We are from California and our friends recommended this place. We enjoyed the tour. Hunter was so informative. You can tell he's passionate about this place which made it more interesting for us. Thank you for the hospitality. read more

I'm sure it is a beautiful place but unfortunately I will never know!!!! My husband I drove from Alabama to visit Nottaway. Their website states tours are available at 10, 12, 2 and 4. We arrived at 3:09 at the office/gift shop to purchase tickets and hopefully walk around the garden while awaiting our tour. Imagine our disappointment when we were told "no more tours today, she's already locked up the house"! Why would you ever treat your guests like this? Your business relies on tourism dollars. If you don't want to have afternoon tours, don't advertise them!!! Shameful!!!! read more

We've enjoyed Nottoway for decades. So grateful it's back again. Great menu and dining areas. Always book family and friends visiting from out of town there. Beautiful scenery walking the grounds. Gorgeous MS River view. read more

I have visited Nottoway several times over the years and keep coming back because I love this tour so much. Of all the plantations I've toured in Louisiana, the Nottoway "mansion" is the best! Seeing this grand building is a must do for anyone who loves architecture and history. The tour guides relay interesting history of the home and the family who had it built. The white ball room is captivating and romantic. There is a hole in one of the front columns of the house where a cannon ball from the civil war was lodged for many years before falling out. The family was approached to film scenes from "Gone With The Wind" at Nottoway, but the owners declined because of the disruption it would have caused the family and operations. I highly recommend this mansion tour!! read more

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We had brunch on Sunday and it was a wonderful experience and the food was delicious! The menu had so much to offer and was presented so beautifully! The staff was so helpful and knowledgeable about the menu and the grounds that we walked after brunch. The Chef stopped by our table to make sure every thing was to our liking! We are planning our next visit to enjoy another fabulous meal! read more

I have visited Nottaway twice. Both times I have had a wonderful time. The staff is friendly and the tour guides are interesting and knowledgeable. They are also happy to answer questions. The tours are not rushed or crowded. Nottoway is gorgeous. The grounds are also beautiful. Highly recommend. read more

ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT!!!! BEWARE!!! The manager, Angela, isn't qualified to operate a f%cking fryer at Popeyes, much less be in charge of one of the nicest historical plantations in the state. I was literally thrown out of my room an hour before my best friend's wedding. Had to relocate to a friend's room and sleep on a couch for my scheduled 2nd night stay, all due to piss poor management of their books and total lack of oversight from anyone with a brain. Enjoyed the cockroaches in my room. read more

Nottoway Plantation & Resort - Hotels Near Me - White Castle, Louisiana

Visited here and had a wonderful time ! Suite was clean and manager along with staff were very helpful and kind! Our tour guide Brock was excellent and gave the home so much life ! read more

Nottoway Plantation & Resort - Nottoway - Hotels Near Me - White Castle, Louisiana

Brock was a most excellent tour guide. He had amusing and really interesting anecdotes--not only of the people who inhabited the Nottoway Plantation, but also of extended family, slaves, neighboring plantation life and history! We were amazed at his instant recall of facts and extensive knowledge of many of the plantations--what they are known for, where is the best preserved, artists, sculptors and architects of the day. Come with questions and more questions and lots of curiosity--the conversation just takes on a life of its own. The house is gorgeous and super impressive, but Brock really made our day w/his animated tour. His enthusiasm for plantation-everything is contagious!!!!! read more

The American Queen could not dock in Baton Rouge due to low water levels. Notoway was the substitute port. We toured the slave built house. Our guide was excellent. The troubling part was the resort closed in early 2020 and the deferred maintenance on the 1859 house and surrounding buildings and property is self- evident. The pond and pool are full of scum and bugs. The gift shop smells musty. The rooms are all boarded up. The tennis court is sinking. Paint is peeling everywhere. I don't see it opening again without costly repairs. read more

