1000 Ryan St
Lake Charles, LA

Toni Jo Henry is the only woman to be executed by Louisiana’s electric chair, and it happened at the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse. Married to Claude 'Cowboy' Henry, she decided to break her husband out of jail where he was serving a 50-year sentence in Texas for murdering a law enforcement officer. Toni Jo and her accomplice, Harold Burks, took a ride with Joseph P. Calloway, whom they then robbed and murdered. Toni Jo Henry was convicted, sentenced to death, and executed by electrocution at the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse on November 28, 1942. 75 years later courthouse workers say they can still feel her presence. Even if you don't believe in ghosts, you might want to take a trip by the Calcasieu courthouse to see if Toni Jo would change your mind.

900 N Lakeshore Dr
Lake Charles, LA

When you think of places that are haunted, you may think of cemeteries, historic buildings, and old jails. You may not think of the Lake Charles Civic Center. Built on the lake in the 1970s, it's rumored the Rosa Heart Theater has a ghost. She's known as the lady in white, and while no one knows for sure how she ended up there, people definitely know who she is. The feeling that someone is watching you is only the beginning of what it's like to spend a day in the Rosa Heart Theater. Makenzie Chesson saw the Lady in White when she was in middle school about 10 years ago. Anyone who has ever seen the ghost says that she appears on the balcony in the theater and walks from one side to the other. The ghost's name is Elsie. She is reputed to be a jilted bride who ended her life by walking off a long pier which used to be just about where the theater is today. Despite that experience, MaKenzie came back 10 years later, and now works as a secretary for the Civic Center - but the eeriness of the Rosa Heart Theater hasn't gone away. So next time there's a show at the Theater, if you're brave enough, why not buy your tickets for seats in the balcony? Maybe you'll sit next to the Lady in White.

3925 Big Woods Cemetery Rd
Vinton, LA

James W. Bryan donated 14 acres of land to create the Big Woods Cemetery in 1827. The earliest grave here dates back to 1844, and the cemetery is still in use today. Stories of hauntings have been swirling around for decades. It appears that some who have been laid to rest here are unable to rest in peace and continue to roam the cemetery grounds. One spooky legend tells of a shadowy figure at the gate. If you see it pass in front of you, it is a warning not to go in any further. Visitors report hearing disembodied voices and capturing strange, glowing orbs in photographs. Others have experienced unexplained failures in electrical devices. Several paranormal teams have investigated the cemetery and have come away with inexplicable images, moving shadows, and EVPs Big Woods Cemetery is located at 3925 Big Woods Cemetery Rd., Vinton, LA 70668. Keep in mind that while this is a public area, the cemetery closes at dusk and it is illegal to enter after hours. Please be respectful to the property and those who have been laid to rest here.

204 W Sallier St
Lake Charles, LA

The Sallier Oak has stood the test of time over the course of 375 years, and it has been the steadfast figure in our region’s history, watching time pass from frontier days to today. The historic oak is registered with the Live Oak Society of the Louisiana Garden Club Federation, and it represents the ability for our community to weather disasters while continuing to grow with optimism. It was under the oak that Charles Sallier, our city’s namesake, built his winter home, and records show that this land was patented in 1860 by his wife, Catherine LeBleu Sallier. The oak is draped with rusted chains which were placed by the community after the Hurricane of 1918, which split the tree in half. The public came together to save the tree by wrapping it in chains to let it grow back together. The effort can still be seen today, and the tree was ultimately saved. The historic oak continues to weather time by surviving both Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

1 Reid St
Lake Charles, LA

A paranormal investigation took place in one of Lake Charles’ own landmarks. Nestled along what was formerly known as Railroad Avenue in Lake Charles, the Acts Theatre still sits to this day, bringing in thespians and lovers of the art. But behind the glimmer of the stage spotlights lies a mystery fit for spirit guides to try and solve. It’s a location rich in history, a centuries worth to be exact. The building is the only theatre structure in our area built prior to World War II still standing. Patrons say these walls hide secrets and memories created over a 100-year period, inducing an eerie feeling to some.

Lake Charles

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States

This fall, locals can take guided walking tours through Lake Charles history and visit historic spots where time lies still. The Arts Council of SWLA is bringing back the Living History Cemetery Tour on Sunday, November 6, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale online soon. Actors will dress in period attire and embody the lives of deceased historic figures at four local cemeteries. Guests will be guided throughout each cemetery as they listen to stories of the historic figures’ lives and their impacts on today’s Lake Charles. Larger-than-life figures such as trailblazer Judge Norma Holloway Johnson, Lake Charles Little Theatre founder Rosa Hart, murderess Toni Jo Henry, and French aristocrat Michel Pithon, and others, will tell their life stories and famed feats from their own perspectives. “Wandering Spirits” will visit each cemetery and are figures whose gravesites are unknown or spirits visiting other cemeteries. Featured cemeteries will include: Bilbo Cemetery, located on Lakeshore Drive, Sallier Cemetery on Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive, Combre Memorial Park on Opelousas Street, and Corporation Cemetery located on Church Street. Guests will have the freedom to drive from cemetery to cemetery at their own pace. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under (must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult), and can be purchased at www.cemeterytourlc.com. The event is sponsored by the Calcasieu Historic Preservation Society, Thrive Magazine, and supported by a SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau Tourism Marketing Grant from the Lake Charles/SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau. Proceeds benefit the Arts Council of SWLA, which provides needed programs and events to support the arts in the region.