Texas is more than cowboy boots, big ranches and BBQ. Under its big skies and historic cities, there’s a spine-tingling side that only a few venture to explore.
From battlefields to deserted hospitals and creepy hotels, the haunted sites in Texas are as varied as the state is vast. With ghost tales handed down through generations and innumerable paranormal encounters, Texas is one of America’s most haunted states.
Here in this blog, we explore the best haunted locations in Texas, uncovering stories of disturbed spirits, sad histories and mysterious events that have left even the most courageous ghost hunters quaking in their boots.
The Alamo, San Antonio
One of the Most Haunted Places in Texas With a History Steeped in War and Sacrifice
The Alamo is certainly one of the most famous and most haunted sites in Texas. This Spanish mission from the 18th century was the location of the infamous 1836 battle in the Texas Revolution. Hundreds perished in the bloody siege, and their ghosts are said to haunt the site to this day.
Visitors claim to have observed ghostly soldiers patrolling the grounds, hearing far-off screams, and experiencing cold snaps. Security personnel frequently report strange activity at night, such as dark shadows moving into walls and ghostly footsteps down deserted hallways.
Some tourists even say they have spotted the ghost of Davy Crockett himself. The site is now toured by guided ghost tours, providing both historical facts and paranormal stories that are hair-raising.
Hotel Galvez, Galveston
A Luxury Hotel with Ghostly Residents on the Gulf Coast
Nicknamed the “Queen of the Gulf,” Galvez Hotel is a hotel that stands over a century old with a ghostly past shrouded in luxury. It is well known among Texas haunted sites for the “Love Lorn Lady.” A lady who hanged herself around the 1950s after she thought her fiancé had perished at sea.
Visitors who reside in room 501 report unusual activity: lights that flicker, cold spots and doors that open by themselves. The ballroom and hotel spa are also locations of high paranormal activity.
Not just the Love Lorn Lady, other employees and visitors have reported encountering ghostly children dashing through the corridors and eerie voices in vacant rooms. Hotel Galvez is still a favorite among travelers interested in both hauntings and history.
Yorktown Memorial Hospital, Yorktown
A Spooky Abandoned Hospital and Ghost Magnet in Texas
Yorktown Memorial Hospital, which was operated by a congregation of nuns, is now an old building plagued with decay and darkness. It is considered one of the actual haunted places in Texas, and today it stands as a favorite haunt for ghost hunters.
Tourists have complained of being scratched by unperceived forces, hearing whispers in vacant rooms, and feeling constant surveillance through the building. The chapel section and old operating rooms are particularly active, with EVPs captured (electronic voice phenomena) and shadow people captured on film.
The basement is reputed to be most frightening, with stories of occult practices and bloody spirits. Ghost tours are frequently held here, attracting thrill-seekers from all over the country.
The Driskill Hotel, Austin
Ghosts, Glamour and Guilt in a Haunted Texas Landmark
The Driskill Hotel was constructed in 1886 and is among the oldest and most luxurious hotels in Texas. The hotel is also said to be among the most haunted in Texas, with numerous ghost stories surrounding it.
The ghost of Colonel Driskill, the hotel’s original owner, is said to haunt the lobby. Two children whose lives were lost in tragic accidents years ago are said to haunt the hotel as well, as told by guests. The sounds, unusual lights, and moving objects are all frequently reported.
One of the most commonly told tales is that of a bride who ended her own life in room 525; guests won’t stay in the room because of its creepy atmosphere. The big staircase is also a center of paranormal activity.
Baker Hotel, Mineral Wells
One of Texas’ Most Notorious Abandoned Haunted Places
The Baker Hotel was once the epitome of luxury but is now listed as one of the most frightening haunted places in Texas. Shut down in the 1970s, this hotel has turned into a ghost hunter’s paradise.
Visions of a redheaded woman on the seventh floor, the ghost of a bellboy, and strange noises carried down the corridors are some of the accounts. Ghost hunters think that the residual energy of the building’s past life plays a role in its haunting.
