Texas is the place to be for anyone looking for a Halloween thrill or a ghostly encounter. The Lone Star State has a rich history and many scary stories of the past. In fact, it’s one of the most haunted states in America. From the echoes of the American Civil War and Confederate soldiers to the 13-day siege of the Alamo, Texas’s military history alone accounts for thousands of deaths and possible hauntings.
But that’s just the beginning—locals and visitors to haunted hotspots in Texas report seeing ghostly figures, hearing disappearing footsteps, and spotting mysterious floating orbs above the desert. Texas is a top destination for paranormal activity.
So, have you ever wondered where the haunted places are? Read on to discover the top haunted places in Texas!
The Alamo in San Antonio
Remember the Alamo? The ghosts will make sure you do. Known for the famous Battle of the Alamo, where hundreds of lives were lost, this Texas landmark is considered one of San Antonio’s most haunted locations. Visitors and personnel have reported sightings of ghostly soldiers and echoing rally cries across the limestone walls.
The Battle of the Alamo is one of the most defining moments in Texas history. The conflict ended in a massacre, with nearly all Texan defenders. This is where famous figures like Davy Crockett and James Bowie died. Thousands of bodies were unceremoniously buried, making it no surprise that paranormal activity has been reported here for decades.
Those interested in ghost tours and ghost hunting should not miss the Alamo. Seeing ghostly apparitions, including a young boy and even a ghastly John Wayne, is common here! Urban legends talk of spectral soldiers haunting the grounds, appearing in uniforms from the era. Visitors often claim to hear faint cries and see shadowy figures moving through the night. The Alamo’s deep emotional resonance makes it a focal point for many hauntings and ghost stories in Texas.
The Driskill Hotel in Austin
Located in the heart of downtown Austin, the Driskill Hotel is famous for its rich history and proximity to Sixth Street and its haunted past. Established by cattle baron Jesse Driskill in 1886, this hotel is one of Texas’s most active paranormal lodgings. This 130-year-old building is a hotspot for ghostly activity, with numerous sightings reported throughout its grand hallways and rooms. Guests and staff have reported seeing the ghost of Jesse Driskill himself wandering the halls of his beloved hotel.
One of the most famous hauntings is that of a young girl who met her tragic end in 1887 after falling down the grand staircase while chasing a toy ball. This girl, who is said to be the daughter of a Texas senator, is often heard laughing and playing in the hallways.
Another chilling tale is connected to room 525, where two brides, 20 years apart, took their own lives while on their honeymoons. This room has since become infamous among those interested in the paranormal. Visitors have also reported encounters with a spectral cowboy and hearing eerie, disembodied laughter.
Yorktown Memorial Hospital in Yorktown
Located in South Texas, Yorktown Memorial Hospital is one of the most haunted places in the world, particularly among hospitals and medical facilities. Originally run by the Catholic Order of the Felician Sisters, this 1950s hospital was built to care for the sick and ailing. However, due to rumored rampant medical mistakes and malpractice, many patients ended up dying inside the facility.
Although Yorktown Memorial Hospital is now abandoned and covers over 30,000 square feet, its haunted reputation continues to draw visitors and ghost hunters. People report seeing a demonic entity with coal-red eyes that reacts angrily to Bible verses, ghostly surgeons and their patients, and even the spirits of nuns lingering on the second floor.
The hospital’s dark past, with numerous deaths, adds to its eerie atmosphere. Shadowy figures, unexplained noises, and a general sense of unease pervade the building, making it a prime location for those seeking a spine-tingling adventure.
Hotel Galvez in Galveston
The Hotel Galvez, also known as the “Queen of the Gulf,” is a stunning seaside hotel overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Southeast Texas. While it offers opulence and charm to its guests, it also comes with the possibility of a paranormal experience.
One of the most famous hauntings at Hotel Galvez is that of the “Lovelorn Lady,” a young woman named Audra who stayed on the hotel’s fifth floor during the 1950s. Audra was waiting for her fiancé to return from the sea when she tragically heard that his ship had foundered. Overcome with grief, she took her own life, only to be found by her fiancé, who had actually survived and returned to find her gone. The Lovelorn Lady is said to still haunt the room where she died.
Guests who have braved a night on the fifth-floor report hearing footsteps running down empty halls and doors slamming throughout the night. Hotel Galvez’s elegant ambiance sharply contrasts with its chilling supernatural tales, drawing both history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Hotel Galvez is the place to be if you’re in Galveston and looking for a touch of the eerie with your luxury stay.
The Grove in Jefferson
The Grove, located in the historic town of Jefferson, Texas, is one of the most haunted places in the state. Built in 1861, this charming old home has a reputation for ghostly apparitions and eerie occurrences. Over the years, it has become a hotspot for paranormal enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
The hauntings at The Grove are as diverse as they are many. Visitors and owners alike have reported seeing shadowy figures, hearing disembodied voices, and experiencing sudden drops in temperature. One of the most frequently seen spirits is that of a Lady in White, who is often spotted wandering through the house and garden.
Aside from the Lady in White, there are tales of other ghostly residents who make their presence known through unexplained sounds and movements. The house’s deep history and the many stories of its past inhabitants add to the eerie atmosphere that envelops The Grove.
