September 2026 Dinner Meeting

** As a one-time exception, for this event only, we have waived the increased door fee. Online registration closes 24 hours before the event, however, tickets will still be available at the door for the same price as the online registration fee.

BIO:

Lance Zaal is an entrepreneur, author, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and advocate whose work spans tourism, hospitality, technology, and historic preservation. He is the founder and President of Tourismo and US Ghost Adventures, creating experiences while helping steward notable American historic properties. A College of William & Mary graduate with degrees in Economics and International Relations and an MBA, Zaal served three deployments in the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2006 before building his business career. Lance Zaal volunteered in the New OrleansSlidell area after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He used 10 days of planned vacation leave to join a local church relief group. His work included serving in a soup kitchen, teaching residents how to prepare and use MREs (military Meals Ready-to-Eat), and helping a tree-removal crew clear fallen trees from homes. He later founded Ghosts of Liberty in 2022, providing training, supplies, financing, and support for Ukrainian defenders during the Russo-Ukrainian War. As a French Quarter resident and property owner he is active in community organizations.

PROGRAM:

The Lalaurie Mansion: Project Management of Authoring and Uncovering the History of a Resident’s Home at 1140 Royal Street

After Lance Zaal bought his home years ago in the French Quarter, he began a project to separate its lore from its real history in an in-depth project that had never been done before. It involved historic facts, physical restoration, engaging with a staff of researchers and writers with diverse skillsets, engaging expert stakeholders in various areas, and managing a team of people on the mission to uncover the full and true history of New Orleans’ most historic residence.