Royal Carriages

What Royal Carriages does

Royal Carriages is a third-generation, family- and veteran-owned mule-drawn carriage tour operator founded in 1941 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is claimed to be the oldest continuously-operating sightseeing carriage company in the United States. The company offers guided group and private tours of the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and (under an exclusive Archdiocese license) St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, plus a 2-hour Mules in New Orleans Barn Tour at its historic 1850s stable on North Rampart Street. Its core operating technology is a herd of 68 hybrid mules (donkey–horse crossbreeds, selected for heat tolerance, strength, and intelligence) pulling a fleet of 13 carriages; supporting infrastructure includes a custom diaper bag system (catching >90% of waste) and a battery-powered street sweep cart for French Quarter cleanliness compliance.

The business sells primarily through direct-to-consumer channels: walk-up reservations at its 700 Decatur St. boarding location in front of Jackson Square, online booking via FareHarbor embedded in its website, and phone reservations. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from $15 (Bare Bones Cemetery walking tour) to $300 (1-hour private carriage) and quote-based packages for weddings, proposals, and corporate/MICE events (transporting up to 75 guests at once). A separate Northshore operation (NorthshoreCarriages.com) runs tours from Covington, Louisiana, in partnership with the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission. The company claims 150,000+ annual visitors, #1 ratings on TripAdvisor and Yelp, and the 2018 Louisiana Attraction of the Year award; it maintains ~45–46 employees plus its mule herd, and is led by third-generation General Manager James Lauga Jr.

Name

Royal Carriages

Legal name

Royal Carriages

Website

https://neworleanscarriages.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Royal Carriages is a third-generation, family-owned mule-drawn carriage tour operator in New Orleans offering guided French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and St. Louis Cemetery tours to tourists, weddings, and corporate groups since 1941.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sightseeing and Guided Tour Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (4879), Limousine Service (48532)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Pre-Booked Private Hire / Chauffeur (PHV/Limo) (THAIAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tour & Sightseeing Coach Charters (THAIAIAB), Wedding & Social Event Charters (THAIAIAF), Event & Wedding Chauffeur / Limo Services (THADAEAI)

Keywords

• Mule-drawn carriage tours
• French Quarter sightseeing
• Guided historic walking tours
• Wedding carriage transportation
• Special event group transport

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Carriage Tours: Revenue from selling tickets for mule-drawn guided tours of the French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and St. Louis Cemetery. Tours are sold per person (group) or per carriage (private). Pricing ranges from $15/person (bare bones walking tour) to $300/carriage (1-hour private). This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Special Event Transportation: Carriage transportation services for weddings, proposals, corporate events, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, filming, and photoshoots. Revenue is generated per event/service, with dedicated packages for weddings (Package A: 1-hour; Package B: 1.5 hours) and group transportation for up to 75 guests at once. Wedding packages are quote-based.
3. Walking Tours (COVID-19 Pivot): During COVID-19 when carriage operations were restricted, Royal Carriages pivoted to offering walking tours ($29.99/guest, groups up to 14, 1.5 hours) including the Mules in the Marigny Creole Neighborhood Tour, History and Haunts Tour, and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Tour.
4. Northshore/Covington Carriage Tours: Revenue from carriage tours operated in Historic Downtown Covington, Louisiana on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Adult tickets range $20-$40, child tickets $10, children 3 and under free. Tours depart from Once In Awhile - Green Eyed Goddess Gifts store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Royal Carriages sells guided mule-drawn carriage tours of the New Orleans French Quarter (and historically adjacent Faubourg Marigny and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1), along with private carriage rides, walking tours, and transportation for weddings, proposals, and special events. Tickets are sold per person for group tours and per carriage for private rides, with quote-based pricing for weddings and corporate events. The business also operates a Covington/Northshore location, a stable and barn-tour experience, and ancillary services like odor-neutralizer support to neighboring French Quarter businesses.

