Hotels, like houses, can haunted be,
By ghosts one can both hear and see.
In cozy rooms and trysting places,
Spirits dwell in hidden spaces.
Why, there’s a wraith that walks the halls,
Where shadows play upon the walls.
Doorknobs turn, and lights go out,
To tell us spirits are about.
No need to fear, or have alarm,
Our friendly spirits mean no harm.
They loved this inn, and so they cleave,
Close by its shelter, loath to leave.
Please, dear friends, do not feel fright,
When ‘ere you stop to spend the night!
—Docia Schultz Williams
In the eastern half of the Lone Star State, the past weaves haunting tales into the fabric of time. East Texas is an area rich in history, where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur and the secrets of olden days linger in the shadows. Within this enigmatic landscape, a series of spine-chilling stories has emerged, centering on a collection of haunted hotels that stand as silent witnesses to the mysteries of bygone eras.
Amid the Piney Woods, vast prairies and bustling cities, grand establishments beckon travelers with their elegance and timeless charm. Yet beneath the veneer of hospitality lies a tapestry of eerie occurrences and unexplained phenomena that have earned these hotels a reputation as some of the most haunted in the nation.
As night descends, some guests find themselves entangled in spectral encounters, their experiences becoming ghost stories whispered in hushed tones to the next daring guests who venture within the creaking halls. Each hotel possesses a unique and unsettling history, with tales of tragic love, unsolved mysteries and tormented spirits that refuse to rest.
Gather your courage and embark on this adventure through the haunted hotels of Texas. But beware, for the spirits that dwell within may not let you leave without imparting their chilling tales upon your soul.
Of course, the mere existence of ghosts is a subject of much debate and differs depending on personal or religious beliefs and intellectual perspectives. Science has yet to provide evidence of ghosts or spirits, and paranormal sightings are sometimes written off to a host of factors, including misunderstandings of naturally occurring phenomena, psychological and perceptual factors, folklore, and simply plain old pranks. However, ghost stories have long been a part of recorded history, and regardless of their factuality, they still fascinate listeners.
The Excelsior House Hoel today. According to legend, while scouting locations for The Sugarland Express, director Steven Spielberg attempted to stay at the Excelsior House but was startled by apparitions and promptly left with his crew in the middle of the night.
The Excelsior House Hotel
Perhaps the most famous of the haunted hotels in East Texas is the Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson. As the oldest continuously operating hotel in Texas, the Excelsior has hosted famous guests including Ulysses S. Grant, Oscar Wilde, Lady Bird Johnson, President Rutherford B. Hayes and Steven Spielberg (at least for a very short time).
The Excelsior Hotel is believed to be haunted by a ghost named Emily who met a tragic end there. According to legend, Emily was an attractive and dynamic woman who fell deeply in love with a man named Samuel. They had plans to elope and start a new life together, away from their families, both of which were against their marriage.
On a hot summer night, tragedy struck when Samuel had a change of heart and broke off the engagement, leaving Emily heartbroken and alone. Overwhelmed by grief, Emily sought solace at the Excelsior Hotel, where their life’s journey was meant to begin.
According to the legend, at midnight, Emily climbed to the hotel’s rooftop and took her life. Her spirit is said to be confined to the hotel’s walls. Since that incident, guests and staff at the Excelsior Hotel have reported strange encounters and unexplained phenomena. Many guests claim to have seen a ghostly figure, dressed in a flowing white gown, floating down the hallways or by a window, staring into the distance.
One guest even wrote at length about her “visit from the other side” on tripadvisor.com.
“My mother and stepfather were in one bed, and my friend and I in another bed in the same room,” the review reads. “Around midnight, my mother’s arm began to levitate. I went out of my mind and grabbed my camera. At first, I thought she was playing with us, however, I confirmed she was asleep.
“I set up a live feed and began documenting a very long and unusual night. Her arm was in the air and her fingers spread out. During this time the room became freezing cold not once but twice. While mom’s arm was waving around in the air, I was in my bed taking pictures and suddenly felt something walking across my legs. The dents made on the bed covers were very obvious.”
Probably the most prolific story about the Excelsior involves Steven Spielberg, who was in Jefferson in 1973 reviewing locations for his film The Sugarland Express.
According to more than a dozen ghost-related websites and radio station KKYR-FM in Texarkana, “Spielberg stayed in the Jay Gould room, where he tossed his briefcase on a chair, only to have it fly right back at him. In the wee hours of the morning, a small boy awakened the director, asking if he was ready for breakfast. Spielberg allegedly gathered his crew that very minute and checked out of the hotel. He wrote and produced the film Poltergeist soon after.”
There are many different versions of the story, but they all end the same, with Spielberg and his crew departing in the middle of the night. The Historic Jefferson Hotel
While the managers at the Excelsior are understandably reluctant to discuss the property’s alleged supernatural history, another Jefferson landmark touts the fact that it may be haunted. The Historic Jefferson Hotel features its Haunted Bride, Room 19, on the hotel’s website, complete with a video designed to enhance the frightfulness.
According to the hotel, Room 19 is known for its ghostly past. “This room is known for its haunted history,” the hotel’s website says. “There was a bride that hanged herself from this very bed because her husband did not show to the wedding. It is said that she still resides with the antique bed.”
Rates for that room are about 20% less than other rooms in the hotel.
Originally built in 1839, before Texas became a state, the Tremont House in Galveston has three specific ghosts who frequent the hotel, according to the hotel’s guests and employees.
