Soar to: Haunted Inns | Historic Landmarks & Battlegrounds | Eerie Bridges & City Legends | Ghost Excursions
Texas is steeped in historical past, however San Antonio holds the undisputed crown as essentially the most spooky and spirit-filled metropolis within the Lone Star State. From centuries-old Spanish missions and bloody battlefields to Victorian-era motels the place former friends by no means really checked out, shadow figures and eerie encounters are virtually a part of the native tradition.
Whether or not you might be on the lookout for a bone-chilling in a single day keep or a midnight stroll by haunted historical past, town presents infinite alternatives for thrill-seekers and ghost hunters alike. Listed below are a few of the greatest haunted spots San Antonio presents to discover.
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Haunted Locations San Antonio: Legendary Haunted Inns
The Emily Morgan Resort
In-built 1924 as San Antonio’s Medical Arts Constructing, this Gothic Revival skyscraper spent many years housing hospital wards, working rooms, a basement morgue, and a crematorium.
It grew to become a resort in 1984, however in response to employees and friends, a few of its former occupants by no means checked out.
The 14th flooring, which corresponds to the constructing’s thirteenth flooring earlier than the quantity was skipped for superstitious causes, is especially infamous. Friends have reported a lingering antiseptic odor there, even after renovations.
The Emily Morgan ghost tales get even stranger whenever you hear what friends declare to have witnessed. Some have described opening their doorways to seek out an working room within the hallway, full with gurneys and surgical lights, just for the scene to vanish after they look once more.
On the seventh flooring, witnesses have reported seeing a nurse in a Nineteen Twenties uniform pushing a gurney earlier than vanishing right into a wall.
Then there’s Room 810, the place an actual homicide happened in 2008. Friends have subsequently reported feeling watched or listening to unexplained whispers.
Even the resort’s exterior is ominous. The constructing’s well-known gargoyles had been designed to depict medical illnesses, together with toothaches, stomachaches, and migraines. Apparently, the architects had a reasonably darkish humorousness.
E book a keep should you dare, significantly on one of many flooring related to the reported exercise. Simply don’t anticipate a midnight home name to return with a complimentary breakfast.
When: Open 24/7Where: 705 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free to go to
The Menger Resort
The Menger Resort has been welcoming friends since 1859, however a few of its most well-known residents apparently don’t have any intention of leaving.
Constructed beside the Alamo battlefield, this historic resort has amassed generations of ghost tales. One in every of its best-known spirits is Sallie White, a chambermaid who was shot by her husband in 1876 and died two days later.
The resort reportedly helped pay for her funeral, and an previous ledger documenting her dying is displayed within the foyer. Since then, friends and employees have claimed to see a girl resembling Sallie wandering the third flooring in a protracted grey skirt and bandanna, typically carrying recent towels.
Past that, you even have what folks assume is likely to be Theodore Roosevelt’s ghost within the Menger Bar. Roosevelt recruited cowboys for the Tough Riders in 1898 in that very bar. And employees have described seeing a mustachioed man carrying glasses who disappears earlier than anybody else can get a glance, which they imagine is likely to be him.
With its Victorian interiors, old school bar, and tales tied to recognizable historic figures, the Menger is without doubt one of the greatest stops for anybody exploring haunted locations San Antonio has to supply.
When: Open 24/7Where: 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free to go to
The St. Anthony Resort
The St. Anthony Resort’s ghost tales embody a mysterious girl in pink, unexplained footsteps, and a chilling connection to certainly one of San Antonio’s most annoying unsolved homicide instances.
The story begins in 1965 on the close by Gunter Resort, the place Walter Emerick checked into Room 636 beneath a false identify with a girl accompanying him. Two days later, a housekeeper found the room coated in blood with no physique.
Investigators suspected Emerick had killed his companion and disposed of her stays, however they by no means recovered a physique or recognized the girl.
After leaving the Gunter, Emerick checked into the St. Anthony Resort beneath one other alias. He requested Room 636, the identical room quantity he’d occupied on the Gunter, but it surely was already taken. As an alternative, he settled for Room 536, one flooring beneath. Police finally traced him there, however earlier than they may query him, Emerick died by suicide.
