There are some truly eerie places in Louisiana, but perhaps none as ominous as the notorious Manchac swamp. Recently, they opened up some camping areas in the Maurepas Wildlife Management area that are only accessible by boat. Do you dare to set up camp there? You should hear these stories first…

Manchac Swamp can be found right off I-10 as you are traveling West from New Orleans to Baton Rouge.

Google.com / maps There are two Wildlife Management Areas in this space.

There are two main camping areas that have been designated in these management areas.

wlf.louisiana.gov The easiest way to access these camping areas is by boat. There is one off of the Reserve Canal and one off of Francois Bayou.

There are many stories that swirl around Manchac swamp, which is just north of Lake Maurepas.

Flickr.com / cemaxx It’s been a source of ghost stories for decades.

The Rougarou, or the Cajun Werewolf is said to make his home here.

Facebook.com / Dale Marie Latham / Only in Louisiana There are many legends of the Rougarou, including that he haunts the sleep of children who have been naughty as well as having a taste for turning others into werewolves like himself.

But it is the story of Julie White, a Voodoo priestess from the turn of the 20th-century, that dominates myths about the Manchac swamp.

Flickr.com / Scott Lipsey The story goes that Ms. White (some say it was Julie Brown), lived in the community of Frenier. She would often say “One day I’m gonna die, and I’m gonna take all of you with me.”

No one in the community paid her much attention…

flickr.com/photos/jkiel …until a great storm threatened the area. Julia died right before the storm hit, and her body was put into the ground just before the Hurricane made landfall. And when it did, the entire community was put underwater and wiped out! Since then, the swamp is said to be haunted with her souls.

Beyond Julia haunting the area, there is a ton of wildlife to reckon with here.

Facebook.com / Les Hunter / Only in Louisiana I’m certain that if you camped out in this place, you’d be visited by something in the night! Not to mention the bugs!!

Have you ever heard that Manchac Swamp is haunted? What stories have you heard? If you want to learn more about haunted places in Louisiana, check our article on the most haunted houses in Louisiana.

Google.com / maps

There are two Wildlife Management Areas in this space.

wlf.louisiana.gov

The easiest way to access these camping areas is by boat. There is one off of the Reserve Canal and one off of Francois Bayou.

Flickr.com / cemaxx

It’s been a source of ghost stories for decades.

Facebook.com / Dale Marie Latham / Only in Louisiana

There are many legends of the Rougarou, including that he haunts the sleep of children who have been naughty as well as having a taste for turning others into werewolves like himself.

Flickr.com / Scott Lipsey

The story goes that Ms. White (some say it was Julie Brown), lived in the community of Frenier. She would often say “One day I’m gonna die, and I’m gonna take all of you with me.”

flickr.com/photos/jkiel

…until a great storm threatened the area. Julia died right before the storm hit, and her body was put into the ground just before the Hurricane made landfall. And when it did, the entire community was put underwater and wiped out! Since then, the swamp is said to be haunted with her souls.

Facebook.com / Les Hunter / Only in Louisiana

I’m certain that if you camped out in this place, you’d be visited by something in the night! Not to mention the bugs!!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.