Haunted Houses in Texas

Why Is Texas So Haunted?

The state of Texas is famous for cowboys and cattle ranchers, but few people realize that Texas is also home to a number of haunted houses. While real haunted houses can be discovered across the country, haunted houses in Texas are unique in that the history of the state is steeped in a great deal of violence and war, and this impacts those hauntings.

• 300 Mexican men were executed after the 1813 Battle of Medina.
• All 180 Texans died after the 13 day siege of the Alamo by a 4,000 to 5,000 strong Mexican army.
• Texas won its independence on April 21, 1836 when Texans crying "Remember the Alamo!" overpowered Mexican invaders.
• Texas lost 1,260 soldiers in the Civil War.
• The Texas-Indian wars resulted in many years of bloodshed throughout the state.

A List of Haunted Houses in Texas

Texas haunted houses reflect the impact this violent and bloody history has had on the land, buildings and people who lived at these locations in following years.

The Menger Hotel in San Antonio

The Menger Hotel in San Antonio has built a reputation as being one of the most haunted places in Texas. Most locals suspect that the level of paranormal activity is related to the fact that the Menger was built in 1859 near the location where the battle of the Alamo took place 23 years earlier. At a location filled with death and the extremes of human emotion, it is no wonder the Merger has up to 32 reported apparitions within its walls.

The history the hotel provides a few clues to the identities of some of the apparitions. The Director of Public Relations, Ernesto Malacara, reports that the following apparitions are a few of dozens that guests and staff have seen.

• Sallie White was a hotel maid who was murdered by her husband. Guests and staff recognize Sallie when the see a female apparition dressed in a bandana and long gray skirt. She walks through the hotel corridors carrying towels.
• Captain Richard King was the founder of the King Ranch, and had his own suite at the hotel called the "King Suite". Guests report seeing his apparition entering his suite through the wall where the door used to be.
• A buckskin-clad cowboy was spotted in a hotel room standing by the bed, talking to an unseen person.
• A lady in a blue dress was spotted sitting in the hotel lobby doing some knitting.

The Jefferson Hotel in Jefferson, Texas

The Jefferson Hotel is reportedly one of the oldest buildings in the town, originally built as a warehouse for cotton. The hotel is actually a large house with 23 guest rooms. The history of this particular hotel is steeped in legend. One story tells of a bride who hung herself after learning that the groom had run away and was not going to return. Another legend tells the story of a woman who lost nine children to miscarriage. This tale accounts for the sound of children playing while no children are in the hotel. Guests report that the famous "room 19" is the most haunted of them all.

Haunting activity reported at the Jefferson Hotel includes:

• The smell of cigar smoke (the building is non-smoking)
• Water faucets turning on, and doors opening on their own
• The sound of heavy boots walking on a hardwood floor outside the door (the floor is actually carpeted)
• Sounds of children running up and down the hallway
• Whispering, knocking and sometimes banging on the doors
• The feeling of a cold hand touching a guest's arm in the middle of the night

If you don't believe these accounts offered to the public by the hotel owners, simply read through some of the spooky traveler reviews provided by guests on Tripadvisor.

Hauntings All Throughout Texas

Texas is a large state, so it is not surprising to learn that there are so many haunted buildings and locations throughout the state. Almost every town, or at least every county, has one or two particular buildings or locations that are reported to be either moderately to extremely haunted. The following list represents only a very small sample of the entire list of haunted houses in Texas.

• Fletcher Hall at Sul Ross State University: It's haunted by a student who committed suicide in the building.
• Harby Jr. High in Alvin: Teachers spot faces in the windows and locker room showers turn on without warning.
• Crockett High School in Austin: Teachers report that they can hear a small girl walking up and down the halls crying.
• Driskill Hotel in Austin: An apparition touches the face and arms of guests, and figures appear in different locations. Col Jessee Driskill allegedly haunts the top floor.
• Pressor Hall at University of Mary Hardin in Belton: The dorm is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a girl who was murdered by her boyfriend. Residents report phantom piano music and footsteps throughout the building.

Ghost Hunting in Texas

If you are interested in experiencing these paranormal events first hand, consider contacting Texas paranormal research organizations for more information. Paranormal research groups explore alleged Texas haunted houses and verify whether or not the location is truly paranormal in nature.

Paranormal societies in Texas include:

• Texas Paranormal Research Team
• North Texas Paranormal Research Team
• DFW Paranormal Research of North Texas
• Texas Paranormal Research Organization
• West Texas Paranormal Investigations
• Texas Research Investigations of Paranormal Studies