Steel Magnolias House Going Up for Auction

The bed and breakfast with rooms named after Shelby, Jackson, M’Lynn, Clairee and Truvy could be yours later this month.

A piece of Hollywood history will be sold on the auction block later this month when the Cook-Taylor House in Natchitoches, Louisiana, is sold to the highest bidder on October 26. Made famous in the film “Steel Magnolias” and used during the 1989 filming, the house was built in 1840 by Italian architects Trizini and Soldini and was purchased as a business by Louis Dupleix in what early Natchitoches historian J.H. Cosgrove referred to as a great business spot. During the Civil War, the home was used for a hospital and it is rumored to have played a part in the Underground Railroad.

More recently, the historic home was used for on-site filming of much of “Steel Magnolias.” Many of the scenes from the movie, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2014, were filmed in the home and gardens, making this house the most photographed residence in Natchitoches.

In 2003, Karen and Paul Rinehart purchased the home and transformed it into the Steel Magnolia House Bed and Breakfast. Five guest rooms – the Shelby, Jackson, M’Lynn, Clairee Suite and Truvy’s Carriage House – included such sights as the original tub Shelby was soaking in at the beginning of the movie and window Jackson crawled through to find her there. Christina Landry, the current owner, planned to convert the house back into a residence, but continued to run it as a bed and breakfast until recently. The home was also up for sale last year.

“It’s been a truly wonderful experience being part of this home’s amazing history and wonderful community,” she says. “If it weren’t for the fact that we want to be closer to out-of-state grandchildren, we certainly would have lived in Natchitoches and this architectural masterpiece for years to come.”

Resting across the banks of the Historic Cane River, the home features roughly 5,900 square feet of living space, six bedrooms and six baths, as well as an 800-square-foot guesthouse. Other notable features include circular brick columns along the facade, original wood floors and a grand staircase.

“This auction is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Barbara Bonnette, auctioneer and agent with United Country – Bonnette Auctions. “The Cook-Taylor House is one of the most valuable and desirable properties in Natchitoches parish. Properties such as these don’t become available every day.”

The October 26 auction will be held at 10 a.m. on-site at 320 Jefferson St. in Natchitoches. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The auction will also feature antiques, high-end furnishings, movie memorabilia and other items.

To see photos from the home’s sale listing and a side-by-side comparison with scenes from the movie, check out Hooked on Houses’ post about the home. More details and photos can be found at Bonnette Auctions.