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Unhappy in so many ways. First, when I checked in, the guy at the front desk acted like I was bothering him to check in. After giving me my key (which didn't work), he couldn't even be bothered to direct me to where the room was. I had to wander the property and ask random people to find it. Second, the room they gave me was moldy and clearly had air quality problems. I went back to the front desk and they finally put me in a room that wasn't a nightmare. Third, I asked the front desk when I checked in how to go on a tour of the big house. The guy said to just walk to the front door. So I did. The door was locked. I went back to the front desk and said the door was locked. He acted like I was inconveniencing him, once again. I went back. Eventually someone opened the door, but no one would give a tour. I just kind of wandered around the big house with no explanation of anything. Worst plantation house "tour" I've ever been on. Fourth, when I checked out I spoke to a woman who I took to be a manager. She acted like she cared, but she did nothing to help me. She wouldn't give me a refund or a discount on a future stay or anything. I'm not going back. There are so many better plantations to stay at in the area that don't treat you like this. I recommend staying at Houmas House or Oak Alley. read more

Beautiful property for tours ,dining, parties or overnight. One of the prettiest mansions in Louisiana in my opinion The staff is unbelievable helpful and let you know that you're welcome here. The restaurant serves delicious food in a beautiful setting. . Come to Nottoway you won't want to leave read more

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Stayed here one night on our way to Florida with my husband and 5 yo daughter. We had reserved the king suite but were contacted day before that AC was not working. So we had to do the two queens instead. They let us check in early. Property and grounds were beautiful. They didn't have tours at this time. However we were able to meander through freely and were surprised that things were not roped off. It was mostly in good condition. Outdoor area needed some attention. Rose garden bushes were overgrown and looked like roses needed fertilizer as not growing well. Pool area was locked and looked small and sleepy. Loved the 100 plus year old oak trees. Many good photo opportunities and not crowded at all. There is a small one room museum which was interesting and had a lot of reading materials and a few relics. Adjacent theater movie played sound but no picture. Room itself was modern but maintained the look and elegance of the mansion. Beds were very comfy. AC kept the room cool. We had a small fridge but disappointed no microwave or tea. Just a coffee maker. Also no shampoo or conditioner. Just hand soap. We didn't ask for it though. Room was a little dirty. Found clumps of hair on the floor and a few small bugs. It was quiet outside except for loud DJ playing for wedding until around 11 pm. Sugar cane field right behind us. Could hear birds in the morning. Parking so convenient right outside and free. It seemed safe and classy crowd there. Went to restaurant for dinner. Limited menu options and no kids menu. Prices were reasonable. I had strawberry salad which was excellent. Husband had etoufee which was good. Daughter had red beans and rice and surprisingly ate some which is good for her as she's a picky eater. Sticky shrimp appetizer was more like general Tao shrimp with sweet and sour sauce. Didn't care for it. Pecan pie was best I ever had. All and all this is a real gem of a place. Surprised it's still standing after civil war and restored after several centuries. So felt like a real privilege to stay here. read more

The prettiest and definitely the most charming of all the plantations in Louisiana that I've visited. I decided to spend the night here and that turned out to be a really good decision. Upon check in we were presented with sweet potato biscuits and sherry. Odd combination, I know, but the biscuits were warm and good and the sherry (not so good) gave me a nice feeling after I drank it. Nottoway has two resident peacocks. I am a huge animal lover, but sea creatures and birds are my absolute favorite type of animal. So walking in and seeing these beautiful peacocks pretty much made my day. They just strut around being beautiful all the time here. That is so great. If you choose to spend the night here you have unlimited access to the home and can roam about all night. When I tell you I had the time of my life pretending that that house was mine for a good portion of the night I am not exaggerating my friends. Jen is right. That ballroom is truly a gem and oh so dreamy. If you haven't been to Nottoway, please go. It's such a gift. read more

