5 most haunted places in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas is a wonderfully haunted city. Its ghosts are more colorful than most, with the kinds of histories you’d expect from a “wild west” city. In fact, many of Austin’s ghosts linger because they want to, not because they’re stuck in our earthly plane.
These are the five places that I’d visit with just a brief time to investigate Austin’s ghosts.
1. The Driskill Hotel
You have to stay somewhere when you’re in Austin, so why not stay at the city’s most elegant, haunted hotel?
In my book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, I devote an entire chapter to the Driskill’s great ghosts.
The lobby has at least two ghosts. One is a little girl who follows a bouncing ball (that manifests as an orb) on the staircase near the front desk.
Almost directly across the lobby from that staircase, a small room was once the hotel’s vault. It’s haunted by the cheerful ghost of a Depression-era hotel manager. When the banks closed during one financial crisis, the Driskill’s manager opened the vault and handed out cash to patrons. He trusted them to return the money when they could, and every one of them did. His ghost lingers through hard times and good, occasionally greeting guests in slightly outdated formal wear.
Be sure to visit the Maximilian Room, for some of America’s most haunted mirrors. (For their tragic history, see page 18 & 19 in my book about Austin’s ghosts.)
Upstairs, in addition to famous ghosts such as LBJ, you may catch a glimpse of the phantom hotel security guard. He’s always on the job, striding quickly through the halls to be sure that everyone is safe and sound in this magnificent hotel.
2. Buffalo Billiards, 201 East Sixth Street, Austin, TX
Buffalo Billiards is less than a block away from the Driskill Hotel. In 1861, as the Missouri Hotel, it was Austin’s first “boarding house” and a popular place for a cowboy to find a date… for an hour or so.
Today, the former brothel is one of Austin’s most popular night spots. Stop in for a drink and some food, and you’ll see tourists, locals and scantily-clothed ghosts among the crowd.
3. The Spaghetti Warehouse, 117 West Fourth Street, Austin, TX
When you’re ready for a good, filling meal, Austin’s Spaghetti Warehouse is the place to eat… and encounter ghosts.
Ask your waiter about the latest ghost sightings at the Spaghetti Warehouse. Most of the staff seem to have first-person stories to share.
In addition to quirky poltergeist activity, ask about the ghost who appears as a man — or just legs — around the restaurant’s vault.
After dinner, stroll up the street to the upscale gay men’s bar, Oilcan Harry’s. There, look for one of Austin’s most colorful ghosts, the late madam Blanche Dumont. She’ll be among the dancers.
4. Texas Capitol Building (Visitors’ Ctr: 112 E 11th Street, Austin, TX)
Day and night, you’ll see ghosts around the Capitol building. The most famous is probably Governor Edmund Jackson Davis (1827 – 1883) who is seen gazing from a first-floor window. On foggy and misty days — especially around mid-winter — and around dusk, he’s seen walking on the paved paths around the Capitol building. He’s tall and has a moustache, but people most often comment on his chilling stare. In fact, he often pauses when he sees someone, stares at them, and doesn’t move until they’ve passed him.
If you’re at the Capitol, be sure to walk past the Texas Governor’s Mansion. It has its own dramatic history with multiple hauntings. I recommend early morning photos at the mansion grounds, as well.
5. Oakwood Cemetery and Oakwood Annex Cemetery, Navasota St., Austin, TX
Oakwood Cemetery and its annex may be Austin’s most beautiful and haunted cemetery. There, you can visit the graves of many of Austin’s ghosts including Susannah Wilkerson Dickinson and Ben Thompson.
Most of Austin’s cemeteries close at dusk, but you can take photos through the openings in the fences around Oakwood. If you’ve been in the cemetery during the day, you’ll know exactly where to point your camera to capture eerie, phantom images.
Austin features many more, chilling locations where you can encounter ghosts and other frightening entities. Some of them — such as the nightly appearance of as many as a million bats, around one downtown Austin bridge — are entertaining.
