Everything’s bigger in Texas—including its ghost stories. With a rich history of battles, lawlessness, and untimely deaths, the Lone Star State is a hotspot for paranormal activity. From eerie hospitals to haunted hotels, here are the 10 most haunted places in Texas that are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.
1. The Alamo – San Antonio
More than just a historic landmark, the Alamo is believed to be one of the most haunted sites in Texas. Many soldiers died defending this mission in 1836, and their spirits are said to linger. Visitors often report ghostly apparitions of soldiers and eerie whispers after dark. Security guards have even claimed to see phantoms guarding the site at night.
2. Hotel Galvez – Galveston
Nicknamed “The Queen of the Gulf,” the historic Hotel Galvez has hosted presidents and celebrities—but some guests may never have checked out. One of its most famous ghosts is the “Lovelorn Lady,” who allegedly hanged herself in Room 501 after believing her fiancé had died at sea. Staff and visitors have witnessed flickering lights, slamming doors, and ghostly figures in mirrors.
3. Yorktown Memorial Hospital – Yorktown
Abandoned but never quiet, Yorktown Memorial Hospital is now a favorite among paranormal investigators. Built in the 1950s and run by nuns, the hospital has a dark history of mistreatment and deaths. Reports include shadowy figures, voices through static-filled radios, and unexplained scratches on visitors. Entry is now by guided ghost tours—if you dare.
4. The Baker Hotel – Mineral Wells
This once-grand hotel was a symbol of luxury in the early 20th century, but now it’s more famous for ghost sightings than spa treatments. Rumors swirl about a former mistress of the hotel manager who jumped to her death and now haunts the seventh floor. Other guests report phantom bellhops, flickering lights, and the scent of perfume from unseen sources.
5. Presidio La Bahía – Goliad
This Spanish fort, built in the 1700s, witnessed one of the most brutal massacres during the Texas Revolution. Over 300 Texian soldiers were killed, and many believe their spirits still roam the grounds. Visitors frequently hear phantom gunshots, feel cold spots, and see shadowy figures near the chapel and barracks.
6. The Driskill Hotel – Austin
Downtown Austin’s most iconic hotel is also one of its most haunted. Built in 1886, the Driskill is said to be haunted by its namesake, Colonel Jesse Driskill, who lost the hotel in a poker game. Guests report encounters with a ghostly little girl who fell down the stairs, as well as flickering lights, ghostly laughter, and moving objects in empty rooms.
7. Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville – Huntsville
Home to the state’s death chamber, the Texas State Penitentiary has seen thousands of executions. Not surprisingly, it’s riddled with ghost stories. Guards and workers have reported cold chills, disembodied voices, and faces appearing in windows. Some claim to have seen full-bodied apparitions of former inmates wandering the corridors.
8. Marfa Lights – Marfa
While not a haunted house per se, the mysterious Marfa Lights are one of Texas’s strangest and most enduring paranormal phenomena. These glowing orbs appear just outside the town of Marfa and have baffled scientists for decades. Some say they’re ghostly spirits from the past; others claim they’re alien in origin. Either way, they continue to draw ghost hunters and skeptics alike.
9. Catfish Plantation – Waxahachie
Now a charming Southern restaurant, Catfish Plantation was once a Victorian home built in the 1890s—and it still houses former residents who refuse to leave. Employees have seen coffee pots fly off counters, heard doors slam on their own, and felt icy touches. Patrons report seeing a woman in a wedding dress and a man pacing the porch.
10. Jefferson Hotel – Jefferson
Located in one of Texas’s oldest towns, the Jefferson Hotel is infamous for its hauntings. Guests report ghostly children running through the halls, lights turning on by themselves, and a spectral woman in black. One room, in particular—Room 19—is so notorious that some guests refuse to stay there. The hotel leans into its haunted reputation with spooky décor and ghost tours.
Conclusion
From haunted hospitals to ghost-filled hotels, Texas is full of places where the past never quite lets go. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, visiting these eerie locations is bound to leave an impression. If you decide to explore them, be sure to bring a flashlight—and maybe a friend to hold your hand.