This is a beautiful, tranquil place to visit. I was in Baton Rouge for a Convention. They arranged a murder mystery dinner at the plantation for our final evening. What a creative and original idea! I loved every moment there. We first got a tour of Nottaway, and then we had dinner. The food was ok, but the murder mystery that unfolded between courses was well-written, easy to follow, and interesting. My table didn't win (although I personally guessed the killer!), but it didn't matter. It was still a fun and interactive experience. Three of the ladies at my table were local and had lost everything in the recent flood. Another lady at our table was a convention attendee from out of state and gave each of the three a gift card. Very sweet and endearing. Additionally it was the night before September 11th. This night was full of sadness, nostalgia, and heartfelt conversations, yet there was an element of fun to contribute to our experience. It was a heartwarming evening, filled with great conversation and new friends. The murder mystery reminded me of a cross between Clue and an episode of the Golden Girls. The grounds are beautifully landscaped. The mansion is in pristine condition. The furniture and art are beautiful and I would love to come back and stay here. read more

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Of all the Louisiana plantations we visited, Nottoway was the prettiest and most charming. It was located just outside of White Castle, a desolate town on the banks of the Mississippi, which is closer to Baton Rouge than New Orleans. Nottoway is a bright white Italianate antebellum home and sits facing the levee of the River. There are hourly tours (10% off with a AAA card) and you can spend the night there in the main house or in one of the cabins on the grounds. Nottoway has an elegant restaurant and cozy bar on the ground floor. Although I am generally not a fan of tours, our guide at Nottoway was a friendly, easy going local grandmother. She knowledgeably answered every question and when we expressed interest in going out on the upstairs balcony facing the River, she opened a big window and let us all clamber out. We learned a lot from her about the family that built the house and heard interesting anecdotes about life at Nottoway during the Civil War. If you have time for just one visit to a plantation home, I would highly recommend Nottoway over Oak Alley, St. Francis or Laura. read more

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This review covers only the Restaurant in the Main Plantation House. Please see my separate review for the Plantation itself. I enjoyed both Lunch and Dinner here last week and found that Dining on the enclosed patio was a special treat. The indoor dining room (and bar) are nice, but unfortunately throw off too much of a subterranean vibe, due to the lack of windows and low ceilings. At the same time, the food was consistently delicious and the service was friendly, efficient, and welcoming. read more

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My girlfriend, Ashley & I spent the night on Sat, April 21, 2018. We stayed in room 13 & it was absolutely gorgeous! The staff was so welcoming & was very eager to help. The brunch was top notch & the views were breathtaking! Such a relaxing spot whether its overnight or a week long getaway! Do yourself a favor & check out this gorgeous mansion & manicured property. Big thanks to Jennifer, Courtney & Mr. Bob for the wonderful hospitality! You guys ROCK! We will most definitely be back soon!!! read more

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" Beautiful, And Historical Experience " This historical Plantation sets on the most gorgeous grounds we have seen. It is Amazing. The Plantation is not just an historical site to visit, you can actually stay her overnight, for days, and even months, as it is also a Resort. They even have places to work out, walk, bicycle, everything. They also have a nice restaurant and a wonderful friendly staff. If you are coming to the New Orleans area of the country you have to take a side trip the White Castle, LA to see this Nottoway Plantation & Resort. It is worth it ! read more

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This was my first time trying this place and I love it ! The Food = very tasteful , nice portions and presentation is very fancy. I ordered the crab cakes dinner portion and it was very delightful; my mom ordered bake fish w/crab cakes topped with asparagus cream sauce. The food was absolutely delicious! The customer service = absolutely wonderful ! All of the servers were extremely helpful and the atmosphere was perfect yet professional. Highly Recommended!! read more

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At this plantation they have a large gift shop and your choice of self guided or tour guided tours 7 days a week. The tour guides are dressed in period clothing which is always a nice touch. Depending on who you get the tour will be a little different from what I was hearing various ones speak. In my opinion the grounds and the home were nice, but I was under whelmed with how fast the tour was and for being such a large home how little you actually get to see. For the price I expected more. Needless to say I thought I was going to be more impressed with the grounds. The Houmas House plantation not that far away had nicer grounds for sure. At Nottaway there wasn't much to see besides the large home, the exterior of cabins you can rent, a cemetery, and a pool that was built for those who stay at the plantation. You can also rent out rooms in the large home, which is why I think the tour doesn't show much of the home. I'm not saying don't visit, but we ended the tour with a little disappointment. I think this was a one time visit for me. read more

