They say everything is bigger in Texas – and that includes the frights! The Lone Star State is home to a scarily impressive variety of haunts, including hotels, bridges, and other spots with haunted histories.
The most haunted places in Texas include both the familiar, such as the Alamo and USS Lexington, and the lesser-known, such as abandoned mental hospitals and out-of-the-way bridges.
Whether you’re a native or just visiting, continue reading for more info on the best haunted places in Texas to check out.
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1. Bragg Road, Saratoga, Texas
Address: Bragg Road is 1.7 miles north of the FM 787-770 intersection in Saratoga.
What is the Bragg Road Light? Since the 1940s, countless people have reported seeing a glowing light moving along this spooky road, and nobody knows what it is.
Theories range from reflected headlights to natural gas to the ghost of a decapitated railroad worker using a lantern to search for his head. Regardless of which theory you believe, there’s undoubtedly something there, as it’s been captured on video many times.
You’ll find Bragg Road in Hardin County, in the eastern part of the state. The road starts at Farm-to-Market Road and continues through the Big Thicket National Preserve, a dense forest over 100,000 acres in size.
2. The Historic Jefferson Hotel, Jefferson, Texas
Address: 124 W Austin St, Jefferson, TX 75657-2202
Practically every building in the East Texas town of Jefferson has some type of paranormal history, but the Historic Jefferson Hotel is considered one of the most active spots in town. A former cotton warehouse, the property was turned into a hotel during the turn of the century, and ghostly happenings have occurred ever since.
Guests report all manner of weirdness, including footsteps, laughter, and strange shadows. Some of the paranormal activity gets downright malicious as guests allege they’ve been locked in rooms and seen objects sail through the air.
If you want the complete experience, reserve Room 19, also known as the Haunted Room. Local legend says a jilted bride died in the room after being left at the altar and her spirit haunts it even today. The hotel even hangs a wedding dress in the room to help add to the ambiance.
During your stay at the hotel, you can also check out more haunted history in Austin: Murder by Gaslight Ghost Tour, a walking tour throughout the city.
3. The Grove, Jefferson, Texas
Address: 405 Moseley Street, Jefferson, Texas
Also referred to as the Stilley-Young House, the Grove is a historic home with over 100 years of haunted history. It’s an unassuming, wooden home that’s remained practically unchanged since the 1930s.
Although ownership has changed hands many times over the decades, every owner has reported unexplained and ghostly happenings. Footsteps, moans, moving objects, and a phantom woman are just some of the spooky events residents have encountered.
The not-quite-corporeal woman is possibly Minerva Fox Stilley, the first owner of the house. She follows a set path throughout the grounds, walking along the side of the house before stepping through a wall to cross the interior. Her route lines up perfectly with the original layout of the structure before renovations were made.
4. Yorktown Memorial Hospital, Yorktown, Texas
Address: 728 W Main St, Yorktown, TX 78164
Yorktown is found between San Antonio and the Gulf Coast. It’s a quiet, unassuming town with friendly folks and a winning high school football team. But head down Main Street a bit, and you’ll find something far more sinister.
The Yorktown Memorial Hospital is a former drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that operated from 1951 to 1986 and was then decommissioned in 1992. It was founded by a religious group called the Felician Sisters.
Today, it’s considered one of the most haunted places in Texas. Visitors tell tales of unexplained noises, phantom figures, talking dolls, and more. Although the hospital is private property, tours are available to the public.
Reddit user u/NoEndAlex posted over 200 photos of the hospital, including many images from the nursery, which is still filled with original furnishings like baby carriages and decrepit dolls.
5. The Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas
Address: 604 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701
The Driskill Hotel has a haunted history dating back over 100 years. The hotel was founded by Colonel Jesse Driskill, a bold and often reckless businessman who lost his fortune not long after the place opened – but his presence is felt in the building even today.
The Colonel was known to stand in the lobby and smoke cigars, and many guests have smelled phantom cigar smoke throughout the establishment. Local legend says a security guard once heard a voice asking for a light, only to turn around and find no one there.
Another famous ghostly guest is known as The Senator’s Daughter. She’s allegedly the spirit of a young girl, the daughter of a state Senator, who died after falling down the hotel’s main staircase. Guests over the years have seen the ghostly image of a young girl on the fifth floor, especially near a specific painting in the hallway.
While the Driskill Hotel is one of Austin’s most famous haunted spots, it’s far from the only place in town with a ghostly history.
Heading to Austin? Booth the Austin: Haunted History Ghost Tour to see the spots in real life (and beyond).
6. Old Alton Bridge, Copper Canyon, Texas
Address: Between the cities of Denton and Copper Canyon
Known locally as Goatman’s Bridge, Old Alton Bridge is an iron truss bridge with an eerie look and distinctly disturbing backstory.
In the late 1930s, a black man named Oscar Washburn, who called himself “the Goatman,” founded a successful business in the area. Unfortunately, his success drew the ire of the local KKK, who kidnapped him one night in 1938.
They dragged him from his home, tied a noose around his neck, and threw him over the Old Alton Bridge. Except, when they looked over the side, the noose was empty, and Washburn had disappeared without a trace.
Today, the bridge is supposedly home to strange lights, apparitions, noises, and more. Reddit user u/rickribera93 even saw two red eyes watching him from a distance. Locals warn you to always keep your headlights on when crossing the bridge, as driving with them off makes the Goatman think you’re in the KKK – and he won’t be happy.
