New Orleans: Felicity Plantation Guided Tour

Felicity is more than a handsome old house beside the Mississippi River. It is part of a working sugarcane operation, and a guided visit connects the plantation’s architecture and farming history to the people whose labor built and sustained it.

I like two things in particular: the chance to see a home with both Greek Revival and Creole details, and the tour’s attention to enslaved people and later workers, not just the family who owned the estate. The sugarcane fields still in production add a useful link between past and present.

One consideration: the tour is in Vacherie, and transportation is not included. You’ll need to make your own way there, and the home and grounds are not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Felicity Plantation at a glance

• A working sugarcane farm: Cane is still grown and harvested on the estate.
• Architecture with two influences: The house, built between 1844 and 1847, combines Greek Revival style with Creole features.
• History beyond the family home: The tour addresses enslavement and the generations of workers who remained after emancipation.
• A familiar film setting: Felicity has appeared in The Skeleton Key, 12 Years a Slave, Roots, Underground, and Filthy Rich.
• A focused visit: Plan for 90 minutes overall, with about an hour of guided touring and an option to walk around the grounds.
• A separate check-in point: Check in at the St. Joseph Plantation gift shop next door, at 3535 LA-18 in Vacherie.

Arriving at Felicity through St. Joseph

Felicity Plantation is in Vacherie, Louisiana, along LA-18. The tour’s check-in is not at the Felicity house itself. Go to the gift shop at neighboring St. Joseph Plantation, at 3535 LA-18, and check in at least 15 minutes before your scheduled start.

That detail is worth planning for. The two plantations sit next to each other and share a history of family ownership, but they are distinct properties. Give yourself time to find the right entrance and check in before the tour begins. Transportation is not part of the $24 ticket, so you’ll need to arrange your own trip to Vacherie.

The advertised activity lasts 90 minutes, while the guided tour itself is about an hour. The remaining time gives you an opportunity to walk around the grounds, although the tour information does not set out a separate schedule for that time. If you’re planning a tight day, allow for the full 90 minutes rather than counting on a shorter visit.

A house shaped by Creole and Greek Revival design

Built between 1844 and 1847, Felicity’s main house is a good reason to come even if you’re not usually drawn to architectural tours. Its Greek Revival style is blended with Creole influence, a combination that gives the home a distinct Louisiana character. Inside, the furnishings and renovations are described as true to the period, and the interior is more decorated than that of its sister property, St. Joseph.

The tour takes you through the preserved house with a live English-speaking guide. The interiors help make the history tangible: instead of hearing only about an estate in the abstract, you can look closely at the domestic spaces and period decoration that shaped life for the family who lived there. The house is smaller than St. Joseph, so don’t expect the scale of a grand mansion with endless rooms. Its appeal is in the details and the setting.

Felicity is also a familiar backdrop for film and television. Productions filmed here include The Skeleton Key, 12 Years a Slave, the remake of Roots, Underground, and Filthy Rich. If you’ve seen any of these, the grounds may look familiar. The movie connection is a fun extra, but it works best as a way to notice the property’s visual character, not as a substitute for the site’s history.

Sugarcane past and present

Felicity’s working-farm status changes the way you understand the place. Sugarcane is still grown and harvested here, and Felicity and St. Joseph became part of a single 2,500-acre sugarcane operation in 1901. The Waguespack family had purchased both estates at a sheriff’s sale in 1877. The operation remains under the same ownership today.

That continuity gives the agricultural story more weight than a display about a crop that disappeared generations ago. Sugarcane remains part of the region’s economy and identity, and the land around the house is not simply an old plantation frozen in time. It is still used for farming.

An agricultural lesson can also bring the plantation’s history into sharper focus. Sugar production relied on labor, and the tour addresses the people whose work sustained the estate. That includes enslaved people, whose lives and labor are essential to understanding the plantation, as well as the workers who continued to work there after emancipation. A visit that makes room for both subjects offers a more complete account than one centered only on owners, architecture, or family stories.

Listening to the people behind the history

The strongest reason to take a guided tour is the opportunity to hear the stories tied to the house and grounds. Felicity’s history includes the privilege of the families who owned the property, the realities of enslavement, and the work and resilience of people whose lives were bound to the estate. Those experiences were not the same, and a thoughtful account should not blur the difference.

