Latest news with #DanDyess
Hindustan Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Who is Dan Dyess, the owner of Nottoway Plantation in Louisiana?
The Nottoway plantation house, an essential element of Louisiana's history, went up in flames at 2AM on Thursday (May 15) when staff at the building reported seeing smoke coming up from the south wing. Dan Dyess, the current owner of the building, has expressed his devastation at the event and is uncertain about the possibility of restoration. The State Fire Marshal's Office began its investigation to deduce the cause of the fire on Friday and is still unclear on when a conclusive report could be produced. The official website of this now popular resort and wedding location describes it as 'one of the South's largest historic mansions, located on the famous River Road between Baton Rouge and New Orleans." Chris Daigle, President of the Iberville Parish, expressed his condolences at the loss of one of the city's 'most iconic landmarks' on social media. Daigle described the charred mansion as the 'cornerstone of our tourism economy' and remarked how its absence would be felt deeply. Though famed for its stunning white columns, grand balconies and spectacular three-story Rotunda, the Nottoway plantation house has a troubled history. Originally designed as a 64-room foot property sprawling across 53,000 acres by Henry Howard at the behest of a wealthy sugar planter, John Hampden Randolph, the mansion remained a painful reminder of the worst of enslavement. The mansion was built entirely using bondage labor and served as a profitable sugar plantation employing about 150 slaves in the 1860s. Half a century later, the building was sold off to the Owens family who started using the mansion partially as a luxury resort space. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Following a series of handovers and buy-outs, the property finally found its way in the hands of Dan Dyess, a Natchitoches area lawyer, in late 2024 when he purchased it from hotelier Joe Jaeger Jr. Along with owning the Nottoway plantation house, Dyess is also the owner of the historic Steel Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast in Natchitoches. 'We're very devastated, we're upset, we're sad,' said Dyess on Friday. 'We put a lot of time, effort and money to developing this property. This was my dream that has now been dashed.' Though efforts are underway to uncover the cause of the fire, Ken Pastorick, the Public Affairs Director for the State Fire Marshal has stated that the process will take time. 'This is a large-scale fire that destroyed a huge piece of history, and it's gonna take time for our investigators to look at this and figure out how it happened and why it happened,' he said. Depending upon the extent of damage revealed by the fire department's report, Dyess is expected to take a decision on whether he will be restoring the property. While Iberville residents have expressed their despair over losing a piece of historic and personal relevance, many have also showed indifference towards the event due to its tangled past.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Fire destroys Nottoway Plantation House in Louisiana
Flames ripped through a massive mansion in Louisiana, destroying much of the historic structure that was used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859, authorities said. The fire that engulfed the Nottoway Plantation House on Thursday devastated the building along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle said on social media. Nearly a dozen fire departments from surrounding towns battled the blaze, he said. No injuries were reported. Fire crews mover a line around the now fully engulfed the Nottoway Plantation on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in White Castle, La. Michael Johnson / AP Its website describes it as "the South's largest remaining antebellum mansion." Daigle called it "a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance." Nottoway Plantation was built in the 1850s by John Hampden Randolph and sits on a 31-acre property in White Castle, on the edge of the Mississippi River. The 53,000-square-foot home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles northwest of New Orleans had a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. Up until the fire, the mansion was used as a museum and wedding and event venue. The mansion's owner, Louisiana attorney Dan Dyess, said in a written statement that the fire had led to a "total loss" after all the time and money he invested in the building. "We are devastated and heartbroken for this loss," he said. "This was my dream that has now been dashed." The north wing of the Nottoway Plantation starts to collapse as crews battle the fire on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in White Castle, La. Michael Johnson / AP Photos from local news outlets showed a giant orange wall of fire consuming the upper portion of the rotunda and sending a plume of thick smoke into the sky. The fire has been contained, and no other properties were harmed, said Maj. Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office. Other structures on the grounds have been preserved, parish officials said. "We are at the beginning phases of the investigation, we don't know how the fire began and our objective is to determine how it started," Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal Public Affairs Director Ken Pastorick said. In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved Black people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. In 1860, 155 enslaved people were held at the property, according to National Park Service records. Firefighters from Baton Rouge operate Aerial 3 as flames engulf the Nottoway Plantation on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in White Castle, La. Michael Johnson / AP "While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue," Daigle said. "Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era," he added. "It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it."
