Howdy, y'all. This is my first real post on here, so please bear with me as I will inevitably screw something up. I'm guessing some of y'all have come across this place, but I thought I'd add what I have.

In some of my reading on Louisiana history, I came across of accounts of what was considered the grandest plantation in antebellum times. Unfortunately, the main house burned down in the early 1920s, but there were apparently ruins of different things on the property still. Some online research and Google Earth led me to where I believed the ruins were. Not sure if it's kosher to mention the name and location of the place, but I can add that if it is.

Apologies in advance for the poor quality of the pictures. I'm a dummy and only brought my cell phone.

The POE was relatively easy to find, and I soon came across some of the artificial canals I'd read about, with brickwork randomly scattered about.



I followed the canal to where I came across a footbridge and some rock structure. I've read there was a miniature fort with a working cannon, and my guess is that this is what the structure that's currently about 7' is.









I then came across another footbridge spanning a canal.





Brickwork was scattered throughout the property, and I round the remains of some outbuildings. There is some iron still attached to this chunk of bricks, possibly the frame of a door?







In my research, I'd learned of a hill that had been constructed. On the top of the hill, there was a Chinese pagoda adorned with stained glass. In the base of the hill, there was a grotto that the plantation owner converted to a chapel for daily prayers after his wife and children passed. I saw a hill covered in trees, and knew I was in business because there just aren't hills in southern Louisiana. Unfortunately, the pagoda is long gone, but the grotto remains in surprisingly good shape.

















The initial opening was maybe 5' high, and it opened to the internal chamber above to what I'm guessing is about a 12' domed roof. I would have spent longer in there getting actual measurements, but made a fairly hasty retreat when about a dozen healthy-sized rats came pouring out of the walls. It shows up better on my phone, but you can see the nasty little buggers in some of the photos.

All in all, it was a good 40 minutes spent checking out the remnants of an old place.

Wow, nice job! It looks like you really did your research on this one. That bridge is beautiful, and I'm impressed you found that grotto! This sounds like a juicy piece of history you have here.
Do you live in LA or are you passing through? I'm currently in Shreveport, but I don't know for how long.
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks. I live in a small place in East Texas. Lots of family in southern LA, though.

Uh, lots of rats?
PASS!

I hate mice and rats like some people hate spiders or snakes or....clowns?

In any event, welcome to the board and tanks for sharing the shots. It seems like an interesting locale for sure.

Posted by denton_robo Uh, lots of rats? PASS! I hate mice and rats like some people hate spiders or snakes or....clowns? In any event, welcome to the board and tanks for sharing the shots. It seems like an interesting locale for sure.

I'll take any of the above on any given day, as long as there aren't... wasps. Bees or wasps, but wasps especially. This is not easy task living around this region, either. This is also why I prefer to explore in the wintertime.

Posted by Dee Ashley This is also why I prefer to explore in the wintertime.

*Nods*

Yup, last two places I visited both had large amounts of bees in them. Rural exploring is almost done for the season! Snakes, bees, wasps, hell, earlier today I got dive bombed by a freaking barn owl.

Texas is out to kill me!

The first time I heard the blood-curdling screech of a barn owl (or is it the barred owl?), I just about peed myself, lol. Those things sound like little demons trying to steal your soul!
I love spring, but it's definitely bitter sweet, due to the aforementioned reasons...
That's okay, a few hours north - it's still winter there. Maybe I can squeeze in one more road trip! haha

Posted by Dee Ashley The first time I heard the blood-curdling screech of a barn owl (or is it the barred owl?), I just about peed myself, lol. Those things sound like little demons trying to steal your soul! I love spring, but it's definitely bitter sweet, due to the aforementioned reasons... That's okay, a few hours north - it's still winter there. Maybe I can squeeze in one more road trip! haha

there are both barn owl and barred owl species

1. barn


2. barred



you really want hear something scary the little western screech owl can sound like a woman screaming in the woods

I was too slow yesterday with the camera.

I'm going back today though, and will be video recording. Hopefully not as it claws my eyes out.

Edit:
I might do a western screech owl impersonation...

