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.
At 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.
For 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’?
In 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 offers many opportunities for ghost hunters. Between Texas’ rich history and its cultural diversity, there is something in Texas for every paranormal enthusiast.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 depotmay have manifested as twin orbs in several locations on January 2nd, 2006. (At the very least, it’s a sweet idea.)
Alief Cemetery (pronounced “A-leef”), near Houston, Texas, has a wide reputation for being haunted.
I haven’t had time to do much research, and I don’t intend to return for a formal investigation.
Here’s the legend:
This pioneer cemetery was either unknown or ignored when an apartment complex was built on adjoining (and perhaps overlapping) property. As a result, the apartments are rumored to be haunted.
No one claims that the apartment buildings are actually on top of graves, but I’m not sure that anyone is certain, one way or the other.
During our visit at dusk, I caught several orbs, some dramatically large, with my camera. (See photos below.) Because of the fast-fading light, I did not check for EMF with a compass. And frankly, the later it got, the more uneasy I was in that neighborhood. I definitely stood out and caught looks of resentment from a few (not most) people.
I’m sympathetic. I believe that certain communities have the right to unspoken boundaries. They shouldn’t feel as their residential areas are being invaded, investigated, and treated like a sideshow by ghost hunters.
Had I realized the situation beforehand, I wouldn’t have explored the site at all. I didn’t feel threatened, but definitely uneasy, especially as most of the young families seemed to go indoors as dusk fell.
Even in the daytime, I don’t recommend visiting this site alone. (Since posting this, several readers — one a former gang member — warned us that no one should go ghost hunting there at night, even in a group.)
Also, wear sturdy shoes or sneakers, even during daylight hours. The ground isn’t treacherous, but it is uneven in spots and difficult to see where the grass has not been trimmed.
One plot in Alief Cemetery. No orbs.Same location, large orb at upper left side.Small orb in grass, at arrow.That’s not the moon, it’s an orb. Really.No orbs here. Those are apartment lights, but you can see how the cemetery is practically in their back yard.
Beeler Family Cemetery in Houston is an odd little cemetery. It’s about two blocks from busy Eldridge Parkway. (The Parkway has its own rumors of ghosts, and an unusual number of auto accidents involving drivers who’ve ‘lost control’ of their cars.)
Beeler Cemetery is small, contains about half a dozen grave markers, and it’s in one of Houston’s ‘pocket parks’ amid upscale corporate offices.
In May 2006, we joined the Texas Paranormal group for an investigation of this cemetery. Because the cemetery is surrounded by immaculately groomed lawns and sterile corporate buildings, we weren’t expecting much.
Even in the daytime, there is a strong presence around the tallest monuments. (One of the most active is shown, above.)
At night, some of our photos showed moderate orbs around them. Amanda Beeler’s grave seems to be the most active.
Orbs at the back of Beeler Park, Houston, TX
However, the stronger energy is outside the cemetery, and in back of it. We’ve heard that there are unmarked graves outside the cemetery.
The photo at right is one of several with bright orbs.
‘Outsider’ graves
Some of the most haunted graves are located outside cemetery walls.
Especially at church cemeteries, graves outside the walls usually belong to suicide victims, murderers and people considered ‘too sinful’ to be buried among regular church members.
When graves are outside a family cemetery, that’s an even more harsh condemnation.
We weren’t surprised when our photos showed vivid orbs in back of Beeler Family Cemetery.
Notes from the Other Side
When I tried to do a reading on Amanda Beeler to see why her grave is most active, the woman who responded was named ‘Olive’, not Amanda. I’m not sure if it’s the same woman — perhaps a nickname — or a different person.
Olive had given birth to a daughter, but trusted the wrong man. That trust led to something disastrous, possibly her death. She’s not trapped here, but she returns because she’d like someone to acknowledge the subterfuge of the man she’d trusted.
(I’m not sure who he is. There’s not enough information to work with, yet.)
I did a second reading to learn about a man who haunts the land in back of Beeler Family Cemetery. He’d accomplished all that he was supposed to during his lifetime. Oddly, he trusted the same man as Olive had. His ghost lingers because he’s either protecting Olive (and perhaps others), or wants to help expose the man who’d betrayed both of them.
This cemetery — and its hauntings — are active and part of an ongoing story that hasn’t concluded yet.
