Legend of Haunted Marland's Bridge in Sunset, Louisiana

SUNSET, La. (KMDL-FM) - In South Louisiana, there are so many local legends of haunted bridges, swamp monsters, voodoo queens, and more that you can easily forget more than you can actually remember.

The haunted legend of Mary Jane's Bridge on Bayou Tortue Road near Broussard is pretty well known throughout Acadiana, but do you know about the haunted bridge in Sunset, Louisiana, Marland's Bridge?

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Marland’s Bridge in Sunset, Louisiana

If you drive through the back roads near Sunset, Louisiana, you might cross Marland’s Bridge without thinking twice. It looks like just another small rural bridge in St. Landry Parish. But once you hear the stories tied to this place, it’s hard not to slow down and take a second look.

Marland’s Bridge is located near Bayou Bourbeau, and while it may seem peaceful today, the land around it once saw real Civil War fighting, and later became the source of some eerie local Acadiana legends.

Civil War History

Back in November of 1863, this area was part of the Battle of Bayou Bourbeau, also called the Battle of Grand Coteau. Union and Confederate forces clashed just outside of what is now Sunset. The fighting didn’t last long, but it was intense, and Confederate troops eventually forced Union soldiers to retreat according to hauntednation.com.

Lieutenant William Marland, a Union artillery officer. According to historical accounts, Marland made a bold move during the battle, pushing artillery forward under dangerous conditions.

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Paranormal Legend Of Marland's Bridge

As mentioned earlier, when it comes to haunted bridges in Acadiana, Mary Jane's Bridge is always the one that people talk about. But, Marland's Bridge in Sunset apparently has it's own spooky tales.

The most well-known involves a woman in white, said to appear near the roadway or along the bayou. Others claim their car radios suddenly turn on or off, unexplained sounds, or that they’ve seen unexplained lights and shadows near the bridge.

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For years, residents living near the bridge have reported eerie encounters, including apparitions of soldiers wandering through the surrounding fields.

These sightings are often accompanied by the distant sounds of cannon fire, gunshots, and cries of battle, as though echoes of the past still linger in the air.