This glamorous Mississippi mansion has had many past lives. Did ‘Marlboro Man’ live there?

With a long line of owners, a stint as a restaurant, and rumors of ghostly encounters, Pass Christian’s Blue Rose Mansion stands as one of the most historical structures on the Mississippi Coast.

Marlborough Farrell purchased the lot that the Blue Rose currently stands on in May 1848. The home was constructed soon after and was later sold to Hugh Fitzpatrick in 1891. Fitzpatrick’s wife, Jane Margaret Manders, was the descendant of a woman known as Mrs. Manders who is thought to have successfully halted the Union bombardment of Pass Christian in 1862 by waving a white bed-sheet from the window of her neighboring residence.

The 1 1/2-story Blue Rose Mansion, originally labeled as a cottage, offers a picturesque view of the Gulf of Mexico from Pass Christian. From here, the Fitzpatricks would become some of the most active and influential figures in the Mississippi Coast city.

The Blue Rose Mansion boasts a unique West Indies architectural style. The distinctive features of this style include prominent columns, railings, and charming shutters that compliment the outdoor covered living areas - making the perfect beach-front home.

The Blue Rose Mansion’s gallery wraps around three sides of the residence and is supported by a series of sturdy square columns. Over the course of its long history, the mansion has undergone countless changes, though still possesses the charm and uniqueness of an antebellum beach-front home.

According to local lore, Paul Mattox, who starred as the “Marlboro Man,” also owned the Blue Rose sometime after the Fitzpatricks.

Hurricane Katrina damaged mansion

In 1990, Philip LaGrange and Herbert Pursley purchased the mansion and transformed it into a beloved fine dining establishment that attracted locals, tourists and celebrities alike. Tragically, Hurricane Katrina caused extensive damage to the historic residence and forced the closure of the restaurant.

While the upper level of the mansion remained mostly intact, the lower level was flooded, the porch collapsed, and a large tree crushed one side of the residence. The Blue Rose was even slated for demolition because of the damage, but LaGrange and Pursely fought to prevent the destruction of Pass Christian’s oldest home.

Having proved the foundation and structure were still intact, the owners were allowed to begin repairs and restoration efforts, hoping to not only fix the Blue Rose, but make it better than it ever was.

They acquired a large collection of American and European antiques from friends and business partners. Each room in the house was intricately decorated with these antiques, as well as new wallpaper, more lavish furnishings, and even new Swarovski and Waterford crystal chandeliers to replace the ones lost in Katrina.

Wedding venue, brunch spot, antique shop

While the restaurant never returned, the Blue Rose became a popular venue for wedding receptions and ceremonies. Including a honeymoon suite and a grand ballroom overlooking a gazebo in the backyard, the mansion has hosted hundreds of weddings for visitors from as far away as Alaska and Russia.

The Blue Rose Mansion also became the center for an online antique store, offering an impressive selection of distinctive decorative art, antiques, and collectibles.

More recently, the Blue Rose Mansion began hosting visitors and tourists as a bed and breakfast, providing them a unique overnight experience in a historic Pass Christian home close to downtown and overlooking the Gulf Coast. The Blue Rose has attracted visitors from all across the world, many of whom describe the experience as more like staying in an elegant palace rather than an antebellum home.

Throughout its long history, countless visitors, residents, and employees have also reported encountering unexplained paranormal phenomena within the mansion. Many have described witnessing the ghostly appearance of a woman in the reflections of mirrors or haunting the hallways.

The Blue Rose Mansion is located at 120 W Scenic Dr., adjacent to the Pass Christian Harbor. It is also registered with the National Historic Trust which described it as “the most significant antebellum house on the western portion of Pass Christian’s beachfront.”

While it still offers a Sunday brunch, the 175 year old Blue Rose Mansion is currently listed for sale at a price tag of $2,675,000. Considering the myriad of roles it has served in recent years and its storied history, the Blue Rose Mansion is one of Pass Christian’s most beloved homes.

This story was originally published September 11, 2023 at 1:44 PM.