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Great tour. The food is horrible! Fish so overcooked & over salted. Soup served in a 1/2 cup serving. Very sad from what it used to be. Great tour. The food is horrible. read more

We have stayed here twice now and loved it. The grounds are beautiful. The little cottages are perfect for a little getaway. If you stay here, you get the use of the bicycles to ride around. The breakfast was really good as well. The mansion tour was good and the tour guide was very detailed. I recommended coming around Christmas time. The grounds are gorgeous lit up for Christmas. read more

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Had a great time. Not exactly what I expected but it was fun all the while. Here's. What I think would make this a better entertainment venue. Make the Murder Mystery and actual interaction. A question here or there to me was not actual interaction. Have a few rooms and the outside when weather permits a part of the skit. Have clues and evidence for the people to find, almost like the Game Clue. This was more a play with VERY hard clues to figure out. Not clues based on Evidence at all. This is the perfect setting for the whole nite to be a mystery not just while dinner is served. As far as dinner. It was ok, just wish you had some what of a choice. They have you at presented tables so it would be simple to cater to each person. There were about 100 people there so it would have not been too difficult to provide a menu per say. The establishment is a beautiful plantation! I will absolutely return. Just need more excitement and adventure for the entertainment. read more

Nottoway Plantation & Resort - Hotels Near Me - White Castle, Louisiana

I hadn't been on the Nottoway Plantation tour since the late 80s/early 90s. Wow. What a difference a couple of decades make. The house looks gorgeous! And it is furnished beautifully. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and was from the area. The white ballroom still shines like a gem. We also had lunch in the Mansion dining room. The prices are good for the amount of food you get. We had the crab cakes, the oyster BLT, and the catfish dinner..along with the fried green tomato salad and the crab & brie soup. WAY too much food but it was all really tasty. Loved eating in the glassed in gallery under the house. The bricks (and the a/c) kept the room nice & cool on a blistering hot day. I really love what's been done to the grounds which had seemed empty before and all the guest cottages were built to look period so they don't stick out. The gift shop is really cute and has nice selection of gift-y items. read more

Take a Step back in time to the Opulence and Grandeur of a 1850s Sugar Plantation! This is a wonderful way to see a gorgeous southern plantation, complete with costumed guided tours, a lovely on site restaurant with a very nice southern menu and wine list. They offer onsite suites we brought our Traveling Puppies! You can also stay in the Mansion! Beautifully landscaped grounds with amazing 150 year old live oak trees majestically residing. Really a must see! read more

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Nottoway Plantation is beautiful! If you can stand the hour (or less, depending on who's driving) drive, then you will definitely be rewarded for your patience. The drive over from New Orleans is not that scenic. A few sugar cane fields and cows are probably the most exciting things you are gonna see. But once you turn into Nottoway's driveway, it will all be worth it. You first walk into a cute little building which serves as the gift shop. You will find southern novelty items such as cookbooks, magnets and artwork. After browsing the gift shop, we walked out the back of the building to a beautiful view of the main house with a large fountain in front of it. After taking many pictures in front of the house and fountain, we went into the house. The bottom floor hosts a restaurant and kind of a cocktail area. There was a reception for us with drinks and food. OH MAN! THE FOOD. There was a lot of it! I must have ate my weight in lamb chop lollipops and caprese salad on a stick (and I'm not ashamed). The restaurant was nice. There were big windows where you could look out on to the property as you eat. There are tours daily, but I opted to explore on my own. (I like to discover things myself and then ask questions). In addition to the beautiful bedrooms in the main house, there are also some bungalows spread out alongside the edge of the property as well as a fairly large pool. A large balcony on the second floor is a great place to hang out and have a drink. My favorite room is what I'd call, the GREAT WHITE ROOM. It's a small ballroom that is all white with gold trim. (I've posted a pic if you want to check it out). LOVE IT! There is also a small museum on site, in case you want to learn a little bit about the plantation's history. All in all, I would definitely recommend a day trip out to Nottoway. And if any of you decide to have a party/wedding there based on my wonderful recommendations, you can thank me with an invite :) read more

