Category: US – Texas

Ghost hunting in Texas, especially around Houston and Austin. Locations, tips, and case studies.

Houston, TX – Bear Creek Park Orb

Bear Creek Park is in Houston, Texas, around haunted Patterson Road and Highway 6. [Google Maps]

The park includes many fields that are popular for sporting activities at night, but the park itself is very dark.

Bear Creek Park is also the home of the most famous “blue light cemetery” in the Houston area. However, that isolated cemetery is very difficult to find unless you know exactly where to look, and — due to access restrictions and a history of violence at the site — not recommended as a research site.

Nearby Patterson Road is a more famous and accessible haunted site. (See our preliminary report: Houston – Haunted Patterson Road.)

After investigating Patterson Road on 11 May 2005, we took a photo inside Bear Creek Park for comparison. Although this print (from film) is very dark, it shows one of the best orbs of the evening:

Orb at Bear Creek Park, Houston, TX

It’s not a great photo, and it’s only one orb. I realize that’s not impressive. However, I’m reporting this site (and sharing the photo) because:

  • The area has a rich, ghost-friendly history.
  • Reported anomalies aren’t run-of-the-mill occurrences.
  • Day or night, our investigations have been consistently odd, in certain areas of the park.

The picture (above) was taken at random, so we can’t tell you exactly where it was. It’s most likely that we stopped at the first parking lot on your right as you enter the park from Patterson Road. This is a very small parking area that will hold four cars or less.

The camera was pointed to the right of the gate that leads to hiking and equestrian trails.

The image quality is too poor to determine if there are other genuine orbs in the photo. However, the one that the arrow points towards is definitely a real orb.

Follow-up: After we posted this photo, someone identified this as the site where a motorcyclist was killed a few years ago.

This is exactly what I look for in a haunted site: When we find an anomaly, without knowing ahead of time that it was at a spot with a ghostly history.

Houston, TX – Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Pt 1

Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Houston, TX
Sign at Addicks Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery, Houston, TX

Addicks Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery (at the corner of Patterson Road and Highway 6) is one of several cemeteries near Bear Creek Park, Houston, TX.

This is a 20th century cemetery, still in use.

However, this isn’t the first resting place of this cemetery. The move occurred after repeated regional flooding, including the Galveston flood of 1900 which destroyed the town of Addicks.

We investigated this cemetery on Saturday evening, May 13th, 2006 with the Texas Paranormal Meetup group.

I can’t say that the cemetery isn’t haunted. However, preliminary research suggests that it’s not especially active.

This should have been a good evening for an investigation. It was the night of the full moon. The weather was relatively cool and dry. Next to the cemetery, a Highland Games festival brought extra energy to the day.

So, all the elements were there, for a productive investigation.

About a dozen of us investigated. We checked for EMF, EVP, and photographic anomalies.   We found nothing of note.

In the Bear Creek Park area, that’s almost an anomaly in itself.

Nearby, several other sites — especially Patterson Road — are better locations for investigations.

EMF

Three different EMF meters and a compass showed no significant electromagnetic energy at this site.

However, the cemetery is fenced and padlocked so that we could only check EMF levels at the fence.

EVP

So far, EVP appears to be inconclusive.

Vehicles speeding past the cemetery on Highway 6 add noise that’s difficult to filter out. Because the cars and trucks are sporadic and produce various sounds — including radio and recorded voices and music — any EVP from this cemetery would have to be distinctive.

Photos

We have many photos with orbs, but  – until I have time to analyze them more thoroughly – most of them must be discounted.

See our other page in this series for a typical orb photo from our investigation at Addicks Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery, Houston, TX.

Houston, TX – Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery orbs

 

Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Houston, TX
Sign at Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Houston, TX

We visited the Addicks Bear Creek cemetery on Saturday evening, May 13th, 2006 with the Texas Paranormal Meetup group.

This report continues from Houston – Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery article, page one.

We found no elevated EMF readings and no conclusive EVP during our May 2006 visit.

Photos

The following photo is typical of the few orb photos that we took during our investigation.

We’ve analyzed the three apparent anomalies using numbers to indicate them.

Orbs at Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Houston, TX

1. This orb is too bright, opaque, and irregular to be a ‘ghost orb’. It is probably an insect. I’m not sure whether the light area on or in front of the upright monument is natural or an anomaly.

2. This is probably an insect or a reflection of the orb indicated by #1. It may be a genuine anomaly–it is a circle and translucent–but with the light in the background and the vivid, buglike orb nearby, we have to discount it.

3. This is probably an insect, or it may be a distant light.

It’s possible that this cemetery is haunted, but we saw little evidence of it in May 2006.