Posted by Dee Ashley I'll take any of the above on any given day, as long as there aren't... wasps. Bees or wasps, but wasps especially. This is not easy task living around this region, either. This is also why I prefer to explore in the wintertime.

I love wintertime and fall exploring. I moved to Texas recently, and discovered the joy of wasps and rattlesnakes in abandoned places.
If there was only some kind of force field or repellant that one could spray on to keep them away

Posted by rosindia I love wintertime and fall exploring. I moved to Texas recently, and discovered the joy of wasps and rattlesnakes in abandoned places. If there was only some kind of force field or repellant that one could spray on to keep them away

Water Moccasins and Copperhead snakes are my absolute favorites - especially water moccasins when they get a wild hair up their ass and suddenly decide to literally chase you. Good times! Oh, and don't forget the fire ants! And the giant tree roaches/water bugs *shudder* ... And poison Ivy/Oak (but those can get ya any time of year I suppose, they just cover more ground in the summer).

Gotta love summer in Texas. I could go on, but I believe my point has been made and then some, lol.
I'm in a - shall we say - ... silly mood currently, so anything I say or insinuate is probably laced with a touch of a Kendall Jackson-esque quirkiness, lol.

On that note... It's probably time for me to retire from the world of social media and forums for a couple hours...

Edit: Redundancies. It must be the aforementioned beverage that has adversely affected my grammar.... Fuck, I thought I was old enough to know better than to drink and post. Someday I might learn, but not today!

Captured the owl in my latest video, still hard to tell. Have a plan in the works to go with a second person to flush the owl out while I take pictures. I think it would be a great shot getting that bird coming out of the barn.

I do quite a bit of hunting in South Texas, and snake boots are an essential down there. Most of the exploring I do is in rural settings (where I live), and I like wearing those boots because I can clomp around in pretty tall grass and not worry so much about snakes.

Posted by Dee Ashley Water Moccasins and Copperhead snakes are my absolute favorites - especially water moccasins when they get a wild hair up their ass and suddenly decide to literally chase you. Good times! Oh, and don't forget the fire ants! And the giant tree roaches/water bugs *shudder* ... And poison Ivy/Oak (but those can get ya any time of year I suppose, they just cover more ground in the summer). Gotta love summer in Texas. I could go on, but I believe my point has been made and then some, lol. I'm in a - shall we say - ... silly mood currently, so anything I say or insinuate is probably laced with a touch of a Kendall Jackson-esque quirkiness, lol. On that note... It's probably time for me to retire from the world of social media and forums for a couple hours... Edit: Redundancies. It must be the aforementioned beverage that has adversely affected my grammar.... Fuck, I thought I was old enough to know better than to drink and post. Someday I might learn, but not today!

I am investing in snake boots this year. I was horrified to discover a snakeskin in a tree last year and then see it's owner not far away. I know it's silly to be surprised to see a snake in a tree

Summer in Texas is a whole different beast. Good time to spend researching new spots

Posted by rosindia I am investing in snake boots this year. I was horrified to discover a snakeskin in a tree last year and then see it's owner not far away. I know it's silly to be surprised to see a snake in a tree Summer in Texas is a whole different beast. Good time to spend researching new spots

Agreed. I know many people disagree and most of our friends to the north probably would do the exact opposite. Winters in Texas are not really winters at all. We are lucky to see below-freezing temperatures ever, so I try to soak in as much as possible during these few months (okay, more like weeks) of "winter" here.

Snake boots are always a good investment anywhere in Texas. I always wear boots (not necessarily bonafide snake boots, but same idea) when I explore rural areas around here. They can also give you some advanced warning if you step in a fire ant mound which is a truly unforgettable experience in its own right. I would also suggest giving those boots a healthy dose of some quality Gortex and you're good to go!

Posted by 2Xplorations there are both barn owl and barred owl species 1. barn click to view 2. barred click to view you really want hear something scary the little western screech owl can sound like a woman screaming in the woods

Lol. Yes, I know there are both, but which one is the one that makes your blood run cold when you hear it nearby?