Nottoway Plantation & Resort - from www.nottoway.com - my favorite room in the house! - Hotels Near Me - White Castle, Louisiana

I visited Nottoway on my birthday this year back in February, and I still rave about the experience. Nottoway is truly a gem for anyone looking for a quiet getaway. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and the history behind the home is fantastic. Nottoway is the largest plantation home still standing in Louisiana. There is a guided tour, but you are also welcome to walk the grounds yourself. We went to the restaurant in the home for dinner and breakfast the next morning. The atmosphere was very romantic and the food was AMAZING. I had redfish with roasted pecans and a rum sauce of some kind. I think about making the drive just to eat there again.. For breakfast, I had french toast on french bread. It was such a nice twist on the meal using french bread. The grounds are so beautiful that they even do weddings.. Hehe. I had a great time at Nottoway and plan to return in the future. read more

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I have eaten here twice, toured the plantation once, and walked the property numerous times. It is a beautiful setting on the Mississippi, and the plantation even retains the hole from a iron canon ball on the front of the home. While the Greek Revival plantation is picturesque, you cannot ignore the history of this home. The Randolphs owned 176 slaves, making them one of the largest slave owners in the South. The juxtaposition of this perfectly restored Antebellum home, next to its history isn't lost on me. The food was spectacular & the service was great. Fried green tomatoes with lump crap & remoulade sauce were fantastic, as was the cornbread. I'm a sucker for BBQ shrimp and grits. We had a little bit of everything. I have heard from family that they had a change in chefs recently, and it wasn't as good. I would highly recommend visiting Nottoway. But don't walk through the little cemetery back in the Oak trees....or if you do, don't walk on the graves..............just don't. read more

Oak Alley and Nottoway are my most favorite plantations. Just 1 and half hour drive from New Orleans, these 2 plantations can easily be covered in a day. This plantation is like a white castle inside and outside. The tours are very informational and you get to learn a piece of history. Must visit! read more

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The grounds at Nottaway, and the home itself is beautiful and quite impressive. Unfortunately they are dreadfully unorganized and do not adhere to their tour schedule. My family called to confirm tour times the day before we planned to visit, but after driving nearly 2 hours to explore the estate, we were informed by a rather flippant employee that all of the days tours had been canceled. It is a fun place to visit, but their lack of organization and professionalism was incredibly disappointing. read more

Nottoway was a great experience from beginning to end! The gift shop has a lot of really great souvenirs and it's very cozy. The bathrooms are clean and accommodating. I had awhile to wait for my tour but time flew by just browsing around the nice cool gift shop. The tour was amazing. My tour guide was so friendly and well versed on the history of the plantation. She was able to answer all of the questions asked. The house is amazing. They have done a beautiful job of preserving it and decorating it true to the era. Going through the windows to the top balcony and looking at the river was really a pretty view. This tour is a history lovers dream. The grounds are beautiful as well. Make sure to watch the movie at the end. I seriously can't imagine a more magical place for a wedding. read more

Beautiful house and grounds. I won't deny it was beautiful! I went here for a wedding and it's just not a good location for a wedding. There was a train track nearby and at least 4 trains went by during the wedding. There were gnats everywhere enough though they "sprayed" for them. Even though the wedding was basically in the middle of a huge yard (small field), with plenty of room, they stuck the little dinky/flimsy plastic chairs so close together that you couldn't even walk in front of someone that was seated. The chairs were lined up with no space between the seats so there was about 20 inches for each person to sit. Very crowded, in a wide open field!? Before the wedding, when the bridal party and family was doing pictures, there were other people all around the grounds. There were random people walking into the photo shots and whatnot. As a hospitality/culinary student, I was looking forward to the reception that cost $80 a person!! Surely this will be an impressive meal I thought. No...there was a cheese board (that was pretty nice) and a salad bar, and four entrees (Sliced steak & mash, cheese tortellini & white sauce with chucks of chicken, shrimp & grits, and gumbo & rice) set up in the center of the room. It was a buffet! Self-service for $80 a person! They were horribly understaffed. There were maybe 4 people there for 200 people. We were sitting at the bridal table and had to clear some of our own plates because no one was clearing them!! Everything was under salted and there was no salt at the tables. Everything tasted flat. There was a bay leaf in the gumbo? Maybe that's a thing in the south? In the north, they're supposed to be removed before serving. I also heard of at least 3 stories about rude customer service or poor planning from a hospitality standpoint. Overall disappointing experience for me. read more

