The video "From Jailhouse to Dream Home?! | House of What?" was released by Curiosity Stream on February 22, 2026. Host Chris Grundy takes viewers on a tour of a unique 7,400-square-foot, 9-bedroom home in New Orleans that was originally built in 1902 as a jail and police patrol station.
Now operating as The Inn at the Old Jail, the property is a testament to historic preservation, sustainable restoration, and the resilient spirit of the "Big Easy".
🌟 Section 1: History and Architecture
The building has a rich and varied history that is reflected in its architecture:
Victorian Design: Despite its original function as a jail, the building was designed with a Queen Anne Victorian facade to blend into the surrounding Treme neighborhood.
Past Uses: By day, the facility served as a juvenile detention center; by night, it functioned as a "drunk tank" for the city.
Historic Features: The home still contains original elements like exposed brick, scalloped ceilings, and even the names of former inmates—like "Earl and Charlie"—etched into the brickwork.
🎯 Section 2: Restoration and Sustainability
A significant portion of the video focuses on the building's recovery after Hurricane Katrina in 2005:
Post-Katrina Recovery: The building sat in disarray for eight years before previous owners Raul and Liz Kash masterfully restored it.
Upcycled Materials: The restoration used reclaimed wood scraps from the neighborhood to create wainscoting. Current owner Todd continued this trend by using upcycled police barricades and leftover roof slates for a rooftop bar.
The "Cage": A former small jail cell next to the parlor has been converted into a unique shower room.
📊 Section 3: Key Video Data
| Element | Detail |
| Video Title | From Jailhouse to Dream Home?! | House of What? |
| Host | Chris Grundy |
| Publication Date | February 22, 2026 |
| Duration | 6:55 |
| Location | New Orleans, Louisiana (Treme neighborhood) |
| Keywords SEO | Inn at the Old Jail, New Orleans historic homes, upcycled home restoration, House of What Curiosity Stream |
🎁 Section 4: Highlights of the Tour
The Suites: The home features large "double queen suites" that were once female and male cell blocks.
The Penthouse & Spirits: The Captivville Suite is noted for its elevated headboard and its reputation among professional mediums for harboring "friendly spirits".
The Warden's Quarters: Owner Todd lives in a two-level apartment carved out of the former storage attic, featuring a spiral staircase and a "hobbit-like" sleeping space.
Original Details: Viewers can see an old dumb waiter used by guards and a tightly winding staircase designed to prevent inmates from escaping.
🔑 Suggested Keywords
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The Inn at the Old Jail history
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✨ Conclusion
The “From Jailhouse to Dream Home” feature is a fascinating look at how a place of confinement can be transformed into a place of hospitality and community. Through the vision of its owners and the creative use of reclaimed materials, the Old Jail stands as a beautiful, slightly "haunted," and deeply historic landmark in New Orleans.
