Houmas House Plantation Offers A Southern Experience

Houmas House Plantation and Gardens offers a unique Southern getaway.

The days of great Sugar Barons and their opulent lifestyles may be over, but there is one gentleman who desires that the history and grandeur of the antebellum area be preserved and elevated into an experience for generations to come. Kevin Kelly is the owner of one of Louisiana architectural treasures, the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens also known as the Sugar Palace that he has painstakingly restored with expansive gardens, rare artifacts and historical creditability. "I am treating this more like an urban business than an I do a rural historic house. I had to make it work and have a direction. I want you to come here to have a meal, to have a drink, to enjoy it and come back every couple of weeks," said Kelly.

An hour drive from New Orleans is well worth the time and effort to explore and encounter an area that for the most part did depart from the landscape of American culture, that of plantation life. The Houmas House pays homage to the wealthy Sugar Barons that developed the sugar producing business that gave birth to the economic success and structure of the South. That success garnered great wealth, grandeur and ostentatious opulence within a secluded area, surrounded by swampy marshlands.

With all its challenging terrior this was a land that was originally occupied by the indigenous oumas Indians who sold the land in the mid 1700's to Maurice Conway and Alexander Latil. Conway and Latil developed property dwellings but it was owner John Smith Preston that built the Greek revival mansion in 1840.Through the years, the property has had multiple owners, including the great Sugar baron John Burnside who transformed the Houmas into the largest sugar producer in 1857 utilizing the almost 100,000 acres and hundreds of slaves in producing millions of pounds of sugar each year. All through its history the plantation maintained a strong economic force, but with the ravages of Mother Nature and the Great Depression, the House fell into decrepitude but was once again revitalized by Dr. George B. Crozat of New Orleans who named it the Houmas House. After his death, the current owner Kevin Kelly stepped in and took over the property in 2003 with the intent of transforming the property into a historical, educational and premier tourism attraction along with fine dining venues, and luxury overnight accommodations, and wedding and banquet facilities.

The Houmas House has been carefully maintained and preserved with a vast collection of rare and expensive art works, verdant gardens and several restaurants including fine dining venue Latil's Landing lauded as a Forbes 5 star dining destination. Also on property are elegant overnight cottages for those seeking an extended visit, and an extensive wine cellar located in converted water cisterns. "We title this the crown jewel of the Louisiana's River Road primarily because of its importance. It is the Sugar Palace, a special place see great artwork, water gardens, architectural gardens, and rare furniture collections. It was always known as the largest and grandest plantation," said Kelly.

Enjoying a meal, a tour and a stay at the Houmas will give interested history buffs and energetic travelers a glimpse into a world that truly captures the ambience of a bygone area, is pristinely preserved for those who want step back into history with all its grandeur and also learn of the shadow side that conjures up ghostly images that do not easily fade away into the past. Kelly has also secured a scenic by-way grant through the Department of Transportation and is preparing to open a National Steamboat Museum on the property. "This will be a place to see the culture of the Mississippi river; the folktale and commerce of the great river," said Kelly. The museum is projected to be open in 2019. Kevin Kelly is determined to preserve a part of history that defined the south for decades. Houmas house is the perfect day trip from the rancor of Bourbon Street or a extended stay where the lush gardens and towering moss covered oaks will have under the spell of old world southern charm. www.HoumasHouse.com Accommodations provided by the Houmas House