Atmosphere / Location - What's not to say about Nottoway. An incredible historic Louisiana plantation less than 30 minutes from Baton Rouge. The grounds are superb and very well kept. Inside, your walked through incredible stories about the very well kept home and those who built it. We even got to see a baby alligator in the pond... Rooms - We stayed in out of the cottages off of the pond. Perfect room that made us feel right at home in the 1800's. But with 20th century amenities of course. Amenities / Service - I recommend visiting the on premise restaurant. Excellent menu prepared by excellent chef's. The wait staff was outstanding, very courteous and accommodating. I suggest trying the 'cane sugar flavored butter' with the warm 'table side bread'. There isn't anything on the menu that didn't look and sound spectacular. Summary - We did the 'self guided' tour. By the looks of things, the 'guided tour' was also very well done. We decided to do the 'self guided' tour as we didn't want to rush through it and enjoy every moment. After the tour and in the evening, we were able to chat with one of the very friendly ground keeper's Bob who had some additional excellent stories about Nottoway. In all, a 'must visit' when looking for an awesome historic plantation in the area. read more

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The current chef, David Reyes, brings an international flair to the upscale cajun menu due to his roots in Mexico and his training in Paris. I thought the food well above average, the ambiance quaint and the service delightful. One of our party had the B&B Burger which sported a runny fried egg on top of a thick burger on a homemade bun. It looked delicious and my friend insisted it was. I had a blackened rib eye, tender and cooked exactly as ordered and smothered with crawfish étouffée and steamed then fried potatoes, onions and peppers on the side. Excellent. As good as any eatery in New Orleans. There were eight in our party, all had something different and everyone was pleased. I would have to say I wouldn't drive an hour and a half out of New Orleans just to dine here, but if one is traveling along Route One between New Orleans and Baton Rouge and thinking the only options are backwoods diners or fast food by all means consider this place. The old antebellum mansion and grounds are beautiful, the restaurant is quaint, remindful of an old world pub and the staff is ultra friendly. I will definitely go back next time I am in the area. read more

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Gorgeous property with quite knowledgable and lovely staff. They were having a wedding there and wanted to get all the party together, so we got bumped to a suite...how nice. And the honeymoon suite on top of that. If only it hadn't been so darn cold, we would have been able to enjoy the pool all to ourselves. I will say the only thing I found somewhat challenging was that you have to drag your stuff a really long way from the front office, but hey...this wasn't made with the conveniences we have now days. It also is pretty far from food so make sure you plan to eat ahead or on premises. We enjoyed the breakfast buffet, but for the amount you pay, I did expect a better product. All in all, good trip, but it's more about the experience than the food here. read more

Beautiful and historical resort, with stunning views of the Mississippi river. Make sure to take the historical tour, it's well worth the time to learn about the history of this pre-civil war plantation, and the surrounding areas. Dining at Nottoway was a delight of the senses! With enchanting gardens, views of the property and exquisite southern cuisine, Nottoway is the perfect getaway for everyone. read more

Nottoway Plantation & Resort - Nottoway - Hotels Near Me - White Castle, Louisiana

I'm very disappointed with the tour of the house. Most of the house was closed off because it was being used for a Hotel. Our tour guide was new and didn't give enough facts on the history of the house. The presentation was short. It took me two hours to drive there to be very dissatisfied with the tour. Nothing in the house was authentic. Let me add, the older lady who you buy your ticket from was not friendly, helpful and sour face. It would help if she smiled. I suggest don't waste your time! Don't go there. Their are other plantation that are better. read more

Stayed here for 1 night while travelling around the plantation house area. Booked a 2 queen carriage house room. Room was very spacious, comfortable beds, lots of pillows. Bathroom was spacious and clean. The only downside was being so close to the railway and hearing the trains horns through the night and morning constantly. read more

