Sacramento, CA
Place d'Armes Hotel - LA
Nov. 28, 2007
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New Orleans has a very active supernatural environment and history…..but that had nothing to do
with why we went or the choice of hotel. We chose the Place d’Armes hotel based on
recommendations of family and because it was close to the major attractions in the French Quarter.
Up until the day we checked out I had no prior knowledge of it’s charmed history. Skeptics would say
that simply based on the age of the hotel, I should have assumed there would be tales associated with
it…I can honestly say that since the supernatural is not a daily event in my life, I had not given it any
thought. My husband had never been to New Orleans and we both wanted him to have a few days of
the real Creole experience. I personally had not been to New Orleans since the early 70[s. So, I
booked three days of accommodations at this hotel and planned to spend the rest of the time with
family.
We arrived at the Place d’Armes in the evening after 9PM and were given a room at the back of the
hotel overlooking the courtyard. At first I was not a happy camper because I had originally requested
a ground floor courtyard room and this room required walking to the far end of the hotel across
bumpy and uneven pavement and up a rickety flight of narrow stairs to get to the room. I don’t see well
and was afraid I would fall navigating to and from the room. Upon entering the room we were met with
a heavy, musty and damp smell that seemed to permeate everything, We immediately turned the AC
on, opened the door to the terrace and turned on the ceiling fan which helped. I was also
overwhelmed with the feeling the room was occupied with something other than furniture and our tired
bodies.. I felt odd; watched. However, it had been a long day of traveling and navigating airports; I
was too tired to request a room change. I really felt it was my imagination and exhausted traveler
syndrome.. Besides, there was a real estate convention in town and they were expecting lots of folks
from all over to attend. It would have been slim at best to get a ground floor room and I was not in the
mood to stand my ground on this issue.. My husband said, “We’ll just deal with it.” Keep the windows
open and the fan on. The AC also didn’t help much as it was producing more humidity than
needed…and actually made the room colder.
We quickly unpacked and met family for a late dinner before being dropped off back at the hotel for
the night. After retiring and settling in I started hearing little noises and then what sounded like
whispers….nothing distinct. I attributed it to our being tired, maybe people talking quietly in the
courtyard below and indigestion. I finally fell asleep but awoke several times because I either thought I
heard movement in the room and a distinct impression that I was tapped or touched. At one point I
even got up and looked around the room and outside to the courtyard. Nothing was going on.
Because I don’t see well, the looking around the room was sort of futile but comforting. Mind you, my
husband never heard or saw a thing. He slept like a baby all that night and the next. I really didn’t
think much of the experience at first and didn’t attribute anything out of the ordinary as I did not see
anything. While I have a serious vision impairment; I am not blind.
The next night was entirely different and very interesting. We had come back from having dinner and
wandering about Bourbon St. and fell asleep without incident. My husband again slept like a log….
but not me. I kept hearing louder whispers this time and knew because of the hour that no one would
be in the courtyard below. I even thought it was my name that was being whispered. Like I said, I don’t
see well so despite looking around the room….nothing could seen. I finally fell asleep only to be
awakened by a loud and direct calling of my name. The voice said, “Carole, wake up, it’s me. Your
husband is asleep, see for yourself!” I couldn’t even tell you whether the voice was distinctly male or
female…I think it was possibly male and youthful, maybe. I also got the distinct visual image if only for a
split second of a round, curly headed and impish face right in front of me (I have never mentioned this
before as it was very unnerving to me). I immediately sat up with a start and verified that my husband
was right beside me asleep. I was so rattled that I did not go back to sleep right away and spooned in
closer to him. I eventually fell asleep again and had resumed my familiar sleeping position, lying on my
stomach with my arms, one at my side and bent up and the other just slightly above my head. I was
startled awake again when I felt something like a hand gently glide over my forehead, down my face and
up my arm to my hand where it rested and gave me a pat…. It was not a breeze from the fan. The fan
was off and the door to the terrace was closed. It was very late and the AC was not even running as
we had turned it off after a few minutes. I was not frightened as I didn’t feel it was menacing. but I didn’
t go back to sleep. Further, the next morning while getting ready to go out for the day, I came out of
the bathroom and was standing in front of the writing desk and went to take a step and felt like
something had given me a slight tug and push; I fell forward landing near the bed. I have no explanation
for this whatsoever. However, I did speak with the desk clerk and asked directly if there had ever been
any unusual reports about that room. My suspicions were confirmed that Room 214, while not the
most active room, was reported to have paranormal activity from time to time. All the while the clerk
avoided using the word “Haunted.” I was told that the hotel had a long history and was made up of
several old buildings that were combined over the years to make up the present incarnation as hotel. It
started out as a school run by monks, a bank, an area of early commerce etc, and incorporated other
buildings and apartments. It wasn’t a hotel until the sixties. So, anything was possible. I was offered
the promise that on our next visit I would be given a more active room……??? Like this room was plenty
active as far as I was concerned. I will reserve this offer for later consideration….maybe.
At any rate, I had decided that enough was enough and on our third and final night before we finally
retired, I simply spoke to the room asking anyone and anything to leave it be, that I knew something
was there and to let me get some sleep. To my surprise the night was uneventful and I slept like a log.
When we left to check out, I actually said goodbye to the room and felt a sense of sadness as if
whatever it was really didn’t mean to upset me, just communicate with me.
I now wish I had ventured just a bit more…..
I have learned from the wide eyed looks of friends or even my husband, if I start to talk about this
experience to just not bring it up for fear that I will be held up to ridicule and that they simply do not
believe “in such nonsense? It was pretty real to me. However, my age affords me the luxury of trusting
my senses.…and I have been told that I am quite sensitive to these types of things….This was not the
only experience I have had during my long life; however it was the most tactile encounter to date. .
*CG*
With the exception of being a tourist thirty seven some years ago, I have never lived in
New Orleans and had no prior knowledge of that hotel. It was only confirmed to me that
Room 214 had paranormal activity from time to time. No explanation was ever offered as
to what kind of activity.
Thank you for your interest and prompt response. It is truly refreshing.
*CG*
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