There are many plantations that one can visit while in New Orleans. One of the plantations that I decided to visit was Oak Alley Plantation. The reason why I chose this plantation over others is simply because I have always been a fan of Anne Rice and this is where they filmed some scenes for Interview with the Vampire. As well as Midnight Bayou, Knight Rider, Primary Colors, A Long Hot Summer and more. With a signature alley of oak trees, this plantation is simply picture perfect and doesn’t disappoint.
Complete with a blacksmith shop, Civil War tents, a sugarcane exhibit, the big house, a garden, slavery exhibit and more! One of the most interesting facts here is that a slave created “paper shell” pecans here. And that’s how Oak Alley Plantation became a historic landmark. All because a gardener innovated the grafting of Pecan trees.
The Birth of Centennial Pecans aka:”Paper shell” pecans
A gardener slave named Antoine 38 who lived at Oak alley successfully managed to graft pecan trees at the plantation. The result was a pecan with a shell so soft that it could be cracked with ones hand. After it won the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, it became known as the Centennial variety pecan. However Antoine’s trees were eventually cleared out for sugar cane production instead. The last centennial variety trees were at the Anita plantation but the 1990 water break washed away all that was left and no tree remains.
Bon Sejour becomes Oak Alley
Originally named “Bon Sejour”, by French Creole Valcour Aime when he purchased the land in 1830.By 1836 he exchanged the land with his brother in law Jacques Telesphore Roman who turned it into a plantation. The mansion was completed in 1839 using Greek revival architecture. Twenty eight columns were installed to correspond with the twenty eight oak trees that form the alley. Eventually it was renamed Oak Alley after the path created by the double oak trees that were planted long before the house was built.
Travel Secret
- Photography is not allowed inside the mansion but it is allowed everywhere else on site.
Book your tour
From USD$92.00
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Duration:
6 hours 30 minutes
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Departs:
New Orleans, United States
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Spend the day along the old Mississippi River Road, visiting Louisiana’s …
From USD$150.00
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Duration:
9 hours
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Departs:
New Orleans, United States
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Experience Oak Alley Plantation, Laura Plantation, lunch at a Cajun restaurant, …
Hours
| Monday – Sunday | 9:00 am – 5: 00 pm |
Closed New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras Tuesday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Admission:
$25 Includes tour and access to all the exhibits.
Plan to spend about two hours here. There is a gift shop and a restaurant on site.
Directions
Oak Alley Plantation
3645 LA-18, (Great River Road)
Vacherie, LA 70090
From New Orleans:
Follow I-10 W and take exit LA-641 S towards Gramercy then take a left onto LA-641 S. Continue onto LA-3213 S. Take the LA-18 ramp to Vacherie/Edgard and then take a left onto LA-18 W. Turn left onto Oak ALley st. Destination will be on your left.
Accommodations
Oak Alley Plantation has cabins available for rent if you wish to stay there you can book your night below. Otherwise I recommend staying in New Orleans, Louisiana so that you can check out the local sites. My link will search through all the online sites to find you the best price available. By purchasing your trip through my link, this site will earn a small commission on your purchase. Rest assured that it will not cost you anything extra! In Fact, the only difference is that this site will earn a commission instead of another booking site. Thank your sponsorship!
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