1. The Alamo – San Antonio
Historical Background
Built in the early 1700s as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo became the site of one of the most pivotal battles in Texas history. In 1836, fewer than 200 Texian defenders—including Davy Crockett and William B. Travis—faced thousands of Mexican troops under General Santa Anna. All defenders were killed, and the Alamo became a symbol of Texan courage and sacrifice.
Paranormal Reports
The Alamo’s dark legacy has fueled centuries of ghost stories. Visitors and staff have reported apparitions of soldiers standing guard, spectral voices shouting in Spanish, and the smell of gunpowder. Early 19th-century guards refused to patrol certain areas after nightfall due to reported “ghostly sentries” on the battlements. Flickering lights and cold drafts are common in the long barracks.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
The Alamo offers historical tours by day and ghost walks in nearby downtown San Antonio at night. Paranormal investigators often focus on the chapel and barracks, where the most activity occurs. EMF readings and thermal cameras have yielded some of the most interesting anomalies.
Access / Tour Info
Open daily with free admission to the mission grounds. Ghost and history tours of the area can be booked through local operators. Night investigations inside the Alamo itself are rare and require special permission.
2. Presidio La Bahía – Goliad
Historical Background
Established in 1749, this Spanish fort witnessed one of the most tragic events in Texas history: the 1836 Goliad Massacre, where over 300 Texian prisoners were executed on Santa Anna’s orders. The site remains a preserved mission and chapel, rich in colonial and revolutionary history.
Paranormal Reports
Visitors claim to hear distant musket fire, the marching of unseen troops, and cries for mercy. Rangers have reported cold spots and the sound of horses’ hooves on empty grounds. Shadowy figures dressed in 19th-century uniforms have been seen walking the perimeter walls at night.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
As an active historical site, La Bahía offers a rare combination of authentic history and lingering atmosphere. The fort’s stone walls and candlelit chapel make it an ideal location for EVPs and night photography. The courtyard and chapel doorway are said to be the most active spots.
Access / Tour Info
Open year-round as a state historic site and museum. Self-guided tours available daily; inquire locally for special evening events or history-themed reenactments.
3. The Driskill Hotel – Austin
Historical Background
Completed in 1886 by wealthy cattle baron Col. Jesse Driskill, this grand hotel quickly became Austin’s social hub. After financial loss forced Driskill to sell, the hotel weathered decades of decline and revival, surviving fires and renovations while retaining its opulent 19th-century charm.
Paranormal Reports
Guests have seen the spirit of Col. Driskill himself smoking cigars in the lobby. The most famous ghost is the “Bride of Room 525,” said to be a young woman who took her life after her wedding fell apart. Another ghostly child, resembling Driskill’s late daughter, has been seen rolling a ball down the corridors.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
Ask for Room 525 or 429, two of the most active locations. The lobby’s staircase and mezzanine are ideal for EMF sweeps and EVP sessions. Staff are accustomed to ghost enthusiasts and often share firsthand stories.
Access / Tour Info
The Driskill operates as a luxury hotel and restaurant in downtown Austin. Public access to the lobby and bar is free; overnight stays in haunted rooms require advance reservations.
4. The Menger Hotel – San Antonio
Historical Background
Opened in 1859 next to the Alamo, the Menger is one of the oldest hotels in the state. It hosted Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, as well as numerous notable figures from Texas history. The hotel expanded several times and remains a centerpiece of San Antonio heritage.
Paranormal Reports
Dozens of ghosts reportedly inhabit the Menger. The most famous is Sallie White, a chambermaid murdered by her husband in 1876—her spirit still roams the hallways. Guests have also spotted Teddy Roosevelt’s ghost recruiting “Rough Riders” at the bar.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
The hotel’s Victorian wing and the old bar area are hot spots for activity. Night photography often yields orbs and light anomalies. Investigators recommend early morning sessions for clearer EVPs.
Access / Tour Info
Still an active hotel; visitors are welcome to explore the lobby and bar. Ghost tours include the Menger as a frequent stop, especially during October.
5. Hotel Galvez / Grand Galvez – Galveston
Historical Background
Opened in 1911, this lavish hotel was built after the devastating 1900 hurricane that wiped out much of Galveston and claimed over 6,000 lives. The hotel became a refuge for the storm-ravaged city and a glamorous resort through the 20th century.
Paranormal Reports
The “Lovelorn Lady” of Room 501 is said to haunt the hotel, having taken her life after believing her fiancé died at sea. Guests report slamming doors, cold drafts, and faint sobbing in the hallways. Ghostly children and flickering lights appear near the grand staircase.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
Request Room 501 for the full experience, or visit the west tower hallways at night. The hotel sometimes offers ghost-themed tours detailing its history and hauntings.
Access / Tour Info
Now called The Grand Galvez, the property is a fully restored luxury hotel. Public access to the lobby and restaurant is permitted; haunted tours are offered seasonally.
6. Yorktown Memorial Hospital – Yorktown
Historical Background
Built in 1950 and operated by the Felician Sisters, this Catholic hospital treated thousands before closing in 1986. Its history includes numerous deaths, rumored malpractice, and even violent incidents in its later years as a rehabilitation center.