He took the solutions to the girl’s disappearance with him, leaving certainly one of San Antonio’s most annoying unsolved homicide instances unresolved.
Room 536 has since been divided into two rooms, and friends in each describe a persistent, sourceless discomfort.
Different reported apparitions embody a Girl in Pink who enters the ground-floor girls’s marble lavatory, accompanied by the sound of heels clicking throughout the ground, solely to vanish when somebody checks the stalls.
When: Open 24/7Where: 300 E Travis St, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free to go to
The Crockett Resort
The resort’s out of doors pool and patio sit on the location the place Davy Crockett and the Texian defenders of the Alamo’s southeast palisade made their remaining stand on March 6, 1836.
Outnumbered by Mexican forces beneath Basic Santa Anna, the defenders had been overrun earlier than the battle resulted in a devastating defeat.
If native accounts are to be believed, a few of the males who died there by no means fairly left. Friends have reported listening to chanting and unexplained footsteps, whereas employees have described seeing a person in a darkish blue jacket resembling a Texian soldier’s uniform.
He reportedly walks towards the pool earlier than disappearing into skinny air. The apparition appears to be heading towards the very floor the place the preventing as soon as raged.
The resort’s government workplaces are additionally one other paranormal hotspot. They stand the place Basic Santa Anna’s troops staged earlier than breaching the Alamo’s partitions. Investigators who visited the resort reportedly encountered a second spirit there. In contrast to the soldier seen outdoors, this presence was described as quieter and reluctant to speak.
In 2019, a visitor described waking in a darkish room to a gurgling, choking sound and seeing a smoky determine close to the door, which they interpreted as a soldier dying of a battle wound.
Whereas the Menger and the Emily Morgan absorbed the battle’s aftermath from a distance, the Crockett was constructed on the precise spot the place the preventing ended.
When: Open 24/7Where: 320 Bonham Ste 2, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free to go to
Resort Gibbs
When staff broke floor for the Gibbs Constructing in 1909, they uncovered cannons from the Alamo, buried beneath the location since 1836. The Mexican Military had reportedly hidden the artillery after the Battle of San Jacinto to render the weapons inoperable.
The cannons had been finally eliminated and despatched to museums round San Antonio, however in response to individuals who have labored on the resort, that’s when the unusual sightings started.
Safety guards and friends have reported seeing shadowy figures pushing what seems to be a cannon throughout the road towards the constructing, just for the figures to fade earlier than reaching it.
Years later, in 1852, Texas Declaration of Independence signer Samuel Maverick constructed his home on the identical floor. Based on native accounts, Maverick felt compelled to stay the place his fallen comrades had died.
When staff excavated the muse for his home, they reportedly uncovered one other cache of the identical buried cannons.
Aside from the cannons, the constructing was additionally the final in San Antonio to make use of human elevator operators. The decommissioned lifts at the moment are gated off and closed to friends, however stories of unexplained exercise persist.
Their doorways have reportedly closed on girls wearing interval clothes, and witnesses have described seeing the silhouette of a ghostly elevator operator by the gate simply earlier than the elevator descends.
When: VariesWhere: 105 N Alamo St, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: $75
Historic Landmarks & Battlegrounds
The Alamo Grounds
Picture credit score: The Alamo
The Alamo is already certainly one of San Antonio’s most well-known historic landmarks, however stick round for the ghost tales, and also you’ll have an entire new cause to look twice at its previous stone partitions.
Based on a longstanding native legend, Mexican troopers despatched to demolish the chapel shortly after the 1836 battle fled after encountering mysterious figures carrying flaming swords.
One other account describes a luminous determine showing above the Lengthy Barracks, holding what appeared like balls of fireside. Whether or not these tales grew from frightened troopers, battlefield folklore, or one thing tougher to elucidate, they’ve grow to be a part of the Alamo’s enduring popularity.