Further investigations, especially around Halloween, might be more productive. The moved bodies plus unmarked graves suggest that some hauntings are likely. We just didn’t find much evidence to support that.

However, despite its convenience, this doesn’t seem to be a ‘hot spot’ for ghost research. Nearby Patterson Road is vastly better.

Haunted Bear Creek Bridge – May 2006 Report

Bear Creek Bridge on Houston’s Patterson Road is haunted.

It may not be as haunted as nearby Langham Creek Bridge, but it’s worth investigating anyway.

Bear Creek Ghosts - May 2006At Bear Creek Bridge, we’ve heard the tapping on the outside of the car.

During several other visits, we’ve seen the “sparkle” effect when we’ve taken flash photos. Psychic members of our team sensed energy there, as well. (See our May 2005 reports.)

With the Texas Paranormal Society, we visited Bear Creek Bridge in May 2006. We did not hear the tapping sound this time.

However, the visual anomalies were stronger.

In fact, we felt that the park was far more haunted than during our previous investigations at Patterson Road. More recent reports suggest that’s been a trend over many years.

In May 2006, most of our photos showed minor orbs on the south side of the bridge, and a few other anomalies. All of them had to be discounted due to fleeting mists that night, as well as flying insects.

The sparkles were extraordinary on this evening. The effect was probably enhanced by the bugs, but it’s easy to tell the difference between bugs in real life, and in photos.

Moth in photo at Bear Creek ParkFor example, that’s definitely a bug – probably a moth – in the Bear Creek photo at right.

Because there were bugs when we were researching, we discount any orbs that look questionable.

(If the orb isn’t a perfect circle, or if it seems to have a solid mass near the center, it’s probably not paranormal.)

In this case, it’s clearly an insect.

Tip: If you’re ghost hunting after dark and any street lights are near, study them for a few minutes. Many insects are drawn to light, and you’ll be able to see them in front of any lamp or street light.

Not sure? Turn on a flashlight and prop it, pointing slightly up, on the ground. Then, walk away, at least a dozen feet. After that, wait and see if the light attracts bugs.

If you see bugs there, they’re probably in your photos, as well.

Orbs at a ‘hanging tree’?

Tree with orbs, at Bear Creek Park, Houston, TXIn this next photo, minor orbs seemed to linger around one tree. It’s the wrong shape to be a ‘hanging tree’, but it had that kind of energy around it.

Though the nearest Civil War battles occurred at Sabine Pass and in Galveston Bay, soldiers did march in this area.

Something happened near this tree. The orb isn’t much, but the other, related psychic evidence was compelling.

Our EVP indicated activity, as well.

Most legends related to ghosts in that area describe soldiers who deserted their comrades and were caught… and then hung as traitors.

The area deliberately flooded after the Galveston Flood has its own ghostly history, and those spirits may lurk in the wooded areas of Bear Creek Park.

Nearby, “blue light cemetery” is famous, as well, but not as accessible.

I recommend investigating around Bear Creek Bridge, especially near this tree. It’s on the south side of Patterson Road in Houston, and on the Eldridge side of the Bear Creek Bridge, not the Highway 6 side.

The side of the road slopes steeply, but there is room to park parallel to the road, just off the pavement.

Texas Ghost Hunting

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 reports from my own investigations, see The Ghosts of Haunted Texas.

The following are some of Texas’ most famous haunts. Some links may not work. (Known broken links are noted with an asterisk.) I’m leaving them here, in case they return to the Internet. If they don’t, check the Wayback Machine for archived copies.

Alpine – Marfa Mystery Lights

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.

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 my articles at this website, and my book, 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.  See my report at my ghosts of Columbus, Texas articles.

Galveston

Bishop's castle - or palace - Galveston, TX
Bishop’s Palace, Galveston, TX.

Well known for its famous flood, Galveston, has some profoundly haunted sites. I’ve conducted some casual investigations, and can confirm that the The Bishop’s Palace (1402 Broadway) is haunted. (It’s also called the “bishop’s castle” by people in the area.)

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.

From the Bishop’s Palace website, as of October 2009:

Rentals The Bishop’s Palace makes a fine setting for wedding photography by arrangement. (Tour visitors are not allowed to take photographs*.) For rental information, call 409-762-3933, or email Vicki.Amundsen@galvestonhistory.org.

*In other words, it looks as if you won’t be able to take photos if you tour the site as part of a regular group. If you want to take “ghost photos” (recommended), you’ll need to make special arrangements. When we visited, the Bishop’s Palace was open to tours as well as religious retreats, and it was maintained by the Catholic church.

