Real Haunted Places in San Antonio

If you're looking for real haunted places in San Antonio, there are several establishments you can visit.

Haunted Places in San Antonio

Texas seems to have its fair share of hauntings, and San Antonio offers some of the strongest chances for having a paranormal experience. There are a number of famous locations where ghostly activity has been reported, as well as a few lesser known locations where residents have also reported unexplained occurrences. Learn a little more about the locations listed below, and decide if it's worth your time to do a little ghost hunting in this Texas town.

Some Real Haunted Places in San Antonio

The following are a few locations that appear to have the most activity.

The Alamo

No discussion of real haunted places in San Antonio would be complete without mentioning the Alamo. This historic stone building was a key location in the battle for Texas' independence from Mexico, and it appears to be the main hub of paranormal activity around town. On February 23, 1836, Mexican forces under the command of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna descended on San Antonio, intent on wiping out the 200 or so men who tried to defend the area after having taken it from Mexican forces in December of 1935. The freedom fighters were able to hold out for just over two weeks, but the battle ended in a bloody massacre of not only the fighters holed up in the Alamo, but also many of the defenseless women and children in the town.

Since the tragedy at the Alamo, there have been numerous reports of haunting activity. These include the standard reports of mysterious lights and doors that open and close on their own, but there are also more detailed reports of specific activity. These include:

• The ghostly monk that appears walking in the courtyard
• The apparition of a man that appears on the roof of the building
• The sound of a woman crying
• Cold spots

It's even said that the Mexican general ordered the Alamo to be torn down, but that the ghosts of the freedom fighters frightened the Mexican soldiers from carrying out their mission. The Alamo stands today as a symbol of Texan courage and determination, but it may also be home to some of the spirits that witnessed the city's bloodiest battle.

The Menger Hotel

Built adjacent to the Alamo less than a quarter century after the massacre, the Menger Hotel is also rumored to have its share of ghostly residents. Some are believed to be the spirits of some of the people who died in the course of the battle. Other entities are thought to be those of former employees and guests. Most of the ghostly activity seems to be of a "residual" rather than an "intelligent" nature, but there are also reports of poltergeist activity in the hotel kitchen.

The Alamo Theater

Yet another reportedly haunted location in San Antonio, the Alamo Theater and restaurant is housed in a building that formerly served as a church. Built more than 75 years after the battle of the Alamo, the theater is said to be the home of a spirit named Margaret Gething. Gething was supposedly an actress who lived in the area, so perhaps her spirit took shelter in the old church and decided to stay once the building was purchased and renovated into a theater. Both performers and guests have reported seeing this spirit in the theater's balcony from time to time. There are also reports of a very active child spirit that is fond of moving objects around.

Shane Road Railroad Tracks

The Shane Road railroad tracks located near 3030 Shane Road are legendary, but there doesn't seem to be any documentation to support the story that goes with them. Supposedly, a school bus was hit by a train while stalled on the tracks. The driver and most of the children died. It's said that if you stop in front of the tracks and put your car in neutral, the car will be "pushed" over the tracks to safety. Many people have put this story to the test, and apparently cars are moved over the tracks. Are these vehicles pushed by unseen hands, or is there a natural decline on the approach to the tracks that causes the cars to roll under their own weight? You can give it a try for yourself if you dare. Be sure to sprinkle the rear of your car with talcum powder to see if you find ghostly hand prints afterward, as others have claimed to see.

Books About Haunted San Antonio

The following books may help you seek out more real haunted places in San Antonio, Texas and learn about the spirits that haunt them.

• History and Mystery of the Menger Hotel by Docia Schultz Williams
• When Darkness Falls: Tales of San Antonio Ghosts and Hauntings by Docia Schultz Williams
• Spirits of The Alamo by Robert Wlodarski

San Antonio has a lot to offer ghost hunters, but if you're still looking for more hauntings, check out the 10 most haunted places in America.