The tales didn’t finish with the battle. Guards and night time watchmen have reportedly skilled unsettling encounters on the grounds, whereas guests have described seeing shadowy figures across the chapel and Lengthy Barracks.
Different native legends characteristic Basic Martín Perfecto de Cos’s fellow Mexican commander, Basic Manuel Fernández Castrillón, supposedly wandering the grounds together with his head bowed, and a mysterious man holding a baby showing alongside the chapel roofline.
In fact, the actual historical past is sobering sufficient. The unique Alamo compound coated a a lot bigger space than the chapel you see right this moment, and the 1836 battle killed tons of of Texian defenders and Mexican troopers. The destiny and remaining resting locations of a few of the lifeless stay topics of historic dialogue.
When: Open 24/7Where: 300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free to go to
Spanish Governor’s Palace
Picture credit score: Spanish Governor’s Palace
The Spanish Governor’s Palace wasn’t truly a governor’s residence. The identify caught, however this 18th-century stone-and-adobe constructing served as the house and headquarters of Spanish navy officers.
However the palace’s best-known haunting facilities on the Girl in Gray. Based on tales, burglars as soon as attacked a girl dwelling within the constructing and demanded that she reveal the place the family valuables had been hidden. She refused and was killed. Some variations of the story declare her physique was thrown into the courtyard properly, which is now capped.
Guests and night time guards have reportedly heard unexplained moaning close to the properly and noticed a girl in grey close to the home windows. Paranormal investigators have additionally described uncommon sounds and obvious figures throughout investigations.
The grounds are additionally related to a so-called Hanging Tree, the place native lore says executions happened through the colonial period.
Discover the courtyard whereas the location is open, take within the historic particulars, and save the ghost tales to your stroll again by downtown.
When: Tuesday – Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm | Sunday: 10 am – 5 pmWhere: 105 Plaza de Armas, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: $6 | $4 for seniors and navy | $3 for youths 3 – 13 | Free for youths 12 and beneath
San Fernando Cathedral
San Fernando Cathedral holds certainly one of San Antonio’s most enduring Alamo mysteries simply outdoors its doorways: a marble sarcophagus believed to include the stays of fallen defenders. The story traces again to 1936, when staff renovating the cathedral reportedly found a decayed coffin containing charred bones, nails, and fragments of navy uniforms.
The discover appeared to help an account by Juan Seguín, who mentioned the defenders’ stays had been collected and buried beneath the cathedral’s altar. Some historians, nevertheless, have questioned whether or not the recovered stays will be definitively recognized as these of Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and William Travis.
The uncertainty leaves a tantalizing query on the coronary heart of the cathedral’s ghost tales: whose stays had been truly discovered?
Bowie’s connection to San Fernando provides a extra private layer to its historical past. He married Ursula de Veramendi on the cathedral in 1831, however their story resulted in tragedy. Ursula and several other members of her household died throughout a cholera outbreak, and Bowie himself was killed on the Alamo in 1836.
Some ghost tour accounts hyperlink these occasions to stories of a mysterious determine close to the cathedral partitions. Guests have additionally described seeing faces or shadowy types within the exterior limestone, particularly after darkish.
When: Monday – Friday: 9 am – 5 pm | Saturday – Sunday: 9 am – 6 pmWhere: 115 Principal Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free
La Villita Historic Arts Village
A lady in a white apron reportedly seems inside Chamade Jewellery Retailer, lingering in a constructing whose previous might clarify her uncommon apparel. Native lore identifies her as a former baker, and she or he’s not the one presence mentioned to hang-out La Villita’s historic buildings.
Guests and staff have additionally reported unexplained chilly spots, objects shifting on their very own, and voices coming from rooms the place nobody seems to be current.
Just a few steps away, the Gissi Home has a unique form of haunting. Based on native legend, the laughter of a bit of woman can typically be heard across the property. She’s believed by some to be the granddaughter of former resident Cirilus Gissi, an Alsatian immigrant who reportedly hid gold on the grounds.
