11 Weird and Quirky Things to Do in Louisiana

The Museum of Death is a unique collection of death-related objects and information in downtown New Orleans. The museum is not for the fainthearted, due to the rather graphic content and intriguing displays on intense subjects like murder, terrorism and cannibalism. But for anyone into the dark, creepy or unique, this is one of the best museums in New Orleans.

It showcases some peculiar items, such as paintings and letters by serial killers, autopsy videos, shrunken heads and an old euthanasia device. The museum aims to educate people about death, though it can be a bit of an overwhelming experience for some.

The Six Flags Amusement Park is a 140-acre abandoned theme park just outside of New Orleans. It ceased operations in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina caused serious damage to the park from heavy winds and flooding. The huge amusement complex was considered too expensive to restore and has since been left in abandonment.

While the site is permanently closed, it’s become an unusual attraction to urban explorers who want to take a look at the rundown, graffitied and overgrown park. The remnants of the complex have been compared to the likes of a post-apocalyptic scene, which has only encouraged curious visitors. However, trespassing on the site is illegal so you should simply observe from afar to be safe.

The Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum is a locally run attraction dedicated to the iconic criminals who died not far from the site. The museum is located in the small town of Gibsland, in the far northwest corner of Louisiana.

The roadside building commemorates the couple’s final ambush when they died in a car after being fired at by police officers. The owner is the son of one of the attending officers at the time and he has collected several artefacts such as firearms, the original car’s windscreen, Bonnie’s red hat and replicas of the couple’s tombstone. There’s plenty of information to take in, making the museum a must-see for anyone interested in the famous and romanticised couple from the Great Depression era.

The Myrtles Plantation is a historic plantation estate in St Francisville. Although Louisiana is home to many former plantations, The Myrtles is unique in that it is known as one of the most haunted houses in America. Many people visit the estate to discover the history and spooky legends from the past.

The plantation is open for tours, as well as, overnight stays in the onsite B&B. You can learn about the legends of the original plantation owner, “Whiskey Dave”, and the story of Chloe, a banished slave who supposedly poisoned the family’s children. Many people have even reported seeing ghosts during their stay at the property.

The town of Rayne is nicknamed the “Frog Capital of the World” for its weird and quirky annual festival dedicated to frogs. The town has a long history with the amphibians, since the 1880s. A Frenchman, Donat Pucheu, started trading frogs to restaurants across the state which soon became a booming business in the town.

When the taste for frog legs declined in the 1970s, Rayne decided to throw a carnival dedicated to the amphibians instead. The annual festival includes pageants and parades with frogs in costumes, frog racing and jumping contests, and frog leg delicacies. If you can't make it to the annual 4-day festival, just check out 35 large frog statues scattered around town year-round.

The Singing Oak is a project of local artist Jim Hart in New Orleans. The oak tree is located at the southeast of City Park, near the Big Lake. It's somewhat of an unusual attraction in New Orleans but has slowly become more popular as word has spread about its beautiful chimes.

Hart began hanging several wind chimes on the far-reaching branches of the tree. He even painted them so that they blended in with the colour of the branches. The musical art installation now produces a beautiful melody even with the slightest of breezes. For many people, a brief stop under the tree to listen to the sound is one of the most peaceful experiences in the park.

The Abita Mystery House is a quirky roadside museum with thousands of pieces of art, antiques and unusual objects. The unique site can be found in the middle of Abita Springs, a small town north of New Orleans.

A local painter, John Preble, began collecting discarded scrap and junk objects to put together this incredible attraction that has all sorts of bizarre art across multiple buildings. You can find old art cars, arcade machines, mosaic artworks and antique décor amongst the collection. Perhaps, the most bizarre object is a half-dog, half-alligator known as Darrell.

Fort Proctor is a ruined 19^th-century fortress in St. Bernard Parish, on the shores of Lake Borgne. The brick fort attracts those seeking unusual adventures as it’s only being reachable by boat. The Civil War-era fort was never actually used in battle due to damage incurred from a hurricane shortly after it was built, and it has been left to ruin ever since.

Due to the ongoing coastal erosion in the area, the fort is slowly being engulfed by the lake’s water. Intrepid visitors can reach the fort by a short 20-minute kayak or small boat ride from Shell Beach.

The Manchac Swamp lies between Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain just north of New Orleans. The area is known its 22.8-mile-long concrete overpass across the swamp's waters, which is one of the longest bridges in the world.

The Manchac Swamp is supposedly haunted. There are many legends connected to the swamp, including the story of a voodoo princess who cursed the area and caused the subsequent hurricane which swept through on the day of her funeral. You can either drive over the bridge or get a closer look on a kayak tour through the swampy waters.

The St. Louis Cemeteries, located half a mile northwest of Bourbon Street, is where you can visit the tombs of many New Orleans icons. These 3 labyrinth-like graveyards date back to the late-18th century, with most of the intricate tombs set above ground. 

One of its most popular residents is Marie Laveau, also known as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. Many claim to have seen her spirit wandering the St. Louis Cemetery, which attracts plenty of paranormal enthusiasts.