South Wing of Louisiana’s Nottoway Plantation Severely Damaged by Fire

The South’s grandest mansion just met a fiery twist — and not the romantic kind. Flames tore through the iconic Nottoway Plantation on Wednesday, scorching a massive chunk of the lavish estate that once screamed Old South opulence.

Built in 1859 and famed as the largest antebellum mansion still standing in the U.S., the White Castle, Louisiana gem went up in smoke — or at least part of it did — when a fire broke out on the south side of the building.

Local firefighters rushed to the scene just after 3 PM, battling to save what they could of the 64-room, 53,000-square-foot stunner. Talk about a house with too many rooms to save.

A video posted to social media shows plumes of smoke billowing over the Mississippi River. One TikTok user summed it up best: “Nottoway’s on fire, y’all. This ain’t just history — this is drama!”

The plantation was undergoing renovations at the time. According to The Advocate, that could’ve been the spark — literally — but officials haven’t confirmed the exact cause yet.

No injuries were reported (phew!), and thanks to some seriously swift action, large sections of the main structure were saved. But damage to the south wing is “significant,” per the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal.

The luxurious property — now a resort and wedding venue — has been a go-to spot for everything from romantic getaways to Netflix binging (yes, it’s made a few screen cameos).

Now? It’s a cautionary tale in fire safety and historic preservation. Nottoway, once the picture of southern grandeur, will be seeing scaffolding before it hosts another Southern Belle soirée.

A rep for the estate told WBRZ that restoration is already in the works. “We’re devastated, but we’re committed to bringing Nottoway back stronger than ever.”

With any luck, they’ll have the white ballroom gleaming again before someone books it for a Bridgerton-themed bash.

Stay tuned — because when history burns, the story’s just heating up.