CasaSugar

CasaSugar Readers' Haunted House Stories

CasaSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:00:20 -0700

This past weekend, I asked readers to share their stories of haunted houses that they've heard of or lived in themselves. Some of the stories gave me a chill up my spine, while others told of more benevolent spirits. Hear readers' ghost stories when you check out the slideshow.
Source: Flickr User hill.josh

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10 Haunted Houses in New Orleans

CasaSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:00:46 -0700

Are you ready to see more haunted houses? If my slideshow on California haunted houses wasn't spooky enough, I've just got the thing. New Orleans is perhaps America's most haunted city, so it's no surprise the place is full of ghosts and floating entities. Come take a look.

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California Haunted Houses

CasaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:00:48 -0700

Have you been the victim of a haunting? More people than you'd think can relate a ghostly encounter in the dark hall of an old home. Interest in haunted houses never fades; we've been telling ghost stories for thousands of years, and ghosts keep popping up in literature and movies as well. To celebrate this spooky Halloween week, let's take a tour of some of the most haunted hotels and homes in the state of California.

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Open House: Have You Ever Lived in a Haunted House?

CasaSugar — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 05:30:43 -0700

Back in college, I lived in a creaky, spooky Victorian with three housemates. One February night, when all three of my housemates were out of town, I heard creaking on the stairs outside my bedroom. The creaking wasn't random - it sounded like footsteps. As the creaks ascended each stair, I held my breath, wondering if there was an intruder. When I finally summoned my courage, I peeked my head outside the door. No one was there, and there was no sign of entry. My housemates later told me that they'd heard similar footsteps when they were home alone.

Now, I'm not saying that the house was haunted, but it was a spooky experience all the same. I don't know if I necessarily believe in ghosts, but I certainly don't rule out their existence entirely.

Tell me, have you ever lived in a haunted house? Do you know anyone who has? What's the spookiest story you've heard about a haunted home?

Source: Flickr User traceyp3031

This Just In: Nicolas Cage Lists Two New Orleans Properties

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:30:36 -0800

Prolific real estate investor Nicolas Cage is on the loose on a wild selling spree. Cage has already put his Las Vegas, Bel-Air, and Rhode Island properties on the market, and today we have news that he's listed his two properties in New Orleans. According to WDSU and Real Estalker, Cage has listed his historical property (shown right) in New Orleans's French Quarter, the most haunted home in the neighborhood, in addition to a Garden District mansion. The haunted home, known as the LaLaurie House (which I wrote about here), is listed for $3.9 million, $400,000 more than he paid for it in April 2007. To hear about the other property and see photos, read more.

The listing for Cage's 13,176-square-foot, six-bedroom, five-full-and-two-half-bath Garden District mansion, which was once an active Catholic chapel, reads:

The most superlative of Garden District mansions with the best of every amenity. Ample room for a large family and big-time entertainment venue with formal gardens, parking, and everything anyone could possibly want in a most grand of grand, star-quality home.

It also features a pool and central air, which are ideal for the broiling NOLA heat. If the house looks familiar, it's probably because I quizzed you on the owner of it once, as it was once owned by gothic novelist Anne Rice. I've passed by the property hundreds of times myself and I can tell you it's an idyllic example of New Orleans architecture; I'd love to see interior photos.

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Source and Source

Nicolas Cage Owns a Haunted House

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 06:00:12 -0800

Now that we've "fallen back" into the dark, I thought I'd share some grim celebrity trivia with you. While flipping through a photo gallery of haunted "murder" houses at This Old House, I learned that Nicolas Cage is the proud owner of the most haunted house in New Orleans' French Quarter, which he bought for nearly $3.5 million. The house was built in 1832 for Dr. Louis Lalaurie and his sadistic wife, Delphine, who legend has it, violently tortured and murdered hundreds of slaves within the house.

As for the hauntings, there were many reports of paranormal experiences between 1837 and 1932 in the house. In 1920, one resident reported: "There were no other families living here and one night, on the third floor, I saw a man walking carrying his head on his arm." In 1932, the house was being used as a furniture store, and it was reported that the owner "first suspected vandals when all of his merchandise was ruined several times, covered with a foul liquid filth. The owner waited one night with a shotgun, hoping to catch the vandals in the act. When dawn came, the furniture was once again ruined. He closed the place down shortly thereafter."

If you're not easily spooked, read more

While this history alone would prevent me from looking into this real estate, I think that this next fact would deter nearly everyone from buying the property: According to This Old House, "More recently, human remains dating back to the 19th century have been found in the home's floorboards." Maybe that explains Cage's permanently sullen expression.

Actually, Cage has made a habit of purchasing historical homes throughout the country and added this one to his stable in April. He reportedly has many real estate holdings, which he purchases through his trust, Hancock Park Real Estate Company L.L.C., to avoid media attention. His other addresses include a house in New Orleans' Garden District, a historical mansion in San Francisco's Russian Hill, two houses in Las Vegas, multiple properties in LA, and at least one place in NY. Ahhh to be a Coppola...

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Cool Idea: A Haunted Wedding

CasaSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:29 -0700

After I wrote my post about California haunted houses, one of my Sugar friends emailed me to say that she'd actually gotten married in one of them!

She writes, "I got married at Madrona Manor in Healdsburg. It’s such a beautiful old house, and the grounds are absolutely breathtaking. The main house is the part that’s supposed to be haunted, and I have to admit, it is a little creepy. It’s charming and old-fashioned, full of gorgeous antiques, but it absolutely feels like a haunted house. We held our ceremony in the gardens, our reception on the patio, and stayed in a carriage house behind the main building, so we pretty much avoided the potentially haunted areas entirely (and that wasn’t an accident)!"

Have you ever attended a wedding in a haunted home, or someplace that was rumored to house spirits? Tell me about your experience in the comments!

Photo courtesy Kristyn Stroble Photography

Have You Ever Lived in a Haunted House?

CasaSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:38:29 -0700

I'm not a big believer in haunted houses myself, but I remember one old Victorian that would make all sorts of frightening bumps and clatters in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. The house always seemed to spook my dog a little, too.

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Open House: How Are You Celebrating Halloween?

CasaSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:30:51 -0700

Whether you've been planning your costume or party for months, or are stuck for last-minute ideas, you should definitely get out there and celebrate tonight! At my house, we'll be waiting on trick-or-treaters (or trying to) and then heading to a friend's party in San Francisco for the evening. I still haven't decided on a costume, but I'm sure I can whip something up at the last minute.

So, what are your plans this evening? Are you taking your kids around for trick-or-treating? Attending a huge costume ball? Heading to a haunted house? Tell me all about it in the comments. Oh, and if you need some low-commitment, last-minute celebration ideas, check out these!

Source: Flickr User peasap

Casa Capsule: The Week That Was

CasaSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:30:22 -0700

Get the look of Serena van der Woodsen's office.
Check out my tips for decorating your room after college.
Take a tour of California and New Orleans's most haunted houses!
Vampire chronicler Anne Rice's former home is on the market.
See three busts which will cost you less than $250.
Learn how to decorate with suitcases.

Photo courtesy of The CW