King's Tavern
Natchez Ms.
built before 1789
King’s Tavern is in the oldest building in Natchez, built in 1769. Originally it was built as a block house for Fort Panmure during the British occupation of Natchez .Since there were no saw mills around, beams from an unseaworthy sailing ship were muled up from New Orleans and used for its construction. Other materials used were, sun dried bricks and barge boards from flat boats that came down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers loaded with trade goods. It served as a resting point on the Natchez Trace for the boatmen on there return trip home. It also was the first mail stop in the Natchez District. Mail was brought down the Trace by Indian Runner and Pony Express. Then more modern transportation took over and bypassed the Tavern, suddenly with the invention of the Steamboat it was safer, faster and, cheaper to return by way of the river. It became a private home for a while, but then once again became a tavern.
The tavern appears to be haunted by a ghost identified as Madeline. She was supposedly the mistress of one of the original Tavern Keepers, Richard King, and was murdered by his wife out of jealousy. The bodies of a 16 year old girl with a dagger in her chest and two slaves were unearthed in the 1930's during a renovation of the fireplace by the Postalwaith family. They moved in the house in 1823 and stayed for 150 years .Madeline will cause hard to open doors to swing open by themselves, and if staff say, “alright Madeline’” they then shut by themselves. Water unsuspected falls from the ceiling where there are no pipes, chains swing and hot spots appear on the bed upstairs. A reporter was videotaping the downstairs of the tavern a few years ago. He had a friend with him who was supposed to be upstairs at the same time, taping up there. The reporter kept hearing his friend and the waitress with him overhead – muffled talking and the floor creaking. The reporter looked out the window, and his friend and the waitress were walking around outside! He checked upstairs and no one was there.
The tavern is open for dinner nightly serving Steaks and Seafood.
King’s Tavern, 619 Jefferson, Natchez , Mississippi
601-446-8845