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Mystery as Gone With The Wind-style plantation that's one of south's oldest antebellum homes is destroyed by huge blaze
One of the Antebellum-era plantations in the country was destroyed after a massive fire ripped through the historic mansion and completely engulfed it in flames. The massive inferno erupted at Louisiana 's historic Nottoway Plantation House shortly after 2pm Thursday. A giant orange wall of fire consumed the 166-year-old home, which was located along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The blaze, which started in the south wing of the building, devoured the upper portion of the rotunda and sent a plume of thick smoke into the sky. Officials claim the inferno quickly spread to the main house and left behind a trail of destruction. Footage from the property shows charred and collapsed remnants of the once beautiful house. The plantation's northern wing and back wall were completely destroyed, with only the chimneys remaining on each side. The façade and upper balcony had also collapsed. Although authorities note it is too soon to determine the full extent of the damage, the mansion's owner, Louisiana attorney Dan Dyess, said in a written statement that the fire had led to a 'total loss' after all the time and money he invested in the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Iberville Parish government officials said. No injuries were reported. Nearly a dozen fire departments from surrounding towns were called to Nottoway Plantation in White Castle on Thursday after a blaze broke out at the home. Flames ripped through a massive mansion, destroying much of the historic structure that was used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859. Mansion staff discovered smoke around 2pm after walking into a room in the museum on the second floor of the home, WAFB reports. Firefighters initially extinguished the blaze, but it reignited Thursday evening, causing flames to shoot from the roof as it collapsed in. Officials suspect the fire broke out in a second-floor bedroom. The fire has been contained, and no other properties were harmed, said Maj. Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Parish Sheriff´s Office. Other structures on the grounds have been preserved, parish officials said. Before the fire, Nottoway Plantation was a resort and event venue, and its website described it as 'the South's largest remaining antebellum mansion'. Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle called it 'a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance.' Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal Public Affairs Director Ken Pastorick said authorities are still in the 'beginning phases of the investigation'. 'We don't know how the fire began and our objective is to determine how it started,' he added. When the fire first broke out, authorities said the planation's owners were dedicated to rebuilding and repairing the home in line with historic preservation. But now the owners are reportedly unsure if they will move forward with that plan, officials told WAFB. The 53,000-square-foot home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles northwest of New Orleans had a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. 'We are devastated and heartbroken for this loss,' owner Dan Dyess said. 'This was my dream that has now been dashed.' In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved Black people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. In 1860, 155 enslaved people were held at the property, according to National Park Service records. 'While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,' Daigle said. 'Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era,' he added. 'It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history - even the painful parts - so that future generations can learn and grow from it.'
Boston Globe
16-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Fire destroys a sprawling mansion on a former Louisiana sugar plantation
The 53,000-square-foot (4,924-square-meter) home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans included a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and included hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The mansion's owner, Louisiana attorney Dan Dyess, said in a written statement that the fire had led to a 'total loss' after all the time and money he invested in the building. Advertisement 'We are devastated and heartbroken for this loss,' he said. 'This was my dream that has now been dashed.' Photos from local news outlets showed a giant orange wall of fire consuming the upper portion of the rotunda and sending a plume of thick smoke into the sky. The fire has been contained, and no other properties were harmed, said Major Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office. Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire, he added. Advertisement In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved Black people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. In 1860, 155 enslaved people were held at the property, according to National Park Service records. 'While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,' Daigle said. 'Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era,' he added. 'It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it.'
The Independent
16-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Fire destroys a sprawling mansion on a former Louisiana sugar plantation
Flames ripped through a massive mansion in Louisiana, destroying much of the historic structure that was used as a plantation house when it was completed in 1859, authorities said. The fire that engulfed the Nottoway Plantation House on Thursday devastated the building along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Iberville Parish President Chris Daigle said on social media. Nearly a dozen fire departments from surrounding towns battled the blaze, he said. No injuries were reported. Before the fire, it was a resort and event venue, and its website described it as 'the South's largest remaining antebellum mansion." Daigle called it 'a cornerstone of our tourism economy and a site of national significance.' The 53,000-square-foot (4,924-square-meter) home on a former sugar plantation about 65 miles (105 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans included a three-story rotunda adorned with giant white columns and included hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces, according to a description on its website. The mansion's owner, Louisiana attorney Dan Dyess, said in a written statement that the fire had led to a 'total loss" after all the time and money he invested in the building. 'We are devastated and heartbroken for this loss,' he said. 'This was my dream that has now been dashed.' Photos from local news outlets showed a giant orange wall of fire consuming the upper portion of the rotunda and sending a plume of thick smoke into the sky. The fire has been contained, and no other properties were harmed, said Maj. Monty Migliacio of the Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office. Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire, he added. In a statement on Facebook, Daigle touched on the structure's history of racial injustice during a time when enslaved Black people helped build the home and operate the sugar plantation that surrounded it. In 1860, 155 enslaved people were held at the property, according to National Park Service records. 'While its early history is undeniably tied to a time of great injustice, over the last several decades it evolved into a place of reflection, education, and dialogue,' Daigle said. 'Since the 1980s, it has welcomed visitors from around the world who came to appreciate its architecture and confront the legacies of its era," he added. "It stood as both a cautionary monument and a testament to the importance of preserving history — even the painful parts — so that future generations can learn and grow from it.'