Then there’s the River Artwork Gallery, the place native accounts describe an apparition often called the Girl in White. In contrast to the playful-sounding presence related to the Gissi Home, this determine is described as unhappy and quiet.
These legends linger in a neighborhood that has seen centuries of change. La Villita grew from an early settlement right into a group of Spanish troopers and settlers, endured a devastating flood in 1819, and later fell into disrepair earlier than being restored as an arts village in 1939.
Right now, its brick pathways and historic buildings home artisan outlets and galleries, however their reported hauntings provide another excuse to look past the storefronts.
When: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm | Sunday: 11 am – 4 pmWhere: 418 Villita St, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Free
The Majestic Theatre
On the Majestic Theatre, a few of the reported friends might by no means depart when the curtain falls. The theater’s best-known ghost story facilities on a girl who supposedly seems in the identical second-floor field seat, leaning over the railing as if she’s following the efficiency beneath.
Workers and guests have speculated that she’s a loyal theatergoer who by no means stopped attending exhibits, even after dying. Some accounts name her Magdalene, though her identification stays unverified.
Different sightings embody that of phantom dancers and a performer often called Zoroastro, who supposedly continues his act lengthy after his remaining curtain name.
Opened in 1929, the Majestic was designed to move audiences into one other world. Its deep-blue ceiling, dotted with stars and crossed by projected clouds, creates the phantasm of watching a efficiency beneath the night time sky. It was as soon as the biggest theater in Texas and was celebrated for its air-con when that was nonetheless a significant draw. Right now, it continues to host Broadway touring productions, live shows, and different stay performances.
Catch a present or look right into a venue tour, and control the second-floor packing containers. You may depart remembering the efficiency or questioning whether or not somebody within the viewers was watching from a seat that ought to have been empty.
When: Varies by performanceWhere: 224 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205How A lot: Varies by efficiency
Eerie Bridges & City Legends
The Ghost Tracks (San Antonio Ghost Tracks)
The San Antonio Ghost Tracks are well-known for a chilling declare: the spirits of youngsters killed in a college bus accident will push your automotive away from the railroad tracks to maintain you protected.
Guests say they’ll put their automobile in impartial and watch it roll away from the crossing, typically leaving what seem like tiny handprints in child powder dusted throughout the rear bumper.
There’s a significant twist to the story, although. The deadly college bus accident related to the legend occurred in South Jordan, Utah, in 1938, not in San Antonio. Over time, the tragedy grew to become connected to this South Facet railroad crossing, giving rise to the native perception that the youngsters’s spirits nonetheless shield passing motorists.
When: Open 24/7Where: San Antonio, TX 78214How A lot: Free
Donkey Girl Bridge
The Donkey Girl legend begins with a girl who suffered horrific burns in a fireplace and have become a determine of concern in San Antonio folklore.
The main points fluctuate by account: in a single model, her husband intentionally began the fireplace, killing their kids and leaving her disfigured; different tellings provide completely different explanations for her accidents. Some variations say she later died close to Elm Creek, solely to return as a donkey-like apparition.
Her story grew to become connected to the previous bridge on Applewhite Street, the place the legend warns that anybody who goes on the lookout for her may get greater than they bargained for.
Individuals who declare to have encountered the Donkey Girl describe eerie braying from the encircling woods, unexplained thumps in opposition to their automobiles, and a distorted face showing beside a automotive window.
Some accounts go additional, claiming the creature leaves hoof-shaped dents in automotive panels. These stories stay unverified, however they’ve helped flip the bridge into certainly one of San Antonio’s best-known city legends.
The legend has additionally impressed native storytelling and inventive interpretations that discover violence, exclusion, and the way in which society treats individuals who look or behave otherwise.
When: Open 24/7Where: Applewhite Rd, San Antonio, TX 78264How A lot: Free
Haunted San Antonio Ghost Excursions
Ghost Metropolis Excursions San Antonio
Picture credit score: Ghost Metropolis Excursions
Ghost Metropolis Excursions takes you thru a few of San Antonio’s best-known haunted landmarks, together with the Alamo, Menger Resort, San Fernando Cathedral, and Majestic Theatre.
