Movie road trip: A cinematic site per state for all 50 states

Destrehan Plantation, photo from Yelp

Louisiana: Interview with a Vampire

Some movies have a careful balance of fright and intrigue. Watching, you may understand that what you’re seeing is complete fantasy, but the scenery and plot draws you into that world. Ann Rice’s Interview with a Vampire was a book that captivated fans of the genre as well as literature fans. When the book was transformed into a movie, the mystique of Louisiana transformed the film.

Starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, Interview with a Vampire was set to be a blockbuster. The film was visually impressive beyond the good looking actors. Many of the state’s antebellum style mansions were featured in the film.

One of the most famous plantations in this movie is Oak Alley. Located in St. James Parish, this mansion obtained its name from the alley, or canopied path, of oak trees. Named a National Historic Landmark, the property is run by the Oak Alley Foundation and is open to the public.

While the mansion itself is impressive, the plantation holds another distinction. A slave, Antoine, was a gardener at the property. He had great knowledge of pecan trees and is said to be responsible for the discovery of paper shell pecans. Paper shell pecans are pecans that are easy to open with your bare hands.

Oak Alley is featured in exterior shots of Interview of a Vampire, but the interior scenes were shot at Destrehan Plantation. This plantation is known as the oldest documented plantation. Run today by the River Road Historical Society, the plantation is listed as a National Historic Landmark. Destrehan Plantation is open to the public and guided tours are available.