7. Alamo Mission, San Antonio, Texas
Address: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
Remember the Alamo! The Alamo is a major historical site in Texas, and some of that history happens to be haunted. Originally built in the 18th century, this Spanish mission is the site of the famous 1836 Battle of the Alamo, where thousands of Mexican soldiers and 182 Texans died.
In the mid-1890s, the city turned the mission into a jail, and ghost stories started almost immediately afterward. Prisoners complained about apparitions and strange noises. The problem got so bad that local newspapers published several stories, and the jail had difficulty keeping staff.
Today, visitors to the Alamo have seen all types of figures and wandering entities, such as a blonde boy in the upper window of a gift shop, a cowboy wearing a black duster, and a woman near a water well.
If you’re looking for more, book the San Antonio: Haunted Walking Ghost Tour includes not just the mission but many other historically haunted sites around the city.
8. Marfa Mystery Lights
Address: 90 US-90 E, Marfa, TX 79843
The Marfa Lights provide scares on the go. People have reported strange lights along this rural road since 1883. They’re described as yellow-orange orbs that fly above the desert vegetation and vary in intensity.
One of the best spots to see the lights is about nine miles east of the town of Marfa. You’ll likely find cars parked off the side of the road in a designated view spot.
Explanations for the lights range from the mundane to the supernatural. Is it an atmospheric anomaly, lights from faraway cars, ghosts, or alien visitors? Nobody knows for sure, but it’s worth noting that the area used to house the Marfa Army Airfield.
9. USS Lexington, Corpus Christi, Texas
Address: 2914 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78402
The USS Lexington is a decommissioned WWII aircraft carrier – and one of the most supernatural ships to ever set sail.
The ship has a fascinating history. During the war, it earned the nickname The Blue Ghost by the Tokyo Rose broadcasters. The Japanese navy repeatedly believed they’d destroyed the ship only for it to appear later.
Today, it’s open to the public for both self-guided and guided tours. You can check out the flight deck, virtual battle stations, a Pearl Harbor exhibit, and more. But no matter where you go, you have a chance of encountering ghosts.
The most well-known ghost on the ship is Charlie, with piercing blue eyes and a full Navy uniform. He’s often seen in Engine Room #2 and occasionally even speaks to visitors as if he’s a tour guide. Other apparitions include a Chief Petty Officer, a Japanese fighter pilot, and many shadow figures.
It takes a lot of upkeep to maintain the USS Lexington. If you can, consider donating to their cause. It might just help keep the haunts at bay…
10. Emily Morgan Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
Address: 705 East Houston Street, San Antonio, Texas
Another haunted place in San Antonio famous for paranormal activity, the Emily Morgan Hotel is a four-star hotel with a spooky history.
In the early 1900s, before the place was a hotel, it was a Medical Arts Building. It housed various medical offices and, notably, a morgue in the basement. Entities from the old building have apparently stuck around, as many hotel guests have experienced cold spots, flickering lights, strange odors, and more.
Redditor u/Cinnnawonn detailed an experience he and two of his friends had at the hotel. The three were riding in the elevator late at night when suddenly everyone felt dizzy and faint. One member of the group heard a faint but persistent whisper. After a moment, the whispering stopped, and everyone felt normal again.
Each floor has a different terrifying tale to tell. The 14th is considered the most haunted by far. Technically the 13th floor, but renamed for superstitious reasons, it once held a psychiatric ward and storage area for corpses. Oh my.
11. La Carafe, Houston, Texas
Address: 813 Congress St, Houston, TX, 77002
Even ghosts enjoy a refreshing brew every once in a while. La Carafe is the most famous haunted bar in Texas. It’s one of the oldest bars (and oldest buildings) in Houston, and today the staff is more than happy to serve you a drink with a ghost tale on the side.
Some of the ghost stories get downright creepy. The most famous is about Pamelia Mann, the former owner of the building when it was a boarding house called the Mansion House. If you’re a good-looking gal, take note. It’s said the ghost of Pamelia Mann likes to shove pretty ladies when they’re on the stairs.
The bar takes up the first floor, but the rest of the building is empty. Well, maybe empty is too strong of a word. Loud footsteps are often heard from the second floor. Visitors say the second floor is very eerie, and can feel a chill as they walk about.
You don’t even have to step inside to possibly see another famous La Carafe ghost. A silhouette sometimes waves from the fifth-story window.
While ghost sights aren’t guaranteed, a two-hour brewery tour of downtown Houston is sure to involve plenty of spirits. Stop by La Carafe after your brewery tour and you might just stumble in to some real spirits!
12. Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Texas
Address: 2024 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, Texas, 77500
The Hotel Galvez is next on the list of the most haunted places in Texas. It has so many reported apparitions that it’s surprising the place has vacancies for the living. This 226-room hotel first opened back in Galveston’s Golden Age, when the city was known as “Las Vegas of the South.”
The most famous ghost guest is Audra, the Love Lorn Lady. As the legend goes, the 25-year-old woman hung herself in the hotel’s west turret after mistakenly believing her husband had died at sea. She’s said to appear throughout the fifth floor, especially near room 501.
Another well-known apparition is Sister Katherine, a nun who died in a tragic 1900 hurricane that also claimed the lives of 10 other nuns and 90 children from the St. Mary’s Orphans Asylum.
Redditor u/m033118b describes a terrifying experience at the hotel in October 2020. He woke up in his room to find a young girl standing at the foot of his bed. At the time, he thought the girl was his little sister, and he groggily asked her to return to her own room. But in the morning, his parents told him that his sister had been with them all night.
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