These aren’t unhappy spirits who are trapped here, but they’d like their history to be accurately reported. So, they are likely to respond to perceptive visitors and ghost hunters.
Ghost hunting tips
Although this is an upscale area in the daytime, it’s quite deserted at night. Also, the cemetery is partially hidden from the street. It’s especially important not to ghost hunt alone in settings like this where you may have a false sense of security.
There are many street lights around Enclave Parkway, where this cemetery is. Be sure to watch for them when taking photos, as they can be a source of false orbs.
The sandy soil at this cemetery can also produce false orbs if the dust is raised as you walk, or by the wind. It’s vital to take two photos in sequence, as close together as possible, to rule out natural explanations for orbs and other anomalies.
Driving directions
To visit the cemetery after visiting Bear Creek Park, take Eldridge Parkway south from Patterson Road. After passing I-10 and Memorial Drive, look for Enclave Parkway on the left. (There is a traffic light with a protected left turn.)
If you’re arriving from I-10, take the Eldridge exit and turn south. After the traffic light at Memorial Drive, watch for Enclave Pkwy on the left.
Shortly after turning onto Enclave Pkwy, look for the Pocket Park sign on your right. Turn right immediately after it; it will look like a driveway, and there is room for a few cars in the small parking area. The cemetery is surrounded by a black metal fence in a wooded area.
If you drive past Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation on the right, you’ve gone too far.
If you approach from Briar Forest, take Enclave Parkway almost to where it intersects Eldridge. Look for Cabot Oil & Gas on your left. Turn left at the driveway immediately after Cabot’s sign. [Google Maps]
Houston’s West Oaks Mall has a classic ghost. He’s an apparition, and he appears very briefly during early morning hours. (He may appear at other times, but ghost hunters have seen him around dawn.)
We sometimes call him the “West Oaks Phantom,” but we usually call him the “West Oaks Walker” because that’s all that he does: He walks. He doesn’t seem to get anywhere, but he walks at a normal pace.
Arrow points to the area where the “walker” is seen, at or near sidewalk.
Phantom appears near the third pole but before the fourth, counting from Westheimer.The ghost appears on the north side of Richmond Avenue, about a block from the intersection of Westheimer and Richmond. [ Google Map ] The phantom appears between Green Crest Drive and Westheimer, on the West Oaks side of the street. He’s about 20 feet away from where people turn off Richmond to enter the West Oaks Mall parking lot.
In the photo above, he’d be near the red arrow, and the maroon car would partially block your view of him.
The figure is an apparition, but doesn’t seem to be a full body. His head isn’t very clear — no one has seen it yet, so he may be headless — and he’s usually invisible from the knees down. Everything else… well, he could almost be confused with an early morning pedestrian.
That’s where this becomes difficult. Until late in 2006, the West Oaks Mall sign was lighted at night. So, if you were watching the ghost from near Westheimer, you could easily tell that he’s an apparition, not a real person; the lighted sign could be seen through the apparition. Also, he fades gradually. It’s difficult to see that in the darkness.
As of early 2007, the West Oaks sign isn’t lit at night, so ghost hunting becomes considerably more challenging.
At that hour, there are many people walking along Richmond — including at least one man who wears light-colored shorts — and there are three popular bus stops on that section of Richmond. Don’t confuse the living with the apparition; it’s easy to do so.
Be especially careful about the brief flash of headlights from cars exiting the apartment complex across the street. Their momentary flash can look like a glowing apparition, especially along the grassy area.
When and where to look for him
We’ve studied this phantom for several months. He generally appears at about 6:15 a.m. and he’s visible for about five seconds at a time. Most mornings, he seems to appear once or twice — usually within five minutes — but we’ve never seen him more than three times per day. We see him most often on Tuesday mornings and Saturdays.
We haven’t seen him after the sun is visible in the sky; that was about 7:15 a.m. during late December. In fact, we rarely see him after 6:45 a.m. We’ve never seen him on a Friday.
I’ve observed him myself from my car at Westheimer, but unless you’re waiting at the traffic light, there is no convenient place to watch from the road. There are three parking lots at the intersection of Westheimer and Richmond, and each of them can be adequate for viewing.
What to look for
The “West Oaks Walker” is a blurry figure. He’s wearing very light (perhaps white) breeches and a very dark top or jacket. He could be a Spanish soldier.
