Just Down the Road: The Colorful Story of San Francisco Plantation

Buddy B’s might be known for biscuits and brownies, but just a mile down the road in Garyville, Louisiana, sits a dish of a different kind—a dazzling slice of Creole history known as the San Francisco Plantation.

Built in 1856 along the banks of the Mississippi River, the San Francisco Plantation isn’t your typical Southern mansion. Forget stark white columns and understated charm—this place is loud, proud, and vibrantly painted, with gingerbread trim, ornate woodwork, and a color palette that looks more Mardi Gras than mint juleps. It’s often called the “most opulent plantation house in the South,” and once you lay eyes on its flamboyant facade, you’ll understand why.

But beneath the decorative details lies a layered, complex past. Originally commissioned by Edmond Marmillon, a wealthy sugar planter of Creole descent, the house was designed in the Steamboat Gothic style—a rare architectural mash-up of Caribbean flair and Victorian excess. Inside, you'll find hand-painted ceilings, faux marble finishes, and original furnishings that showcase the wealth—and contradictions—of antebellum Louisiana.

Culturally, the San Francisco Plantation is one of the most significant historic homes in the state. It reflects not just the grandeur of sugarcane wealth but also the deeply rooted stories of the enslaved individuals whose labor built and sustained the property. Today, it serves as both a tourist destination and an educational site, helping visitors explore Louisiana’s Creole heritage, plantation economy, and architectural eccentricities with eyes wide open.

So, why does Buddy B’s care about the San Francisco Plantation?

Because Garyville isn’t just a place—it’s a living, breathing blend of the past and the present, where lunch specials and local landmarks sit side by side. Many of our visitors stop by Buddy B’s for a hot plate of shrimp stew after a morning of exploring the San Francisco Plantation. It’s a pairing we highly recommend: a taste of history followed by a taste of home.

Fun Fact: The plantation’s name wasn’t originally San Francisco. After a series of hardships, including debt and misfortune, the owners called the estate “Sans Fruscins,” meaning “without a penny.” Over time, it morphed—much like Garyville itself—into something far more colorful and unexpected.

So come for the culture, stay for the crawfish pasta, and take a scenic step into Louisiana’s vivid past—only at Buddy B’s and just down the road at the unforgettable San Francisco Plantation.