Product overview

Royal Carriages operates as a single unified tour company offering mule-drawn carriage experiences in New Orleans' French Quarter. The core product portfolio includes group carriage tours (History & Haunts, French Quarter and More), private carriage tours, walking/stable tours (Mules in New Orleans Barn Tour), and event services (weddings, proposals, special events). The company holds the distinction of being the oldest commercial carriage operator in the United States (est. 1941) and was awarded 2018 Louisiana Attraction of the Year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Orleans History & Haunts Carriage Tour One-hour narrated haunted carriage tour of the French Quarter, exploring reported hauntings, voodoo history, pirate legends, and paranormal sites. Designed for tourists interested in ghost stories, true crime, and the city's dark history. Has been rated #1 carriage tour on TripAdvisor and Yelp.
• Private Carriage Tour Exclusive private mule-drawn carriage ride for up to 4 passengers, available in 30-minute ($150) and 1-hour ($300) durations. Customizable route options include French Quarter, Faubourg Marigny, and History & Haunts themes. Designed for couples, families, and small parties seeking a personalized, intimate experience.
• French Quarter and More Carriage Tour One-hour fully narrated group carriage tour covering the centuries-old French Quarter and the adjacent Faubourg Marigny. Tour covers local history, culture, architecture, and stories of famous New Orleanians, with stops at iconic landmarks. Priced at $60 per person for shared group carriages.
• Mules in New Orleans Barn Tour Two-hour walking tour (not a carriage ride) exploring the company's oldest operating stable in the Marigny Triangle neighborhood. Guests meet the mules up close, learn about their care and history, and tour the surrounding 200+-year-old neighborhood. Includes a complimentary decorated mule shoe gift. Priced at $35 per adult (13+), $25 per child (5–12), with children 4 and under free (1 per paid adult).
• Wedding Carriage Transportation Premium wedding transportation service featuring luxury white vis-à-vis wedding carriages drawn by a single mule and driven by tuxedo-clad drivers. Packages include Package A (1-hour one-way service with optional historic tour and photo opportunities), Package B (1.5-hour service with one-way transport plus return trip), and group options using 8-passenger carriages. Pricing is quote-based via the company's sales contact. Designed for brides, grooms, and wedding parties seeking a memorable New Orleans-style wedding experience.
• Wedding Proposal Carriage Service Private romantic carriage ride experience for surprise engagement proposals in the French Quarter. Provides custom tours through picturesque locations with the carriage team coordinating the surprise without formal proposal-planning services. Designed for couples seeking a memorable, iconic New Orleans proposal setting.
• Special Event Transportation Mule-drawn carriage group transportation for corporate events, conventions, birthday parties, bachelor/bachelorette parties, parades, filming, and photoshoots. Uses a 13-carriage fleet capable of transporting up to 75 guests at once. Sold via the dedicated sales manager and corporate brochure; quote-based pricing.
• Covington/Northshore Carriage Tours Royal Carriages' Northshore market offering: mule-drawn carriage tours of Historic Downtown Covington, Louisiana, located on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. Tours are priced from $20–$40 for adults and $10 for children (children 3 and under free), with half-hour and full-hour options. Operations run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from the Once In Awhile - Green Eyed Goddess Gifts store, with private tours, weddings, and events available.
• Walking Tours (COVID-19 Pivot) Set of small-group walking tours introduced as a COVID-19 pivot when carriage tour operations were restricted. Includes the Mules in the Marigny Creole Neighborhood Tour, History and Haunts Tour, and the St. Louis Cemetery No. 1/French Quarter Tour. Tours priced at $29.99 per guest, last 1.5 hours, and are capped at 14 guests with social distancing and mask protocols.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000+ visitors per year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Marsolan Feed and Seed Store (Covington, LA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 November 2020Marsolan Feed and Seed Store in Covington served as the original kickoff location for Royal Carriages' Northshore operations. Owner Harvey Marsolan graciously allowed Royal Carriages to operate from his store for the launch. A devastating fire destroyed the historic feed store, ending the partnership and prompting relocation.
• St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2020Royal Carriages partnered with the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission to expand operations to Historic Downtown Covington, Louisiana on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain. This partnership brought the company's 80-year-old New Orleans carriage tradition to a new market, with tours departing from the Marsolan Feed and Seed Store and later from Once In Awhile - Green Eyed Goddess Gifts after a fire displaced the original location.
• Once In Awhile - Green Eyed Goddess Gifts (Covington, LA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFollowing the fire destruction of Marsolan Feed and Seed Store, owner Pam Miley and the Miley Family allowed Royal Carriages to operate from their store at 226 East Lockwood Street in Downtown Covington on short notice, enabling continuity of the Northshore carriage tour operations.
• FareHarbor (booking platform)coreTechnology or IntegrationFareHarbor provides the embedded online booking engine on Royal Carriages' website (fareharbor.com/embeds/book/neworleanscarriages). All tour types are booked through this platform including group tours, private tours, and walking tours.
• The Von Mack AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite management and digital services provider for Royal Carriages. Listed as the company that manages the royalcarriages.com website.
• Heritage Tours (Dallas, Texas)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeritage Tours in Dallas, managed by Byron Cain, booked Royal Carriages tours for their tour groups visiting New Orleans. This represents a B2B reseller relationship where a tour operator in another city integrates Royal Carriages into their New Orleans offerings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Viator: Major online marketplace for tours and activities (owned by Tripadvisor). Acts as a distribution channel and indirect competitor for Royal Carriages' French Quarter sightseeing tours, where it aggregates multiple carriage and walking tour operators with cancellation-friendly booking and broad SEO reach.

Broad incumbents

• Gray Line New Orleans: Established hop-on/hop-off bus and city sightseeing tour operator in New Orleans. Competes for the same tourist sightseeing dollar via motorcoach tours rather than carriages; a broader incumbent with portfolio of tours and stronger group/convention relationships but no niche-museum/cemetery access.

Direct peers

• Savannah Carriage Tours: Offers narrated horse-drawn carriage tours through Savannah's historic squares. Comparable as another Southern city carriage tour operator selling small-group, history-led sightseeing experiences to tourists and school groups in a fixed geographic footprint.
• New Orleans Carriage Tours: One of the other carriage tour companies operating in the French Quarter. Royal Carriages itself notes there are four carriage companies in New Orleans. Competes head-to-head for the same on-street tourist at the same boarding locations, governed by the same mule-only ordinance.
• Charleston's Old South Carriage Company: Carriage tour company operating in Charleston's historic district with a long-running heritage positioning similar to Royal Carriages' 1941 heritage. Directly comparable on product (narrated horse-drawn sightseeing tours of a historic district), customer (tourists to a story-rich Southern city), and operating model.
• Central Park Carriages: Operates horse-drawn carriage tours in New York City's Central Park. Most analogous US peer: same chauffeur-driven sightseeing carriage model, similar pricing per half-hour/whole carriage, similar dependence on a single high-traffic tourism district and on regulatory goodwill from the local parks authority.

Emerging players

• Free Tours by Foot New Orleans: Pay-what-you-want walking tour company that competes for the same tourist sightseeing budget in the French Quarter and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 (Royal Carriages' core route). Lower price point, larger group sizes — relevant as a budget alternative that pressures the value perception of carriage tours.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NewOrleansCarriages
• Instagraminstagram.com/neworleanscarriages
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/royal-carriages

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Royal Carriages