us , it will always be a spot near the ancient oaks where the sprawling arms of the trees frame the house perfectly .
The great River Road Museum is a must-see on the grounds of the estate . You can purchase tickets for the House and Museum at the gift shop . Visitors can get a glimpse into history along the Mighty Mississippi from Baton Rouge to New Orleans . Highlights include items from the Battle of New Orleans , the Civil War , Napoleon ’ s Death Mask , artwork , and steamboat models . The museum ’ s stories are enhanced by the wax figures that were originally on display in Madame Tus-
Prudent Mallard bed in the Deluxe Suite