Presidio La Bahía in Goliad
Located in Goliad, Presidio La Bahía is steeped in history and known for its haunting tales. Originally constructed by the Spanish Army in 1747 as Presidio Nuestra Señora de Loreta de Bahía, this fort has witnessed significant and bloody events, particularly during the Texas Revolution. The Battle of Goliad in 1835 and the Goliad Massacre in 1836 left many dead, and it seems some of their spirits have never left.
Visitors to Presidio La Bahía often report eerie experiences. One of the most famous legends is that of a woman in white who wanders the fort’s courtyard, searching the graves for a name that can’t be found. There are also accounts of ghostly soldier apparitions, the unsettling sounds of cannon fire, and banging on the walls in the officers’ quarters. Some have even reported the intense smell of blood in the quadrangle near the chapel’s courtyard.
The Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells
In 1929, the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells opened its doors as a “top-tier health spa destination.” During its heyday, it attracted Hollywood stars like Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Glenn Miller, and future U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. The luxurious hotel was a hotspot for famous guests seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.
However, after closing its doors in 1972, the Baker Hotel has stood mostly abandoned, slowly decaying in the heart of Mineral Wells. Despite its state of disrepair, the hotel has gained a reputation for being haunted by guests who never left and by those who met tragic ends within its walls.
Several female apparitions have been reported, including the ghost of the hotel manager’s mistress from the mid-1900s, who leaped to her death from the roof and now haunts the seventh floor. Visitors have also claimed to see the spirits of a young boy and his dog roaming the premises. Additionally, some WWII veterans reported hearing a haunting orchestra playing in the empty ballroom.
The Menger Hotel in San Antonio
Located in San Antonio, the Menger Hotel is one of the oldest and most haunted hotels in the state. Since opening its doors in 1859, it has hosted many famous individuals, including Presidents William H. Taft and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. With those esteemed former guests, you get a historic and legendary haunting!
One of the most famous ghosts said to frequent the Menger Hotel is former US President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. Known to appear in the shadows of the barroom, Teddy is often seen pouring himself a drink, sometimes joined by up to 32 other ghostly entities. Among these spirits is Sallie White, a chambermaid who was murdered by her husband in 1876. Sallie is frequently spotted in her 19th-century maid’s uniform.
Room 306 is particularly notorious for its paranormal activity, with numerous reports of unexplained noises and ghostly encounters. The eerie atmosphere and rich history of the Menger Hotel make it a prime location for ghost enthusiasts and paranormal investigators.
La Carafe Dive Bar in Houston
Tucked away in Houston and reminiscent of the French Quarter, La Carafe is believed to be the oldest bar in the city. Housed in the oldest commercial building, which opened as a bakery in 1860, La Carafe has a long and storied history. Over the years, it has also been a drug store and a hair salon before becoming La Carafe in the 1960s.
La Carafe maintains a “haunted” atmosphere, with candlelit ambiance and occasional séances adding to its eerie charm. Visitors and staff have reported various ghostly occurrences. Bottles have been known to fall from shelves, and glasses break without explanation. Upstairs, the sounds of children playing can sometimes be heard, though no one is there. Some even say an old manager lurks in the window, watching over the bar.
One of the ghostly figures who is said to haunt La Carafe is a bartender named Carl, who continues his spectral duties long after closing time. There’s also a legend that the spirit of Sam Houston, the former governor of Texas, occasionally appears.
USS Lexington in Corpus Christi
Take a trip down to the Texas coast to visit the famous World War II aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington, also known as “The Blue Ghost.” This massive ship now serves as a museum permanently moored in Corpus Christi Bay.
The spirits of soldiers and sailors who died aboard the carrier are said to wander its tight passageways and narrow stairwells. There are reports of lights turning on themselves – which is remarkable, given that the ship’s wiring is over 70 years old!
The ship has gained a reputation as one of Texas’s most haunted destinations. Visitors touring the ship for educational purposes often report hair-raising supernatural experiences. The ship’s visitor center even hosts haunted houses every October.
For a less intense but still thrilling experience, consider staying overnight at the USS Lexington. Guests of all ages can enjoy ghost stories and participate in a scavenger hunt across 100,000 square feet and eleven decks. Don’t worry—they say the ghosts here are more mischievous than menacing.
The Jefferson Hotel in Jefferson
The city of Jefferson is said to be one of the most haunted small towns in Texas, and the Jefferson Hotel is at the heart of its spooky reputation. Originally built in 1851 as a cotton warehouse, this historic hotel retains its grand exterior and paranormal activity.
Guests at the Jefferson Hotel have reported a variety of eerie experiences. Whispers from nowhere knocks on walls and headboards, the smell of cigar smoke, children laughing, and faucets turning on by themselves are just a few of the strange occurrences that have been documented. The most active rooms are 5, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 24, with one particularly tragic story involving a young woman named Elizabeth who hung herself on her wedding night.
In addition to these hauntings, visitors have noted electrical fluctuations and inanimate objects moving, shifting, and sometimes falling onto the floor. There are also reports of ghostly apparitions, strange noises, and phantom footsteps in the halls, making it a must-visit for anyone interested in the paranormal.
Conclusion
Texas is a state rich in history, culture, and, as we’ve explored, haunted locations. From the battle-worn walls of The Alamo to the eerie corridors of Yorktown Memorial Hospital, the Lone Star State offers a diverse array of paranormal hotspots for thrill-seekers and ghost hunters alike. Each haunted site tells a unique story that adds to Texas’s mystique, so if you journey through some of these haunted places, you never know what or who you might encounter!