Nottoway Plantation & Resort - Plantation house - Hotels Near Me - White Castle, Louisiana

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Memorable, historic, captivating - but some major issues You will never have an experience quite like this one. This must be one of the most unique hotel stays in all of North America, however, it seems like the property has been long forgotten by upper management and left to fend for itself. Service is slipping through the cracks, making my heart break for this astonishing property. There is massive potential for this hotel to live up to it's 5 star name, but some major staff, food/beverage and management changes will need to be implemented. The Good: - The House. - The Grounds - Ambience and Uniqueness This house comes with so much fascinating (and horrifying) history that it's truly a privilege to stay within its walls and learn more about its past. The entire grounds were very well kept. The house itself was so fun to explore, especially at night when no one was around! I couldn't believe we could just roam as we pleased, any hour of the day! The Bad: - Some of the staff. - Housekeeping - The food quality/value - Service Most of the staff were uninterested, unskilled, and had no passion for hospitality. While the restaurant is deemed to be high end, the servers literally looked like they worked in a truck stop diner. No knowledge of wines, pairings, or even the art of service. The housekeeping did the bare minimum during our stay, if they showed up at all. The majority of the staff seemed to be annoyed at the presence of guests, not trained properly at all and gave more of a 3 star impression than a 5. It honestly seems as if upper management has left the property and its employees to 'figure out' and deal with bare minimum direction and training. I don't mean this in a rude way at all, more of an observation, but it seemed like 90% of the staff was recruited from minimum wage diners and dollar stores. They just had no flare and no experience at all. Not something I expected to see at a 5 star property. The ROOM: We stayed in the Mary Randolph room, number 15. The room was the perfect mix between antique charm and modern upgrades. It was extremely spacious and luxurious. I had to admit I found it totally creepy at night and I did have problems sleeping, but that is my own paranoia and fear. I would ONLY suggest to stay in the main house. While the cottages look newer, they don't have the same experience and I am SO glad we stayed in the main house. One night we were the only guests in the main house and we could walk around to all the rooms late at night alone. It was scary and exciting all at the same time! This room does have a window that you can open which lets you onto the deck overlooking the fountain. I DO regret looking up if the house was haunted, as we found lots of articles saying that the room beside ours (number 14) was very haunted and people end up leaving all the time. (But if ghosts aren't your thing.. no worries right!) Note: There is a room under #15 that has an repeating audio tour about the property. You CAN hear this loud and clear when people play it and it can get annoying if you spend a lot of time in the room. HOUSEKEEPING: When they came (and only if we tracked them down) they did a super sub par job all around. Glasses and cups were not taken away or replaced, garbages rarely emptied, I honestly wondered what they did other than make the bed? The GROUNDS: There are paths to walk around the grounds, big trees with swings under them, turtles to feed, a pool to swim in, restaurants to eat in and lots to look at in the gift shop. You can easily spend a way wandering around and learning more about the property itself. There are so many places to explore IN the house (and no you do not need to pay for a tour if you don't want to) Lots of photo ops everywhere! The RESTAURANT: During the day there was a snack type cafe that was open with a wonderful woman who was wiling to make speciality sandwiches on the spot. Otherwise the main restaurant had a great first impression when we sat down, as the view out the back of the property was breathtaking! However, that is where our good impressions ended. We ate there 3 times during the stay, and 2 of those times food had to be sent back due to being over and under cooked. The wait staff were extremely novice, underdressed and a little rough around the edges for the calibre of the place. The food was overpriced when taking the wait staff, time to get served, and poor quality into account. MAJOR improvements to be made here to keep their star rating. I am SO glad we stayed here because it's fascinating, bone chilling and one of the most unique experiences I have ever had in my life. However, It's NOT a 5 star hotel. Not even close. They have a long way to go to live up to that name. The staff needs an overhaul, along with their processes and procedures. The owners of the property need to pay more attention to it before it completely falls through the cracks. Had the service been better, I would have given it a 4+ out of 5 read more

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