This Haunted Road Trip Will Lead You To The Scariest Places In Texas
That’s right, we’re going on a HAUNTED road trip! With our rich history here in Texas, a few ghosts here and there are to be expected. Every town has its own stories, some scarier than others, but we’re going to 8 of the most notoriously haunted places in the state. It’s almost guaranteed that we’ll see ghosts at every destination, so grab your bible and some holy water, and let’s get this show on the road with this haunted road trip in Texas that’ll scare you silly.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Our first stop is this historic hotel in San Antonio. It was previously a medical arts facility with a hospital and crematorium, so it's no secret why so many guests have reported paranormal sightings like electrical appliances randomly turning off and on and a woman in a white dress who disappears as soon as you lay eyes on her.
Next up is one of the most notoriously haunted hotels in Texas. It has been around for decades, so it makes sense that a few restless spirits would be lurking inside. People have seen apparitions in the windows, felt as if their face or arms were being touched, and heard people above them...even when they were staying on the top floor. There's also a portrait of a little girl on the third floor that's said to bring about strange feelings to those who look at it - they feel lightheaded and dizzy as they look into her eyes, and the sensation remains for a few hours after the fact.
Many people have seen a Phantom of the Opera-esque figure here wearing a black cloak and black boots. There's a rumor that the apparition is that of John Wilkes Booth because he used to perform here in his acting days. Several paranormal groups have captured EVPs with a voice claiming to be Booth, but nobody will ever truly know who haunts this opera.
Even though this hotel is currently closed for renovations, it was haunted long before it shut its doors. Guests used to report sightings of a bloody nude woman, most likely the mistress of the hotel's owner, wandering around on the seventh floor. Apparently, the stress of the affair took its toll on her, and she jumped off the balcony to her death. The other ghost is that of an old man who died in an elevator crash. Why am I mentioning any of this if you can't even stay in the hotel, you may ask? Well, for now, exploring the grounds still gives you plenty of opportunity to see spirits peering out the windows. And the hotel is opening to the public again very soon, so your time to spend the night is drawing nearer every day.
And here we are at yet another hotel. Texas sure has a lot of haunted hotels, don't we? This one couldn't be left out, though, considering the rumors of the entire town of Jefferson being riddled with spirits. Some of the ghosts here have been known to throw objects at guests and even lock them in their rooms. Other patrons have experienced knocking on the walls and doors, footsteps running down the halls, children laughing, and doors opening of their own accord.
This is one of my family's and my favorite places to go around Halloween, but it's a place that will give you chills yea-round, for sure. I myself am a skeptic, yet have no logical explanation for what I've seen here. White orbs have streaked past my face multiple times while sitting in the bed of a truck, and the ever-present glow at the end of the road never gets any closer as you approach it. Is the light that of the headless horseman who supposedly haunts the area? Or is it something like swamp gas? I guess we'll never truly know.
Another notoriously haunted hotel in Texas, the Galvez's famous ghost is called "The Lovelorn Lady." She was the wife of a fisherman who hung herself in the fifth floor suite after learning of his death at sea. Many people stay in this hotel, but room 505 is often vacant...are you brave enough to stay there?
It makes complete sense that a former mission would be haunted - Just think about how many soldiers died in battle here, their spirits broken by the hardships of war. Nighttime visitors have reported hearing sharp cries of pain akin to someone being shot, and still others have seen the apparitions of uniformed soldiers walking around. It's more sad than it is scary, but still a paranormal experience that every Texan should get the opportunity to have.
Address: 705 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205, USA
Address: 604 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701, USA
Address: 133 E Pearl St, Granbury, TX 76048, USA
Address: 200 E Hubbard St, Mineral Wells, TX 76067, USA
Address: 124 W Austin St, Jefferson, TX 75657, USA
Address: Bragg Rd, Texas, USA
Address: 711 27th St, Galveston, TX 77550, USA
Address: 217 US-183, Goliad, TX 77963, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
haunted road trip in Texas
August 30, 2020
Jackie Ann
Where is the creepiest town in Texas?
There are many towns in Texas that have a ghostly or creepy past, but perhaps the most well-known is Marfa, Texas. With a population hovering around 2,000 people, this tiny but mighty town really hits a home run when it comes to the creep-factor. Many visit the desert town for their minimalist art attractions, which include Building 98, and the Chinati Foundation. The Marfa Lights are another popular tourist destination, a mysterious light phenomena that attracts people from all over the world hoping to catch a glance at these weird ghost lights that have been seen since at least 1883, when they were first recorded.
Can I go ghost hunting in Texas?
There are plenty of places in Texas that have earned a haunted reputation over the years, and you might just have a paranormal encounter of your own if you dare to visit. The Yorktown Memorial Hospital in South Texas is just one of countless haunted hotspots. Originally built in the 1950s, there are plenty of ghost stories to go around this abandoned 30,000-square foot building. One of the most common reports is that of a black shadowy figure with glowing red eyes that has been heard growling when Bible verses are read aloud.
What haunted hiking trails can I take in Texas?
If you drive down Bragg Road in Saratoga, you might just catch a white light bouncing around your head. It could be swamp gas, it could be a headlight, but many believe its the spirit of a horseman who lost his head in a railroad accident many years ago, and the light seen is the light from his lantern, looking for his missing body part. If you find yourself in Andrews County, venture over to Shafter Lake,just off of Highway 385. In the early 1900s, a smallpox epidemic ravaged through the town, killing just about everyone in it. Those that survived took the advice of a local witch, who instructed them to take a bunch of wild herbs which turned out to be a powerful and poisonous hallucinogen, which made them believe they were under attack and killed each other, including gouging out children’s eyes. If you walk around the lake at night, you might just catch a glimpse of the eyelids spirits of the children wandering around.
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing.
Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie.
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