The Tremont House
The Tremont House in Galveston was built in 1839—years before Texas became part of the U.S. It burned down a couple of times and survived the 1900 hurricane, and it still draws guests wanting the thrill of staying in a haunted yet lavish hotel. The Tremont is included as a stop on Galveston’s famous Ghost City Tours, which lead visitors to haunted cemeteries, pubs, homes and hotels on the island.
According to the hotel’s guests and employees, there are three primary ghosts that reside at the Tremont.
The most famous is Sam the Salesman, who, back when Galveston was a gambling mecca, brought his substantial winnings back to his room at the hotel, only to be murdered in his sleep and his winnings stolen. According to tour guides from Ghost City, Sam had a limp and his unique footfalls can be heard in the lobby. Random knocks on hotel doors have also been attributed to his ghost.
The second most-talked about specter at the Tremont is an unidentified Civil War soldier. Several guests over the years have witnessed the soldier marching across the lobby toward the elevator and back again. He has also been seen by guests and hotel employees in offices, the hotel bar and dining room.
The final apparition is that of a young boy, lovingly referred to by hotel employees as Jimmy. This ghost, whose background is unknown, primarily shows himself to new hotel employees, although his presence has been reported to the staff as the one responsible for turning cups over at dining tables occupied by guests.
The Olle Hotel
Sometimes having a ghost or two can be good for business. Over the years, that has been the case with the Olle Hotel in Flatonia.
Guests and employees have reported seeing floating orbs on a regular basis. The orbs differ in color and size and seem to show up spontaneously.
Built in the late 1800s, the Olle was named a Texas Historic Landmark in 2009, but that didn’t stop several apparitions from remaining there. Most often seen—or heard—are a couple arguing at the top of the stairs, supposedly continuing an argument from a century ago that ended with both getting shot.
Another ghost that hasn’t ever been seen but still leaves his mark is that of a cigar smoker, affectionately referred to by the previous owner as Bob. Even though the property is a nonsmoking facility, when Bob is there, guests have reported a strong smell of cigar smoke lingering in the air.
Also in San Antonio, the Menger Hotel has a long history of haunting tales and is considered one of the most haunted hotels in Texas.
The Menger Hotel
The Menger Hotel in San Antonio is a historic establishment with its own spooky tales. Situated next to the Alamo, this impressive hotel attracts visitors with its charming appeal. Beyond its lavish appearance, however, there are rumors of ghostly encounters and strange occurrences.
One of the most famous spirits is well-known Texan Col. Richard King, a successful cattle rancher and the founder of the storied King ranch. He stayed at the Menger Hotel often while he was alive.
The tale goes that even after King passed away, his spirit decided to stay in the hotel. Many have claimed to see the ghostly figure of a tall man wearing a black Stetson hat and a long coat. This apparition is said to move silently through the hallways before disappearing into thin air.
Numerous guests have mentioned seeing other ghostly figures dressed in everything from World War II uniforms and Victorian-era clothing to early hotel staff uniforms wandering around the lobby, only to vanish without explanation.
The hotel’s reputation has attracted many ghost enthusiasts and thrill-seekers. To cater to their curiosity, ghost tours have been organized, allowing guests to explore the most haunted parts of the building and hear the chilling stories connected to each spot. To be totally transparent (no ghost pun intended), I have stayed at the Menger on numerous occasions, and the only time I let out a gasp was when I saw my bill.
The Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio uses tales of its haunted past in its advertising, offering “haunted specials” in October.
The Emily Morgan Hotel
Just a short walk from the Menger is the Emily Morgan Hotel. According to hotel management, during the Battle of the Alamo, there were more than 600 fatalities on the site where the hotel now stands, giving credence to the possibility of ghostly specters.
But rather than downplay the haunted nature of the hotel, management has used it as a selling point in their advertising.
They offer a “Room With a Boo” package every October, which includes an overnight stay, a Halloween gift and breakfast in bed featuring “boo-berry” pancakes.
Many of the stories of mysterious occurrences have come from management and staff at the hotel. For example, a sales manager spending the night at the hotel returned to her room after dinner to find her bathtub filled with blue water. Other staff members have reported doors opening or closing for no reason, and the hotel’s video cameras have captured orbs floating around the premises.
Coincidence or malfunctioning camera? No one is saying.
Austin’s Driskill Hotel dates to the 1880s, and the haunted stories began soon after a state senator’s daughter fell to her death on the main staircase.
Virtually all of the ghostly tales in Texas’ haunted hotels involve a young woman floating through the hallways at night.
Even though this painting, titled Love Letter, is not of the girl who died at the hotel, guests who have viewed the painting in the hotel’s lobby describe feelings of levitation and movement.
The Driskill Hotel
Each year, Yelp publishes its Top 15 Haunted Hotels in Texas list, and the reigning establishment is the Driskill Hotel in Austin. Built in the 1880s, the Driskill has hosted everyone from President Lyndon Johnson (he and Lady Bird had their first date there) to Willie Nelson.
But perhaps the most famous story to come out of the Driskill is that of 4-year-old Samantha Houston, daughter of state Sen. Temple Lea Houston. In 1887, little Samantha and her family were staying at the hotel. Samantha was playing in the hallway at the top of the grand staircase chasing a ball. She tripped and fell to her death down the staircase.
Today, a painting of a little girl hangs at the top of the staircase, and guests have reported several phenomena regarding the portrait, including changes of expression on her face and a sensation of being levitated. Unfortunately, the painting is not of Samantha, it is a replica of a painting by renowned Texas artist William Henry Huddle, yet guests still report mystical manifestations to this day.
There are no doubt many more hotels and motels throughout Texas that may have a ghost or two wandering about, so don’t worry if you happen to hear a bump in the night.