The Baker was famous for its mineral water treatments and attracted celebrities, which contributes to its complex past. Even when abandoned, the building has a feeling of sadness and suspense.
La Carafe Bar, Houston
A Spirited Saloon Where the Booze Isn’t the Only Thing That Flows
One of the city’s oldest bars, La Carafe is reputed to be haunted by more than just old wines. Drinks have been seen flying off the shelves, the jukebox turning itself on and off, and disembodied footfalls have been heard in the desolate upstairs section.
With its antique decor and dim lighting, this haunted bar in Texas feels like stepping into another era. Ghost sightings include a former bartender and a mysterious woman who watches over guests from the staircase.
The upstairs is not open to the public but is reportedly the epicenter of ghostly activity. Historians suggest the building dates back to the 1800s adding layers to its haunted legacy.
Jefferson Hotel, Jefferson
A Historic Texas Hotel Full of Ghostly Visitors
The Jefferson Hotel in East Texas is another one of the must-mentions when it comes to haunted locations in Texas. Constructed in the 19th century, this hotel has had countless visitors living as well as dead.
Ghostly apparitions in black, strange knocks on doors, buzzing lights and extreme temperature shifts are the norm. The most notorious spirit is that of a young girl named Lydia, who will reportedly pull on guests’ sheets at night.
The hotel is proud of its haunted reputation and even offers ghost tours and ghost-themed events. Guests flock to rooms during the Halloween season, both skeptics and believers alike.
Presidio La Bahía, Goliad
A Haunted Fort Replete with the Wails of War and Heartbreak
Presidio La Bahía has a bloody past associated with the Goliad Massacre, where Texan troops numbering in the hundreds were put to death. Not surprisingly, it’s one of the most haunted locations in Texas.
Tourists have claimed to see apparitions of soldiers in full figure, hear phantom cannon blasts, and experience extreme sadness upon stepping onto the grounds. This site is both a memorial to the dead and a source of paranormal activity.
Ghostly sentries who never leave their posts and unusual night lights are mentioned by guides. The chapel, still functioning, exudes a peaceful yet creepy ambiance that cannot be forgotten.
Marfa Lights, Marfa
UFO Lights or Ghosts from Another Dimension?
The Marfa Lights have baffled scientists and fascinated ghost hunters for years. These mysterious globes hover above the West Texas desert, dancing and zipping with no discernible origin.
While others describe them as car headlights or natural gases, there are others who think they are ghostly spirits of Native Americans or lost souls walking in the desert. The phenomenon puts Marfa atop the list of haunted Texas sites.
A park viewing platform off US Route 90 enables one to witness the phenomenon for oneself. The lights are not predictable, appearing at random times, changing colors, direction and intensity.
Related Article: Haunted Places in New Orleans
Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio
Medical Horrors and Restless Souls Behind This Luxury Façade
This stunning but intensively haunted hotel is a former medical building located conveniently close to the Alamo. Operating rooms and morgues that were once present are now occupied by hotel suites.
Visitors have reported seeing ghostly nurses in the hallways, cold areas, ringing phones with no one answering, and elevators getting stuck between floors with no one inside. Room 701 is said to be the most haunted area for activity.
Dedicated to the legendary folk heroine, the gothic revival architecture of the hotel only enhances the spookiness. According to many the ghosts of patients who met untimely demises still haunt the building.
Do You Dare to Explore the Haunted Sites in Texas?
The haunted sites in Texas are each unique in their haunted beauty, rich in history, tragedy, and the supernatural myth. Whether you are a firm believer in ghosts or not, there is no way to argue with the spine-chilling stories that have come out of these authentic haunted sites in Texas.
If you’re feeling brave, why not take a trip to one of these spooky sites? Just don’t forget to bring a flashlight and maybe say a little prayer. From the ghostly battle cries at the Alamo to the shadowy halls of the Baker Hotel, these haunted locations in Texas are not for the faint of heart.
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