Houmas House Estate And Gardens Guided Tour

This was a lovely estate. A lit of information was shared. Our main issue was that our guide spoke so quickly that it was difficult for us to locate the items that he was referencing and then process the facts before he moved on.

It was a nice insight to the plantation life. The guide shared a lot of interesting information and dates about the house and plantation. They also have a museum on sight that has a lot of Information about other plantations and life along the Mississippi River.

We had an amazing time with Timothy! He was incredibly knowledgeable and informative throughout the tour. We especially appreciated that he dressed in character and took the time to demonstrate several artifacts, which made the experience even more interesting and enjoyable. The plantation and mansion were absolutely beautiful, filled with fascinating historical artifacts and surrounded by a variety of animals. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history while taking in the beauty of the property. We also made a stop at the restaurant and treated ourselves to dessert. The banana pudding cheesecake was absolutely delicious and the perfect way to end our visit! Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we truly appreciated Timothy's knowledge and enthusiasm.

We had a tour of the mansion and then dinner at The Carriage House on the grounds. It was just great! We arrived at 4;00pm and took the 4:15 pm tour which they start with the ring of the bell. The house is beautiful and worth seeing—unlike many of the plantation houses it is full of antiques! The guide is costumed and very good. Afterwards we visited the very nice and full gift shop. And had dinner at 6pm. I recommend this time in the fall because we stepped out to the lighted and gorgeous garden full of waterfalls and statues. It will not disappoint. Their cottages look very very nice too. Highly recommend staying here. Driving back to Oak Ally at night was worth it even though the roads are narrow and dark—manageable and worth be8ng their for a nice evening dinner!

The house and grounds were beautiful. The trees were stunning and there were peacocks roaming around, plus turkeys and a tortoise in an enclosed area. Our guide was very nice. He started the tour saying that he would not be discussing slavery and if we wanted to learn about that, go next door to the museum. We already paid $35 each for the tour and we were short on time so that was not an option for us. I only saw one sign that mentioned that 550 enslaved people lived at the plantation. They may not have used the word enslaved, I can’t remember for sure. Parts of the tour were interesting but it felt disingenuous to completely leave slavery out. It would have been much more educational and interesting to get the full story. Or even just tiny bits and pieces of the story. It did feel a bit like a sales pitch to dine in their restaurants, have your wedding or bridal shower there (who does this in 2026?!?? We know better now!) Gift shop sells confederate bandanas for your dog and Gulf of America hats for you. I left with such a yucky feeling. I’m sorry I went and would not recommend anyone go there. Now I know better.

Great experience and beautiful place. Our guide was great and gave us many details about the house. The grounds are beautiful. We also ate at the carriage house and had a drink from the turtle bar. The food and drinks were great. Highly recommend the blackberry mint margarita!

The tour and guide were both phenomenal! Suzanne did an incredible job and shared some great tidbits.

Our guide was fascinating. We toured the house and all its rooms, and saw many everyday objects. It was truly interesting. The garden is very large and beautiful. You can spend time there or even have lunch at the on-site restaurant. We loved the visit.

Sophie, our guide, did an outstanding job leading us through the house. Her enthusiasm was apparent and she shared a great deal of information about the house and its history. She appreciated the stories my friends shared and their knowledge, particularly of the Houmas Indians. The house and grounds are beautiful and so worth the time and money.

This might be the worst tour I have taken of an historic house. The guide was very nice, but that is as much as I can say that is positive. Her tour was scattershot, basically just pointing at things and saying what they were and how much they cost. There was a lot of talk about how wealthy the owners of the house were, but not one mention of the enslaved workers who actually did the work and made that wealth possible. To judge by this tour, the sugar magically grew itself and elves maintained the house. In addition to all of that, the entire tour was obviously meant to sell the restaurant and hotel. Just really a long sales pitch with very little historical merit.

We really enjoyed walking through the gardens before and after the tour. They are extensive and well done. The house is interesting as well. We went through several plantation houses on this trip and this was the best.

