Texas offers many opportunities for ghost hunters. Between Texas’ rich history and its cultural diversity, there is something in Texas for every paranormal enthusiast.

For links to our investigations and articles, see The Ghosts of Haunted Texas.

Here are some of Texas’ most famous haunts:

Alpine - Marfa Mystery Lights

• TSHA Online: Marfa Lights
• Marfa Chamber of Commerce: Marfa Lights and Festival

These nightly floating balls of light have been seen for over a hundred years. They range from one to over ten feet in size, and appear in a variety of colors including red, orange, green, and yellow.

Some viewers report a “tuning fork” sound when the lights appear.

Native legends claim that they are the spirit of Apache Chief Alsate who offended a god and was denied access to the afterlife. Pioneer legends favor a tale about a lost family from the mid-19th century.

The location is about 25 miles west of Alpine, in Presidio County. About eight miles east of Marfa on U.S. Highway 90, look for a plaque about the Marfa Lights. That’s one of the best viewing spots for the lights. Nearby, the Texas Highway Department has provided a paved, slightly sheltered viewing area.

Offsite links:

Austin

From the Driskill Hotel’s many ghosts to the dead who haunt the shores of Shoal Creek, Austin is a great location for ghost hunting. See Fiona’s book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas. [And the official website: The Ghosts of Austin, Texas]

Columbus

This great city is great for ghost enthusiasts, with a 20-year feud in its “wild west” days, an internationally famous artist who creates “ghost paintings” and an annual “Live Oaks and Dead Folks” event near Halloween. See our reports at Ghosts of Columbus, Texas

Galveston–well known for its famous flood–has some profoundly haunted sites. We’ve conducted some casual investigations, and can confirm that the The Bishop’s Palace (1402 Broadway) is haunted.

The Bishop’s Palace, the church across the street, and the nearby rectory are all good sites for “ghost orb” photos.

There are many other haunted locations in Galveston, and others are far more knowledgeable than we are about the ghosts of Galveston. We can definitely state that Galveston is worth visiting for its ghost tours and haunted sites.

Houston

See our articles linked at Real Ghosts of Houston, Texas and vicinity.

Katy

Named after the “KT” in the name of the MKT railroad line, Katy is a quiet town with some fine sites for ghost hunting. We’ve had good, consistent results at the Katy train depot, and we’re investigating some other public sites that seem to be haunted.

San Antonio - The Alamo

• TexasEscapes.com: The Alamo and An Alamo Ghost Encounter
• Legends of America: Ghosts of the Alamo
• Official Site: The Alamo - San Antonio, TX

The Alamo is Texas’ most-visited historic site. Like many famous battle sites, the Alamo is haunted by a variety of ghosts. What makes the Alamo different from many hauntings is that the ghosts appeared almost immediately after the battle, and they’re often described as “grotesque.” Today, those ghosts continue to appear, even in broad daylight.The Alamo is located in downtown San Antonio, Texas.

Offsite links:
Spring

Some people claim that Spring, Texas–specifically Old Town Spring–is the most haunted town in Texas. We’re not too sure about that, but the town is definitely haunted and well worth visiting. With over 100 quaint shops and many annual festivals, Spring is a great weekend destination. Our notes begin at Ghost hunting in Spring, Texas and vicinity

Links to other Texas ghost hunters:

• Lone Star Spirits (Highly recommended)
• South Texas Ghost Hunters Alliance (San Antonio area)