Houston

See my 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. I’ve had good results, ghost hunting around  the Katy train depot.  See my articles about Katy’s ghosts.

San Antonio – The Alamo

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.

Spring

Some people claim that Spring, Texas — specifically Old Town Spring — is the most haunted town in Texas. I’m 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.

My notes begin at Ghost Hunting in Spring, Texas and vicinity.

Links to other Texas ghost hunters:

Houston, TX – Ghosts (Links)

Houston is one of America’s largest cities, and it has dozens–perhaps hundreds–of haunted sites. These are just a few that I’ve investigated, with a research partner or with a group.

Glenwood Cemetery (a Washington Ave. Cemetery)

    An early investigation of this cemetery shows good EMF readings but no daytime orbs.

Woodlawn Cemetery (across the street from IKEA)
Woodlawn is a charming, mostly modern cemetery, privately owned and managed by a Houston family.Generally, this location is not suited to ghost hunting. It is carefully maintained, with gates that close at night, and security cameras watching the property.

However, for daytime (and respectful) explorations, we found some good (albeit brief) EMF recorded as 40+ degree compass swings, in the vicinity of the matching military headstones.

If you’re using a compass, be sure to rule out interference from metal pipes and grave markers.

Alief Cemetery (at the corner of Bellaire and Dairy Ashford) This cemetery is NOT recommended for investigations at this time, due to its location. See our report for additional information.

Patterson Road – Page 1: Langham Creek bridge – Page 2: Bear Creek bridge  / Bear Creek bridge is a more likely site for the legendary tapping, but we found good compass anomalies at Langham Creek bridge.

A year later, both bridges seemed haunted:
Bear Creek Bridge – May 2006
Langham Creek Bridge – May 2006

Bear Creek Park – Bordered by Patterson Road and Highway 6, Bear Creek Park is a popular park for hiking, riding, picnics, and sporting events.

Bear Creek Park is also the site of one of Houston’s most famous “blue light” cemeteries. (According to many local ghost investigators, that cemetery is tiny, disappointing, and not worth visiting. That part of the park is closed after dark.)

We weren’t planning to see any anomalies in a last-minute photo, but we did, anyway. See it at Houston – Bear Creek Park orb

During our return visit in May 2006, we saw little evidence of hauntings at nearby Addicks Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery.

More Haunted cemeteries near Bear Creek Park include Beeler Cemetery, Houston, TX.

The West Oaks Phantom Walker appears regularly by the West Oaks Mall, on Richmond near Westheimer. He appears to be a uniformed Spanish soldier, and possibly headless. He’s a quirky ghost, and one of our favorites.

Also, a reader reports that there is a haunted house in back of the zoo. It’s a white house with a black fence, surrounded by a moat. We’re noting this for further investigation, but haven’t heard other reports about this site.

DOWNTOWN

Spaghetti Warehouse in downtown Houston is just one of many haunted Spaghetti Warehouses. (Austin’s Spaghetti Warehouse is even more famous for its colorful ghosts.) The staff will share many great stories with you. During our visit, we were fascinated with what we called “the scary guy’s portrait.”

Also downtown, be sure to visit haunted Market Square. For more information about Market Square ghosts, read my stories in the book, Weird Hauntings. (Sterling Books, 2006)

KATY, TEXAS

25 miles west of downtown Houston, this historic town features remarkable orbs. See Ghosts of Old Town Katy, TX, part one and part two. I was the first to report ghosts at the depot. Since then, many others have confirmed them.

My first follow-up visit did not produce good photos, but the ghostly impressions were vivid. Read more about the ghosts of the Katy, Texas train depot.

Romantic ghosts at the Katy depot may have manifested as twin orbs in several locations on January 2nd, 2006. (At the very least, it’s a sweet idea.)

I also captured more vivid orbs and a great “jack-o-lantern” orb nearby, at Ghost Orbs in Katy, TX (1/06).

SPRING, TEXAS

About a half an hour north of Houston, the town of Spring (and vicinity) offers considerable paranormal activity.

See Ghost Hunting in Spring, Texas and vicinity – page one and page two.

Also see my reports about ghosts in Old Town Spring. (It’s a popular, quaint shopping area in part of Spring.) Here’s a partial list of my articles.

Old Town Spring – haunted bank

Old Town Spring – ghost in the bank

Old Town Spring – ghost photo detail

UNIDENTIFIED SITES

Sometimes I check locations that are only mildly haunted.

Sometimes, they’re on private property or otherwise restricted, so I don’t identify them online.

Here’s a typical report: Houston – private cemetery – August 2005 – a two-part article, with photos.