We did the house tour, walked the gardens, had a cocktail in the Turtle Bar, ate supper, spent the night, had the breakfast buffet, and toured the museum. Upon arrival we had a smooth check-in, went to our room, decided to change rooms, which went smoothly and courteously. Both rooms were immaculate and very expensively appointed. The mattress was super-comfortable, enough so that I asked them to let me know the vendor, but haven’t heard back yet. We enjoyed our tour of the big house immensely. The guide was excellent. Mr. Kelly, the home’s owner, has done a wonderful job in managing, curating, and preserving Houmas House and its gardens. After our tour we had drinks in the Turtle Bar; it has comfy furniture and the drinks are a fair price. The building is historical, and the remodeling v tasteful. We ate supper in the Carriage House. The food was fine. (There’s nowhere close by to eat, so plan on dining there if you stay the night.) The highlight was dining in the Trophy Room, which is filled with hunting trophies from around the world. Gorgeous decor throughout the restaurant. They have golf carts to move you around the property, and we took one after finishing supper. Riding through the property at night is wonderful: the lighting of the fountains and landscaping is excellent. The bonuses, you have it all to yourself. The next morning we went to breakfast. Most breakfast buffets are average. This buffet was a cut above. I have not had grits cooked that well in years and years. Coffee is excellent, and the biscuits are second to none. Seriously, my wife is still raving about those biscuits, and she is a biscuit aficionado. Kudos to Chef. After a walk over the foot bridge that leads to the levy for views of the Mississippi river and the Sunshine Bridge, we headed to the museum, which is over 30,000 ft.²! What I found most interesting was the eclectic collection of historical pieces that Mr. Kelly has put together. The only hiccup with checking out was not having a golf cart carry us and our luggage to our car, but it was a short walk and we had rolling suitcases, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Staying overnight enabled us to take things at a slower pace, taking in all the beauty this place has to offer. It’s worth spending the night there, we will be back.

The home and the grounds are magnificent. The house even has a small elevator to the second floor. The tour guide was well informed of the history and very friendly The complex has an inn. We did not stay there, but the lobby was nicely decorated. we also did not do the museum, we did however choose to try their cafe. The food was excellent but the staff was not! It was 1:40 when we arrived. They close at 2. We were rudely told they were closing in 20 minutes and if we ordered the buffet we could get nothing after 2 from it. At that point we decided to order off the menu (if they had let us have the buffet they would have gotten out of there sooner as the food had to be cooked instead of us just dishing up). We were given very dirty looks, banging dishes and an employee standing there with a mop, If the restaurant wants their employees out at 2 then they should say they close at 1 or 1:30. Stay away from the cafe unless you want to be abused while you eat.

Very nice privately owned plantation that can be visited by a guided tour. The gardens are magnificent and there is a huge gift store. A must do when in NOLA

Our docent was very personable and knowledgeable of the plantation history and families. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and area sites. The vast museum exhibits were great.

Our tour guide Suzanna was amazing. She is very knowledgeable about the house. My husband and I were the only ones on the tour. This house is beautiful. Highly recommend this tour.

First of all, I want to say what a fantastic place this is, beautiful, mesmerising, and full of potential for an amazing experience. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the lovely check in staff, who set the tone perfectly. Our room was stunning, with excellent facilities, and the porch with chairs was a particularly nice touch. The grounds are absolutely breathtaking, and the buildings themselves are truly thought provoking. We enjoyed drinks at the Turtle Bar, where the staff were friendly and attentive, and dined at the Carriage House. Although the service there felt a little rushed, the experience was still very pleasant, the wagyu filet mignon was superb. We also took part in the house tour, which was enjoyable, though it felt somewhat short and lacked deeper insight into the lives of the people who worked on the estate. That additional context would have made it even more educational. Overall, it was a lovely two day stay that would have easily warranted a 4/5 rating. Unfortunately, our experience was let down at the end by an interaction at the Dixie Café. A staff member, Claire, made me feel quite unwelcome. I would suggest that some additional customer service training could be beneficial, as the interaction came across as rude. It was disappointing, especially as it was the only negative moment, not just of our stay at Houmas House, but of our time in Louisiana and Mississippi as a whole. A simple “please” and “thank you” go a long way, particularly when all I was asking for was a drink of water and a Coke. A poor final interaction to end what was otherwise a truly lovely stay.

Easy check-in, a golf cart tour of the garden and estate property with history from the driver. Walking tour of Houmas house past and present, so very fascinating and cool to learn that the current owner still lives there. Our tour guide allowed plenty of time for all to gather before starting. Beautiful gardens - make sure you leave time after the house tour to see the gardens. The only disappointment was the cafe closed at 3:00 and we finished walking around at 3:17. We either had to eat at the finer diner facility or Houmas Plantation or drive somewhere. We choose to leave.

It was a good tour and the guide was very informative as well as taking her time to not rush the tour. Growing up in the area and now living in Texas, it was a treat to go back and revisit the history and culture. Will go back and go thru the Museum .

Our guide, Ruby made this tour with her knowledge of the house and its history along with her humor. She also informed us about the current owner who we might see with his dog in a golf cart, and we did have the pleasure of meeting them too. This was definitely not your average mansion tour.

Fantastic tour. Enjoyed our tour guide. She is very knowledgeable of the history of the property. The building is well preserved and gardens are beautiful.

