Next up in our Historic Southern Homes series is the Houmas House Plantation in Darrow, Louisiana, also dubbed “The Sugar Palace.”

Just an hour outside of New Orleans, this Greek Revival house sits on 38 acres and has 16 rooms full of period antiques. The name of the house comes from the Houmas Indian Tribe, who were the original owners of the property. Since the house was constructed in 1840, the plantation has a long storied history, and has even been known to reveal a ghost or two. Today you can tour the house and gardens, dine in the restaurant on site, rent the venue for weddings, and even stay at the inn located on the property.

One of the reasons I was so drawn to this house was that it was restored by someone who loved it. Kevin Kelly purchased the plantation at an auction in 2003 and poured so much into it. Perhaps the site can say it better: “When Kelly began his transformation of the property in the summer that year, no part of the once-grand mansion was left untouched. Fair damsel from an antebellum heyday, Houmas House was stripped of her shabby gown, scrubbed, scraped, manicured, trussed and bustled for a new couture and her next generation of admirers. It was an extreme makeover.”  And who doesn’t love a good makeover?!

All photos via Houmas House Plantation.