We Explored a Cajun Ghost Town Hidden in Louisiana

Frankie and Nikki with NOLA Chills decided to explore one of Louisiana’s scariest Cajun ghost towns, and stepping foot inside this place almost felt like we were exploring a hidden, abandoned ghost town frozen in time. At the moment we arrived, we were completely alone, surrounded by silence, history, and the feeling that this Cajun ghost town hadn’t been disturbed in years.

👇 Here’s the haunted history behind Acadian Village in Lafayette, Louisiana 👇

🏚️ A Cajun Ghost Town Preserved in Time
Acadian Village is a preserved collection of authentic 18th- and 19th-century Cajun structures relocated to Lafayette, Louisiana. While it exists today to protect history, walking through it felt eerily similar to exploring an abandoned ghost town — empty homes, weathered wood, and buildings that once held entire lives now standing still.

🌍 The Acadian Story
Nearly 400 years ago, Acadians left France and settled along the eastern coast of Canada. Over generations, they formed a distinct culture, language, and way of life. In 1754, British forces demanded the Acadians swear loyalty to the English Crown and abandon their Catholic faith. When they refused, families were arrested, homes and churches were burned, and a mass exile began.

🚢 Exile and Survival in Louisiana
Separated from their families and forced onto ships, Acadians were scattered across England, France, and the American colonies. In 1764, ships carrying Acadian families arrived in Louisiana, then ruled by Spain. They settled in swamps, bayous, and mosquito-infested land no one else wanted — rebuilding their lives and laying the foundation of what we now know as Cajun culture.

🏠 Historic Structures Inside the Village
Acadian Village is made up of original structures dating from the late 1700s through the 1800s, including:
• The Aurelie Bernard House, one of the oldest structures in the village
• The LeBlanc House, birthplace of Dudley J. LeBlanc, an influential Acadian political figure
• The Thibodeau Museum, built of cypress using traditional construction methods
• The Castille House, a Civil War-era home that survived northern troop pillaging
• The Saint-Jean House, representing everyday Cajun family life
• The Blacksmith Shop, once vital to village survival
• The New Hope Chapel, a replica of an 1850s chapel built using traditional materials

👻 Why It Felt Haunted
Exploring this place alone made it feel less like a museum and more like a forgotten Cajun ghost town. Empty porches, open doorways, creaking wood, and complete silence gave the overwhelming sense that life had simply stopped here — leaving history behind to linger.

🔍 Exploring a Hidden Ghost Town in Louisiana
As we explored deeper into the village, it felt like urban exploring without barriers — just history, abandonment, and the weight of generations who lived, suffered, and survived here.

🖤 Why We Explore Places Like This
At NOLA Chills, we explore places where history still lingers. This Cajun ghost town isn’t about jump scares — it’s about the stories, the survival, and the echoes left behind.

We’re Frankie and Nikki with NOLA Chills.
The dead have a lot to say. Follow us if you’re ready to listen.