I enjoyed this plantation. I was a little apprehensive because of the huge parking lot and massive building that houses Great River Road museum and I don’t know what else—an inn, restaurant, etc. Then the gift shop is a lot of touristy, frou-frou stuff. But the gardens are beautiful, filled with swans, turkeys, and peacocks. The house is interesting. The home is currently lived in by someone, but we were able to see all the rooms, which were filled with some unusual antiques. Suzanne(?) was our tour guide and she was very good. I’d highly recommend.

Gorgeous property with an amazing house and artifacts from the past. Amazing stories and information about not only the house and owners, but also the surrounding area. Our tour guide was so sweet and answered all our questions. Beautiful peacocks, black swans, and even alligators were wondering the property. A beautiful place to visit!

The picturesque grounds, mansion, and incredibly kind staff make this experience a must-see in New Orleans. We came across this plantation by accident while driving down the road known as plantation alley. We were pressed for time, the first day we stopped and were late for our tour, and needed to get back to New Orleans before the streets shut down for the Mardi Gras parade that evening. When we explained to the staff why we needed to return, they offered to take us on a tour the following day. When we came back the next day, we loved the grounds, the tour of the house, and the beautiful birds on the property. The plantation home has been beautifully restored and preserved. Please, if you are in New Orleans, consider booking a tour of this beautiful home and gardens.

Excellent tour. The house and gardens are beautiful, especially at night when lit up. Our guide, Susanna, was knowledgeable and pleasant. We stayed at the Inn on the premises and toured the museum as well which was wonderful and extremely well done. Could have spent half a day there. Highly recommend.

Great time away from the city to spend with family and friends. This was a beautiful estate, well taken care of. We saw black and white swans, ducks and turkeys, the oak trees are simply gorgeous. Enjoyed cocktails and cigars at the carriage house bar, lunch was also offered. The home is well kept, lots of historic literature to take in. You will need to drive out here or be a part of a tour.

The first thing they tell you is that we won’t discuss slavery. They mention 3500 acres, but don’t specify who maintained the property. They talk about how they lost Oakland trees due to a new levy and mention Bette Davis staying in a particular bedroom while filming a movie. They even mention that the owners’ dogs got married on the Today Show at the plantation. But there’s no mention of the elephant in the room—the plantation’s history and its connection to slavery. The cost is now $35.00.

Ruby greeted us with a smile and her period costume. The plantation was decorated for the holidays and the gardens were beautiful. Ruby gave us a very insightful tour of the people of the plantation and the house where they lived. She shared many details in each room to make you understand what life was like during that time. We were able to grab a Cajun lunch at the Carriage Inn, which was on site. I would highly recommend a visit to Houmas House. Plan on spending at least half the day.

The Carriage House restaurant at Houmas House has become a favorite place for our family to celebrate special occasions. The atmosphere is beautiful and there is always something on the menu to please the different age groups. The specials for Christmas were delicious. We especially enjoyed the seafood gumbo, the specialty cocktails and the desserts. Spending time enjoying the beautiful grounds and browsing in the gift shop makes visiting Houmas House even more memorable.

Unfortunately, we weren't lucky with the guide. He spoke softly and very little. He seemed unhappy to be the guide for the place. It's a shame, the place is interesting and the entrance fee isn't cheap.

I wasn't quite sure how I felt about this plantation, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The side of me that thinks historic houses should be true to their roots was annoyed by what has been done to the plantation by the owner. He has commercialized it beyond belief. There are brand new buildings on the property holding museums filled with was figures. There are at least two restaurants. There is an out door theater. None of this sits well with the purist in me. But the person who is fascinated by history and other people's collections was enthralled by this mish mash. The house itself is still pretty true to it's roots although the owner actually lives there. Part of the tour includes his bed room. What isn't quite authentic are all the collections that the owner has stuffed into the house. There is even a Matisse on the wall. Unfortunately the guide that our group got wasn't the best. I was told that the tour usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour. We were wisked in and out in about 30 minutes. Despite my conflicting feelings, I enjoyed the experience.

We have toured several plantations, in LA, SC, and GA, and all were fascinating to different degrees. The Houmas House and Gardens Tour ranks in the top, with Ruby an outstanding guide, in fact one of the best we've ever had (we've done at least 40 historic tours). The gardens and pond and restaurant were also very impressive and we're glad we did not skip them. It is a tour we'd repeat if we travel there again

The tour was both entertaining and informative. The guide, Savannah, was dressed as a period southern belle and gave a constant dialogue on the history of the house, the plantation, and many of the pieces and rooms there. The place is beautiful, inside and out. We felt as we left like we had just visited family. Well worth the price.

The house and grounds are beautiful. Our guide gave an excellent tour with lots of information regarding the history of the house and the families who owned it. There were only two of us on the tour so it was the perfect time of year to visit.

Took a little longer than an hour coming out of New Orleans . The map instructions says an hour but I would allow at least an hour and a half so you don’t feel like you need to rush and to allow for a stop. Enjoy the trip and give yourselves plenty of time.