Paranormal Reports
Shadow figures, disembodied voices, and child spirits are common reports. Visitors claim to hear nuns praying in empty halls, and the basement is known for aggressive EVP activity. Photos often reveal strange light patterns and mist.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
The building is one of Texas’s most frequently investigated haunted sites. Bring flashlights, EMF detectors, and extra batteries—equipment often malfunctions here. The chapel and operating room are the most active spots.
Access / Tour Info
Privately owned; access by appointment only through official paranormal tours. Night investigations are available for small groups.
7. USS Lexington – Corpus Christi
Historical Background
Commissioned in 1943, this Essex-class aircraft carrier served in the Pacific during World War II and earned 11 battle stars. Nicknamed “The Blue Ghost” by the Japanese for its repeated returns after being reported sunk, it was decommissioned in 1991 and turned into a museum ship.
Paranormal Reports
Visitors and staff have encountered sailors in WWII uniforms, phantom footsteps, and voices over the intercom. The engine room and flight deck are especially active. Cold spots and unexplained machinery noises are common after dark.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
The ship runs nighttime “haunted” tours with dim lighting for a chilling experience. Bring digital recorders for the lower decks—many EVPs have been captured near the brig and sickbay.
Access / Tour Info
Open daily as a museum and national landmark. Public ghost tours and overnight investigations offered seasonally.
8. Baker Hotel – Mineral Wells
Historical Background
Opened in 1929, the Baker was one of the grandest hotels in the Southwest, famous for its mineral baths. Financial hardship, suicides, and strange deaths marked its history before closing in 1972. It is currently undergoing restoration.
Paranormal Reports
Ghostly apparitions, including a “Lady in White,” a bellboy, and the spirit of a hotel manager, are said to roam the halls. Cold spots, perfume smells, and shadow figures appear on the 7th floor and in the ballroom.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
Though under renovation, exterior tours and paranormal investigations are sometimes offered. Bring EMF detectors and cameras—activity is strongest around the lobby windows at night.
Access / Tour Info
Currently closed to the public for restoration, with occasional scheduled tours and events announced by the city.
9. Miss Molly’s Hotel – Fort Worth Stockyards
Historical Background
Opened in 1910 as the Palace Rooms, Miss Molly’s served as a bordello and later as a boarding house. It was restored in the 1980s and retains its early 20th-century décor and charm.
Paranormal Reports
Guests hear laughter, footsteps, and women’s voices in empty rooms. Ghostly figures in old-fashioned clothing appear at the ends of hallways. Room 3 (“Jake’s Room”) and Room 6 (“Miss Josie’s Room”) are the most active.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
A favorite for small paranormal groups. Use night vision or thermal cameras—light anomalies are often caught near the front hallway. Staff happily share ghost stories.
Access / Tour Info
Still operates as a functioning bed and breakfast in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Overnight stays in haunted rooms can be booked online.
10. La Carafe – Houston
Historical Background
Built in 1847, La Carafe is Houston’s oldest continuously operated building. It has served as a bakery, store, and saloon through wars and Prohibition. Its candlelit interior preserves the city’s frontier atmosphere.
Paranormal Reports
Patrons have reported flickering lights, bottles moving by themselves, and the ghost of a former bartender watching from the upstairs balcony. The sound of footsteps and whispers often occur after closing.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
Visit late at night when the bar quiets down; activity is strongest on the second floor. Bartenders are usually open to sharing stories and letting investigators take quick readings.
Access / Tour Info
Still open nightly as a wine bar. Access is free with purchase; no official ghost tours, but it’s a beloved local haunt (literally).
11. Excelsior House Hotel – Jefferson
Historical Background
Dating to the 1850s, the Excelsior House hosted luminaries like Ulysses S. Grant and Oscar Wilde. Jefferson was once a bustling riverport, and the hotel’s Victorian rooms remain much as they were over a century ago.
Paranormal Reports
Guests have seen shadow figures, flickering lights, and objects moving on their own. Director Steven Spielberg famously cut short his stay after an unexplained experience in his room.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
Rooms 215 and 218 are reported hot spots. Bring a small recorder for possible EVPs and ask staff about Spielberg’s stay—many will share details.
Access / Tour Info
Still operates as a historic hotel. Overnight stays encouraged; local ghost tours often include the Excelsior as a key stop.
12. Marfa Lights – Marfa
Historical Background
First documented in 1883 by cowhands, the mysterious Marfa Lights appear on the horizon southeast of the town. The phenomenon has been studied for decades, with explanations ranging from headlights to atmospheric refraction, yet no single cause fits all sightings.
Paranormal Reports
Witnesses describe glowing orbs that split, merge, and dance above the desert floor. They appear without pattern, sometimes shifting colors. Despite scientific observation, their source remains unexplained.
Why Visit / Investigation Tips
The official Marfa Lights Viewing Area offers clear nighttime visibility. Bring binoculars, night-vision scopes, or cameras with long exposure. Many visitors recommend watching just after dusk for the best chance.
Access / Tour Info
Free and open year-round. Located nine miles east of Marfa on U.S. 90, with restrooms, benches, and parking for nightly viewing.