Others, such as the ghost of Jack the Ripper and his victims, are best avoided unless you have nerves of steel.
For more ghosts (and true ghost stories) around Austin, read my book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas.
In its pages, I list over 130 ghosts and haunted places in and near Austin, Texas. You’ll read a full description of the Driskill Hotel’s many ghosts, a list (with details) of Austin’s most haunted cemeteries, the connection between Austin and Jack the Ripper, and the Shoal Creek Curse.
In addition, you’ll discover haunted sites around Austin, including Columbus, Texas. I describe its strange history and many ghosts as something like a “theme park for ghost hunters.”
Buy this book now at Amazon.com
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is there anything at the oasis on lake travis?my wife kinda has a gift.we ate there on july,6 2009.she said she saw a figure with blue orbs around it looking at us as we were taking pics leaving at around 10 or 10:30 pm.if you are looking at the front it was in the second story doorlike windows.just curious.please-mail back.thanks
Hi Blair, I haven’t researched at the Oasis myself, but I’ve heard several convincing stories about hauntings at Lake Travis. If your wife saw something like that, I’d take it seriously.
I went to a camp near lake travis and one of te cabins were haunted. The sink turned on for no reason, the lights did too and there are stories about it. Cunningham cabin.
I am a teenager looking to have some exciting paranormal eperiences, i am very into it and understand it isnt to toy with but i would really like some other closer locations, i am in Cedar Park
James, visit the public library and see my book, “The Ghosts of Austin, Texas.” In it, I list over a hundred possibly haunted locations in and around Austin.
James, if you are serious and really want to do some investigating, go to meetup.com and look for ghost hunting groups. We are listed as Austin Ghost Hunters. We try to do investigations once a month.
Not all are in Austin but we try to get local stuff when we can.
I own a large house that has just been put on the Austin Historical List. 1601 Pearl St. The home was briefly mentioned in last weeks ‘Austin Chronicle’ To cut to the chase, it’s haunted. I also lived in a haunted house in Washington State for years. You don’t pick them, they pick you. Spirits come and go, but always leave a path back when they choose to return. Only one familiar with living under these circumstances understands what i am saying.
For the past few months, I have been staying at my winter cabin, deep in the heart of the Montana woods Anyone that house sits my austin property only lasts for a few nights at a time. Gosh…I wonder why?
JoAnn Koepke
Joann,
Thanks for your comments! Congratulations on being added to the Austin Historical List; your home is in a great location!
If you’re looking for a house sitter next winter, let me know. I might be very interested in spending some time there. Austin is a great location, and we’ll be ready to visit Texas again.
Cheerfully,
Fiona
Joann,
I second Fiona’s motion. If you need a house sitter, please let me know. Though I couldn’t stay in it for the whole winter, (we’ll let Fiona do that) as I teach at a high school. I love history and am a published author of YA mysteries and children’s chapter books. While my books are fiction, I put true history in them and base them on historical facts. I would love to study your house. We as a family have an interest in the paranormal and are an investicative team on weekends. We would love to visit your home for the history and the para investigations. Please email be back if you wouldn’t mind us investicating your house one weekend. Thanks.
Jill Taylor Johse.
Just wanted to say I love your book. So far I have dragged my children to almost all of the cemeteries in the book. Today we are headed out to Devils Backbone!
Hi there! I lived in Austin for around 9 years and miss is greatly. For the past 3 years I’ve been acquiring equipment and conducting paranormal investigations in the mid-west; more specifically, Kansas. I currently reside here. There are some great hot spots here for investigating. Some have yielded some incredible evidence. I am looking to expand my investigation area greatly and was hoping to get some investigations in Austin. I have a team of 4 plus my son. Are the haunted places in Austin fairly cooperative in this area or in allowing investigations to be done? I really like to do my investigations with just my team to preserve the site’s integrity.