Over $120 for two adult tickets. The house tour was interesting, but did not contain a single word about the enslaved population that built and worked there. I’ve visited a number of plantation sites around the country, and this is the only one to totally ignore all the beauty was built by enslaved people. The gardens are pretty. The museum was NOT worth the entry fee (separate from the house tour and garden access) unless you want to read a paragraph or two about each of the plantations that were along the river. Am I mad that I went, no. Would I recommend this site, also no.

Our stay at Houmas house was excellent! We stayed in a carriage house and the rooms were updated well decorated. We ate dinner two nights at the carriage house restaurant. The food and service were great. The staff throughout the site were friendly and helpful. We went on the mansion tour and Rudy was a very knowledgeable tour guide. Really enjoyed the tour and learning the history. The garden and wild life on site were beautiful. We also enjoyed the self guided museum tour. Highly recommend a stay at Houmas House.

We stayed at Houmas House Inn for my husband's birthday. This was just such a fabulous stay all together. The Inn, the grounds, the dining options, the Turtle Bar, were all amazing. We were able to relax and enjoy the surroundings. The staff was courteous and so helpful. Already planning for next year.

We have visited Houmas House many times through the many years before there was there a homestead, beautiful garden, or even the turtle bar opened. Can I say we stayed overnight and what a magical place. A place to say I am going to get away from it all and just enjoy. This is the place. The Gardens, the Home, the settings, the restaurants are all meticulous and in place to do one thing. It says welcome to my home. The rooms were exceptional. Only warning if you do get a room by the road, well it goes with the territory and the noise did not bother us at all knowing how special the place is. The place made us feel like family. The restaurant and staff were professional and exceptional. Thank you... and hopefully - see you soon.

Beautiful grounds with so much to enjoy; the mansion itself is full of various art pieces and lots of authentic furniture. The guides have tons of anecdotes and stories to tell. They are very knowledgeable.

The grounds are beautiful and the number of water features on premises was very pleasing. Happy to see some of the history of a former time remains.

I am from Louisiana and have toured many plantations. I have learned so much about the windows for breeze, doors are large due to large furniture, furniture has designs at the foot, beds were raised due to animals coming into the home, closets were taxed so they used armoire’s. Pictures on the wall are typically original or children of original owners. None of this was mentioned. They didn’t know who was in the pic. Such a disappointment for my family from up north that were interested in Planation History. The gardens were really nice around the house but as you walked out on the other part of the “38” garden acreage. It was not nice. $35 is a steep price to come out with minimal knowledge of the history of a plantation. Someone needs to do some homework.

We visited Houmas House in June 2025 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Too bad we couldn't enjoy more of the gardens due to the rain. We also visited Oak Alley the same day. If you're most interested in the actual house, Houmas House is the better option. It felt less rushed and more relaxed (not so many tours, allowing photos etc).

We visited Houmas House 37 years ago and it was interesting then. Since then much has been added and improved. The gardens and grounds were beautiful and well designed. Plan on taking lots of photos. Our personal guide,Suzanne, was wonderful and made our granddaughters feel special. She knew the history and the traditions of the era well. Many of the furnishings were originals and passed down through generations and owners. One piece I thought was amazing was a 64 lb. silver sculpture of Abraham Lincoln sitting on a bench. It contained the etched signature of Gutzon Borglum, creator of the Mount Rushmore monument in South Dakota. He also sculpted a life size statue of Lincoln on the bench now in New Jersey. Another neat note - the house was the center piece of the 1964 Betty Davis movie, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte. You can see the upstairs room where Ms Davis stayed during the filming. It’s a beautiful place to visit. Give yourself at least two hours to visit. And visit during the Spring or Fall when it’s cooler.

Ate dinner in the Carriage House Restaurant last night. Midway through our dinner two large dogs were allowed to roam around the tables, with no consideration of anyone with allergies.

We had a tour of the mansion. Tour guide was very informative and personable. Thoroughly enjoyed seeing the home and learning its history. We unfortunately didn’t have time to tour the gardens or museum.

A grand plantation. The house is an interesting combination of different builders at different times. it's always amazing to see the conveniences that are in 150-200 year old mansions. The grounds are beautiful and well-kept. Check out some of the ancient trees and the gardens, walk ways across the property. Don't miss out on those hidden gems.

be sure to enjoy the grounds before or after your tour of the house. The tour guides are very knowledgable and open to questions.

The tour started with the assertion that the Civil War was solely due to the north overtaxing the south and that the abolition of slavery was merely a by-product. Then slavery was not mentioned again a single time all while showcasing an opulence made possible not only by nutrient rich soil but also by huge amounts of free labor! Breathtaking! Another reviewer mentioned that the family was kind to the slaves, i.e., the human beings that they OWNED.