New Orleans & American Horror Story Coven Tour

Over the weekend, I did a quick trip to The Big Easy to present my Social Media Hacks to authors in the Southern Louisiana Chapter of Romance Writers of America.

After the session, my friend and author Farrah Rochon indulged me by taking me around to see the different filming locations of American Horror Story Season 3 Coven, which was one of my favorite seasons. Considering Farrah has never seen the show, she was being a good sport as I rattled off a list of places and addresses to go see around NOLA.

First stop, the coven's home Miss Robicheaux’s Academy for exceptional young adults a.k.a. Buckner Mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans at 1410 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130.

Although it wasn't raining, I borrowed Farrah's black umbrella that she had in her car to mimic this cast shot.

The mansion was built in 1856 by a major cotton magnate and served for many years as a school too, but for business studies, thus the education quote on the floor below the gothic gated entrance.

The mansion is now privately-owned, but you can rent it out for $20,000. We were not the only tourists taking photos either, which was pretty fun to see and fangirl out over.

Oh, but this gate though and the cast iron detail and eerie, ominous spikes, which causes Zoe's temporary demise!

Next stop, Lalaurie Mansion (1140 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA 70116) home of Madame Lalaurie’s House of Horrors where Kathy Bate's sinister character lived. However, I was horrified to discover that she was a real person and the home a major stop on French Quarter ghost tours!

It's said to be the most haunted house in New Orleans and no wonder. As seen in the show, according to legend one night in 1834 a fire broke out at the house and when rescuers entered the home they found the mutilated remains of slaves who were imprisoned in the attic. A mob ransacked the mansion and Madame Lalaurie presumably fled the city and was never seen nor heard from again. Over the years the building has served as a barber shop, furniture store, girls school and music conservatory. Nicolas Cage even owned the home for a bit, but that part doesn't surprise me.

Right next door to Lalaurie's home is Gallier House (1132 Royal St), which served as the exterior for Madame Lalaurie’s Mansion. This is where Nan hears the imprisoned Madame while on the witches walk. The house was built in the 1850s and is a National Historical Landmark.

A list of more AHS New Orleans filming locations can be found here.

With New Orleans area RWA members and authors, Pamela, Vicky, Farrah Rochon and Stella Barcelona.