About the jailhouse
Inn at the Old Jail is an award-collecting modern guesthouse carved out of the city’s most elegant Queen Anne Victorian. Our registered historic landmark property was originally home to an NOPD police jail & patrol station, then a library & community center, then abandoned ruins of Hurricane Katrina. Completed in 1902 as an overnight lockup for neighborhood delinquents, the jailhouse has been impeccably restored into an extremely unique boutique, with nine rooms and beautifully appointed common spaces.
Rescued from Ruin
Raul and Liz Canache rescued the jailhouse from almost certain demolition in 2013, eight years after Katrina’s fury had left it derelict and unwanted. While visiting New Orleans from Venezuela, they were introduced to the property, which at the time had actual trees growing out of its floors and plants sprouting from its walls.
Revived out of Rubble
A conscientious craftsman and a natural visionary, Raul Canache reconstructed every architectural and functional feature in the building, not least through impressive reclamation and reuse of materials collected from hurricane aftermath. His thoughtful commitment to the years-long project is evident in every ornamental fixture, around every corner, and from every angle throughout the property.
A Trophy Case of Accolades
With a love of its storied past and a recognition of its future potential, the Canaches embarked on a 3.5 year mission to restore the building from top to bottom. The result of their loving efforts is an architectural masterpiece, awarded by the Louisiana Landmarks Society for Excellence in Historic Preservation and acknowledged by the U.S. Dept. of the Interior in the National Register of Historic Places.
Look No Further
For visitors with a curiosity for history, a taste for unique properties, a soft spot for vintage luxury, or an interest in a real NOLA Neighborhood experience, Inn at the Old Jail is your new favorite address.