A tragic chapter unfolded in Louisiana history on Thursday afternoon, as the state’s most iconic and expansive antebellum mansion — the revered Nottoway Plantation House — was completely destroyed in a massive, fast-moving fire. The historic structure, which had stood for over a century and a half as a towering example of antebellum architecture, has now been reduced to ashes, officials confirmed Friday.
Located in White Castle, Iberville Parish, Nottoway Resort was renowned not only as Louisiana’s largest antebellum home but also as one of the most significant preserved landmarks of the Old South. Built in 1859, the 53,000-square-foot mansion boasted 64 rooms and served as a resort, museum, and cultural destination for tens of thousands of visitors annually.
According to Captain Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Sheriff’s Department, the first emergency calls reporting the fire came in at approximately 2:10 p.m. on Thursday. Law enforcement officers were the first to arrive on the scene, followed closely by numerous firefighting units. Despite their best efforts, flames engulfed the vast structure, consuming the historic home over the course of several relentless hours.
“The fire has been contained now, but there’s no more Nottoway. The house is completely destroyed,” Capt. Migliacio reported in a somber statement to ABC News.
“It was the biggest fire I’ve seen in my entire 20-year career,” he added, underscoring the intensity and scale of the tragedy.
An extraordinary firefighting effort involving ten fire departments from neighboring towns and parishes was coordinated in a desperate attempt to limit the destruction. While their efforts successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings, they were ultimately unable to save the mansion itself.
Authorities have confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident. At this time, it remains unclear whether any staff or guests were present inside the mansion when the blaze began. The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office has launched a formal investigation to determine the exact origin and cause of the fire.
Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle expressed the collective grief of the community in a heartfelt public statement posted on Facebook.
“Nottoway was not only the largest remaining antebellum mansion in the South but also a symbol of both the grandeur and the deep complexities of our region’s past,” Daigle wrote.
“The loss of Nottoway is not just a loss for Iberville Parish but for the entire state of Louisiana.”
For decades, Nottoway stood as a testament to both architectural brilliance and the complex legacy of the American South. Since opening its doors to the public in the 1980s, it served as a tangible link to the past — offering guided tours, hosting weddings, and operating as a luxury resort that drew visitors from around the globe.
The complete destruction of this historic landmark marks an irreplaceable loss to both Louisiana’s cultural heritage and the broader national tapestry of American history. Preservationists, historians, and citizens alike are left mourning a structure that, for 166 years, stood as a symbol of a bygone era.
As investigations continue and the community begins to process the magnitude of this loss, there is a shared hope that the legacy of Nottoway — and the stories it held — will endure through historical documentation, photographs, and memory.