For a night that mixes ghost tales with drinks, the corporate’s adults-oriented Haunted Pub Crawl visits historic bars whereas exploring their haunted reputations.
The Madames and Mayhem tour takes a unique strategy, exploring San Antonio’s former Pink Mild District by tales of crime, vice, and the folks typically omitted of typical accounts of town’s historical past.
Earlier than reserving, verify the operator’s present listings for accessible excursions, age restrictions, departure factors, and schedules. Tour routes and choices can change, so affirm which landmarks are included in your chosen expertise.
When: Varies by scheduleWhere: Numerous places in San AntonioHow A lot: Begins at $29.99
Sisters Grimm Ghost Excursions
Picture credit score: Sisters Grimm Ghost Excursions
Sisters Grimm Ghost Excursions builds its San Antonio experiences round native historical past, city legends, and reported paranormal encounters.
Its Haunted Historical past Ghost Stroll visits landmarks such because the Alamo, Spanish Governor’s Palace, Menger Resort, and Previous Bexar County Jail. Guides join the ghost tales to the folks and occasions behind them, providing you with the historic context behind every location’s popularity.
For a wider-ranging expertise, the Ghost Bus Tour takes friends past the downtown strolling path to further historic places. Relying on the itinerary, stops might embody the Menger Resort and a historic cemetery, the place guides focus on native historical past, burial traditions, and the symbolism discovered on previous headstones.
Sisters Grimm additionally presents a Ghost Bus Pub Crawl, combining haunted-history storytelling with bar stops.
Test the present tour descriptions earlier than reserving to verify the route, included admissions, schedule, and any further charges.
When: Varies by scheduleWhere: Numerous places in San AntonioHow A lot: Begins at $25
Know Earlier than You Go: Exploring Haunted Locations San Antonio
Whereas lots of the major haunted websites and historic motels are centered immediately round Alamo Plaza and the River Stroll downtown, a number of well-known city legends are unfold throughout the Larger San Antonio space.
Landmarks just like the Ghost Tracks and Donkey Girl Bridge are positioned on the South Facet close to suburbs like Southside and Harlandale.
If you’re commuting in from surrounding suburbs reminiscent of New Braunfels, Schertz, Boerne, or Stone Oak, anticipate a simple 20 to 30-minute drive down I-35 or I-10 into downtown.
Parking garages round Alamo Plaza replenish shortly on weekend nights, so using rideshare providers or parking close to Houston Avenue is really helpful when attending late-night ghost excursions.
Widespread Questions on Haunted Locations in San Antonio
What’s essentially the most haunted place in San Antonio?
The Emily Morgan Resort and The Alamo are tied as essentially the most famously haunted places in San Antonio. The Emily Morgan Resort is nationally acknowledged as one of the vital haunted motels in America on account of its former life as a medical facility full with a morgue, whereas the Alamo carries almost 200 years of ghostly sightings following the historic 1836 battle.
Are ghost excursions in San Antonio kid-friendly?
Sure! Many ghost tour operators like Ghost Metropolis Excursions provide all-ages night strolling excursions that focus totally on fascinating Texas historical past and spooky folklore appropriate for households. Nonetheless, late-night pub crawls and “adults-only” true crime excursions are restricted to friends aged 21 and older.
Are you able to go to haunted spots in San Antonio without cost?
Completely! Landmark places like The Alamo grounds, San Fernando Cathedral, La Villita Historic Arts Village, and public city legend websites just like the Donkey Girl Bridge and Ghost Tracks are utterly free to go to and discover by yourself.
On the lookout for extra? See the upcoming Weekend Occasions in San Antonio.
Maya is a lifelong Texan native to the San Antonio space. Between her English research at UTSA, two younger kids, and small herd of canine, she’s at all times on the lookout for methods to get out and become involved. When she’s inside she’s studying, writing, or taking part in video video games, however she’s at all times prepared for a aspect quest to native museums, exhibitions, and occasions.