Vincent,
Austin is a great location, and — generally — people were very interested in the results of my investigations. My book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, has sold well and I’ve received many happy emails from readers who investigated those locations.
So, though I’m generally given special privileges as a writer, I think you’ll find most Austin location very cooperative.
When you’re in Austin, I especially recommend visiting nearby Columbus. As I describe its haunted sites in my book, it’s like a theme park for ghost hunters; there are that many relatively unexplored haunted locations in and around that town.
However, Austin has hundreds of potentially haunted sites to investigate. Whether you’re there on business or for vacation, you’ll have enough to stay busy, just within walking distance of the Governor’s Mansion.
Cheerfully,
Fiona
Thanks Fiona!
Excellent to hear everyone is relatively receptive to the experience of paranormal investigations. I’m really not surprised considering the “cool” nature of most Austinites.
Thanks again. I’ll let you know how the paranormal tour I’m planning for this summer goes.
Vincent
My husband and I went to a wedding last weekend at the Allen House in downtown Austin, I got a chill when I looked up the staircase to the fourth floor. Later on that evening, the lights in the foyer started flickering and the door behind my husband opened by itself, Any clue?
Hi Angela,
I’m not sure of the ghosts’ history at the Allen House, but it sounds like a very interesting encounter. The ghosts around Austin are still very active in most locations, and I’m constantly amazed at the number of encounters that involved flickering lights of various kinds.
I think it’s a city that deserves far more investigations of its ghosts. My book probably only scratched the surface of the many true ghost stories in Austin.
Cheerfully,
Fiona
Just stayed at the Driskill last week. My wife and I came home late after seeing a music show. In room 806. Woke up in the a.m. and the door was unlatched/open. Not positive that I made sure it was completely shut that night before we went to bed, but this is the first time this has ever happened to me in a hotel. I did not know about the “haunted” aspects to the hotel until after my relatives let me know after our stay. Kind of scary!
Jim,
That’s a great story! I hope you let the front desk know about it. The staff like to hear about their ghosts.
The Driskill is among my favorite haunted hotels, and it has an amazing history. (You can read more about its ghosts in my book, “The Ghosts of Austin, Texas.” The Driskill has a higher-than-average number of colorful spirits.)
Cheerfully,
Fiona
I took a picture inside a building on E. 10th Street (downtown) and was very surprised to see a very distinct, ghostly image behind the people in the picture. Are you aware of any unusual sightings on E. 10th Street?
Hi Elaine,
I’m not sure of that particular address, but my book, “The Ghosts of Austin, Texas,” describes several patterns of hauntings — as well as specific haunted addresses — that may help you identify why your photo has a ghostly image. For starters, you’re looking into the history of the building, and if it was built by Abner Cook. Other that than, see if it’s related to the history of Jack the Ripper, in Austin — also called “The Servant Girl Annihilator.”
Fiona
im wondering if anyone has heard of any activity in the avalon apartments,there off 32nd street .the east side of ih-35..ive been having some really strong energy the last week.some hostile some not.my girlfriend experiences it more than i.i kinda ignore it so it doesnt feed off my energy.but its definatly very active right now..if u have any answers or feedback it will be much appreciated.
Hi, Im 20 years old… i moved to austin this pass december! I came frome Coahoma tx… which for those who dont know is in west texas! Well anyways i never myself seen anything but i have heard storys from my high school and jr. high teachers… That the school was haunted.. like the high school gym and the jr high boys locker room and of course the hall ways of both! I have heard that the jr. high office sec. was staying late and someone pushed the library button.. so she answerd it thinking they were still there as well but know one answerd.. so she went on with her business, Then once again they buzzed the office again so she answerd and still know one… so she stood up and looked across the hall and the library lights were off… it scared her so she went home! but, there are lots more…. They say the school is burried over an indian burial ground! Who knows… so, i really want to goto that hotel!!
What school are you talking about?