Guide Sylvie has led tours here, and her approach has been described as personal storytelling rather than a recitation of dates. Guides can vary, so you can’t count on having Sylvie specifically. Still, the tour’s format gives you a chance to hear the history explained by a person who knows the property, rather than relying only on signs or a self-guided walk.

The subject deserves time and attention. If you want a fuller account of plantation history, listen for how the guide connects the house’s elegance to the labor that made the plantation function. The home is a striking place, but its beauty alone cannot explain how the estate operated or who bore its costs. The tour’s attention to enslaved people and later workers is therefore central, not a side note.

Grounds, porch, and the film-setting effect

The ticket includes an option to walk around the grounds, so leave a little room after the guided portion rather than heading straight back to the car. The setting has the kind of dramatic atmosphere that helps explain why it has appeared in several films and television productions. If you’re a film fan, you may enjoy recognizing the property from the screen; if not, the grounds still offer a chance to take in the estate beyond the rooms of the house.

The back porch is a particular draw for anyone who likes to pause and look around rather than rush from one room to the next. The wider property has also been a place to spot wildlife: foxes have been seen running around the grounds. That is a lucky sighting, not a scheduled part of the tour, so enjoy it if it happens and don’t plan your visit around it.

The outdoor portion also calls for sensible footwear. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and bare feet are not allowed. The information provided does not promise a particular walking route or terrain, so choose shoes that feel steady and comfortable for time on the grounds.

Is $24 good value for 90 minutes?

At $24 per person, this is a fairly focused history visit rather than a full-day attraction. The price includes a guided tour of Felicity Plantation and the option to walk around the grounds. It does not include transportation, food, or drinks, so work those costs into your plans if you’re making a day of visiting the River Road area.

The value depends on what you want from a plantation visit. If you care about the architecture, the continuing sugarcane operation, and a guided account that includes enslaved people and later laborers, there is plenty to take in during the 90-minute window. A couple who were the only people on one tour received a personal history and agriculture lesson, but that does not mean you can expect a private tour. Group size may vary.

Felicity is smaller than St. Joseph, and it is less widely known than Oak Alley. That can suit you if you want to focus on one home and its particular agricultural story rather than chase the most famous plantation photo. The ticket is for Felicity, though, so don’t assume it includes a tour of St. Joseph just because you check in next door.

Who will enjoy this visit most?

I’d recommend Felicity to you if you want more than a quick look at an old house. The visit is a good fit for anyone interested in Louisiana architecture, sugarcane agriculture, film locations, or the difficult history of plantation labor. The guided format helps connect these strands, and the grounds give you a little time to absorb the setting after the indoor tour.

It may be less suitable if you need step-free access or have difficulty walking. The activity is specifically not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. It is also not the right pick if you want transportation bundled into your ticket, or if your main priority is a long, expansive tour of multiple plantations.

Before booking, check the available start times and make sure you can reach the St. Joseph gift shop for check-in. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation up to 24 hours in advance is eligible for a full refund. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed.

Should you book Felicity Plantation?

Book this tour if you want a manageable, guided visit that joins architecture, working agriculture, and plantation labor history in one place. The continued sugarcane operation makes the past feel connected to the present, while the house and its film appearances add visual interest. The tour’s best feature is its potential to tell a broader story than the family home alone.

Skip it if you’re looking for a large-scale mansion tour, included transport, or accessible facilities. For $24, Felicity offers a compact and specific perspective on the River Road, especially if you take time to explore the grounds. Check in next door at St. Joseph, arrive early, and leave room for the full 90 minutes.

FAQ

How long is the Felicity Plantation tour?

The activity lasts 90 minutes. The guided tour is about one hour, and you can also walk around the grounds.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $24 per person.

Where do I check in?

Check in at the gift shop next door at St. Joseph Plantation, 3535 LA-18, Vacherie, LA 70090. Arrive at least 15 minutes before your tour starts.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation is not included.

What language is the tour in?

The live guided tour is in English.

Can I visit the grounds?

Yes. The ticket includes an option to walk around and view the grounds.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes. Bare feet are not allowed.