The Steel Magnolias House is a Bed and Breakfast—And You Can Stay There

Clairee, Ouiser, M’Lynn, Annelle, Shelby. If these are names of women who are as dear to your heart as any real-life girlfriends, then pack your bags for a trip to the real-life Chinquapin Parish—known to locals as Natchitoches, Louisiana. Where the Eatenton home from Steel Magnolias is now an actual bed and breakfast, with bookings available.

Based on a heartbreaking true story masterfully woven into first a Broadway show and then a beloved film (both by native son Robert Harling), Steel Magnolias is a story with staying power—and now you can stay in the house at the center of all the on-screen action when you book a room at the Steel Magnolia House in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

It’s been nearly 30 years since one of the best female ensemble casts in history—Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, and Shirley MacLaine—showcased the true nature of multi-generational female friendships on the silver screen for posterity, and time has not lessened their characters, nor their Southern charm.

Since 2003, it’s changed hands several times but the interior and exterior of the Jefferson Street home hasn’t changed a bit, according to Southern Living: There are six suites named after the characters from the film, and plenty of Steel Magnolias memorabilia—from costume sketches to behind-the-scenes photos—throughout the building.

Room rates range from $204 to $247 per night, according to recent comments on the bed and breakfast’s Facebook page, and can be booked by calling (318) 581-3138 and asking for Daphne. If you just happen to be passing through Natchitoches, there is also a Steel Magnolias tour you can take and other sights to see. According to local press, even after 25 to 30 years, the film still has a big impact on the area’s tourism economy.