He’s walking but — as if moonwalking — he doesn’t cover very much distance. Because his lower legs and feet aren’t usually visible, we can’t tell if the apparition is walking on the ground. Generally, people believe that he’s walking about a foot above the ground.
The figure fades in quickly and fades away gradually. He doesn’t “blink” in and out of our world. He rarely looks entirely solid. (The exception was 13 Sep 2007. See our Sightings list, below.) The figure glows slightly.
Orb photography is unreliable due to lights at the mall, a security guard touring in a vehicle, and commuter cars with headlights. Likewise, underground pipes and power lines make EMF readings unproductive. So, we have no hard evidence of this haunting.
[Photo taken from Westheimer, in the U-Haul parking lot]
Phantom is seen in the area indicated by the oval.
He may be walking on the sidewalk or on the grassy area behind it.
Who is he?
Until I spotted the phantom and told others about it, I’d never heard anything about a ghost around the West Oaks Mall. From his breeches and very dark top or jacket, I’d guess that he’s a Spanish soldier.
Later notes:
The history of Spanish soldiers in that area has been confirmed.
There’s been at least one motorcycle accident in that vicinity, and the victim’s appearance matches my description.
Several people who live across the street have said they’ve seen the ghostly figure. No one was sure about his head, but no one commented that he was headless, either.
SIGHTINGS
July 2007 update: The West Oaks Walker was spotted at 6:20 a.m. on Tuesday morning, 17 July 2007. It was a clear, dry morning and he was fully visible for about 10 – 15 seconds in his usual location. Then, he faded away.
August 2007 update: The West Oaks Walker appeared at 6:23 a.m. on Tuesday morning, 21 August. It was a clear but humid morning. He appeared about 20 feet closer to Westheimer than usual. He was visible for nearly 30 seconds before vanishing.
Sept 2007 updates: The West Oak Walker appeared on the following dates.
12 Sep (Wednesday) – 7:02 a.m. – Figure appeared for less than a second near the third wooden pole from the corner of Westheimer, on the mall side of Richmond.
13 Sep (Thurs) – 6:21 a.m. – Multiple figures appeared simultaneously and over a period of more than ten minutes. One notable figure was clearly visible in white breeches and a dark (navy?) frock coat with a standing collar. Heavy braid on the collar was highlighted by the early morning light. He had very dark, curly hair that extended almost to his shoulders. He wore no hat, and looked directly at us. Then, he faded away.
We’ve looked for any history relevant to that day in Houston history.
So far, the closest that we can find is Mexico’s Independence Day (Diez y Seis de Septiembre) — also celebrated in parts of Texas — on September 16th.
There’s also a September 13th event (in 1764) when Gov. Martos suspended Capt. Rafael Martínez Pacheco, who refused to be arrested and escaped with at least one other soldier, near Beaumont. Charges against Martinez were later cleared.
On September 13, 1766, the alferez José Antonio de la Garza Falcón and his soldiers began a mission to support Diego Ortiz Parrilla, searching for English settlers on or near Padre Island.
Could they have searched as far as Houston? After six days of heavy rain, was the site of today’s George Bush Park a waterway? The soldiers’ search was not successful, and this is our strongest connection between September 13th and the Spanish-looking apparition.If anyone can suggest other historical connections to this haunting — which seemed to peak on September 13th — let us know.
21 Sep (Thurs) – 6:25 a.m. – [NOT A GHOST] Before dawn, someone in white trousers and a dark-ish shirt or jacket was walking around the area where we most often see the West Oaks Walker. This was a real person, not a ghost. Either the person was walking a dog or trying to fool us into reporting a fake apparition. (Yes, people do that.) What we realized from this is that the ghostly figures glow slightly. The real person didn’t.
4 Oct (Thurs) – 7:00 a.m. – Figure very close to the third utility pole. The white trousers were very visible but the rest of the figure was less clear. We thought it was another prankster until the entire figure faded about ten seconds later.
Have you seen him? Leave a comment! Please include the date, weather conditions, and what you saw. Thanks!
At Bear Creek Bridge, we’ve heard the tapping on the outside of the car.
For example, that’s definitely a bug – probably a moth – in the Bear Creek photo at right.
In 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.
Alief Cemetery (pronounced “A-leef”), near Houston, Texas, has a wide reputation for being haunted.
