Columbus, Texas, is conveniently located on I-10 at Highway 71, between Houston and Austin, and not far from San Antonio. It’s also a charming and delightfully haunted town.
I first heard about Columbus’s annual Live Oaks & Dead Folks Tour, which gets rave reviews. That event — usually held early in November — takes place in Columbus’ haunted Columbus City Cemetery.
That cemetery is on Walnut Street, not far from the middle of town. Its age is unknown, but the earliest headstone is dated 1853.
The more I read, the more this cemetery intrigued me.
I first investigated this cemetery early in March 2006. My photos revealed several crisp, clear orbs — even in daylight — and a photo that looks like ectoplasm. Here’s what I found:
Columbus – ghost orbs – One of my first photos shows a vivid orb at Columbus City Cemetery, shortly after sunrise.
Columbus – daytime ghost orbs – Few sites are haunted enough to produce orbs in broad daylight. This unretouched photo impressed me.
Columbus, Texas – ectoplasm – Is it from the 500+ unmarked graves, a victim of King Tut’s curse, or some other source?
Related Articles: (These links will take you to other websites.)
The Turner-Chapman Gallery features “ghost paintings” by artist Ken Turner. The gallery has its own colorful history from Columbus’ “Wild West” era, and maybe a few ghosts.
Columbus City Cemetery is one of the
most photogenic graveyards I’ve ever seen.
Columbus has so many interesting ghost stories, I wrote a full chapter about it in my book, The Ghosts of Austin.
If you’re interested in true ghost stories and haunted places in and around Austin, read Fiona’s best-selling book.
During our previous investigation, we’d noted anomalous compass swings (indicating elevated EMF) on the south side of the bridge.
We’d also taken an odd photo during the afternoon.
In May 2006, we visited Langham Creek Bridge with the Texas Paranormal group, organized by Elmo Johnson.
When we arrived, Elmo and Jill (another Texas Paranormal investigator) had already noted EMF surges in the field on the north side of Langham Creek Bridge.
In the photo above, the tiny white spot is an insect; it looks nothing like an orb. The others are ‘ghost orbs’ that show up in some photos, but not in others.
(In settings with flying insects and near water, it’s vital to take two photos in a row, as close together as possible. Insects, moisture, and anything else creating false orbs will usually show up in both photos. Also, orbs reflected from insects are usually oval or not-quite circular.)
All of the pictures in this article — and others about Patterson Road sites — have been authenticated against other photos.
Another orb at Langham Creek Bridge, Houston, TX
At right, another photo shows a crisp orb as well as another insect.
However, what really interests me are the more subtle orbs at the lower left side of the tree, and about halfway up, on the right side. To me, they seem to have more substance than typical orbs.
There’s clearly far more to investigate at Langham Creek Bridge. It’s a difficult spot to stop at, with minimal parking nearby.
However, especially in light of our earlier investigations at Patterson Road, it’s clear that Langham Creek is an active haunting.
That is, it’s not residual energy on a repeating loop. Instead, it can seem very haunted some days, and not very haunted on others.
Columbus, Texas has so many haunted locations, it’s like a theme park for ghost hunters. Really.
Columbus is an easy day trip from Austin, San Antonio or Houston. If you’re in the area and enjoy haunted places, it’s a must-see.
On July 15th, 2006, over 40 ghost hunters met at Jerry Mikeska’s Bar-B-Q restaurant (just off I-10 at Columbus). We were all members of Texas Paranormal Researchers, which used to be a Meetup Group. (Organized by Elmo Johnson.)
Mikeska’s is a great, affordable place for lunch, and it has an eerie display of… well, more hunting trophies than you’ve ever seen in one place.
It definitely sets the mood.
From there, we went to the Turner-Chapman Gallery, where artist Ken Turner explained about his famous “ghost paintings” and the history of the gallery. (Larkin Hope died there after being shot during the Colorado County feud.)
Columbus City Cemetery
After that, we visited Hometown Hall Antiques and saw the elevator that was used to transport bodies during the site’s years as a mortuary. The energy is very strong at the back of the store, and we could also detect its history as a “saloon” and gambling hall.
From there, we were invited to a private residence that has a very haunted history. I had a chance to try dowsing rods, and I went from skeptic to believer in a hurry.
I’d seen dowsing rods used successfully to find water when drilling teams had failed but… for ghost hunting? I figured that people were subconsciously influencing the swing of the rods.
Well, even when I tried to twist the rods so that they wouldn’t cross, they pulled so hard that I couldn’t move them. It was very weird.
NOTE: I no longer recommend using dowsing rods, except to rule out underground springs and other potential sources of infrasound.
Next, we dashed back to the Stafford Opera House which features several ghosts. Most of them are connected with the auditorium upstairs.
Finally, after a dinner break, we were given a fabulous tour of Columbus City Cemetery by historian Bill Stein. (We recommend the ‘Live Oaks and Dead Folks’ event that he’s part of, each year. Ask about it at the Columbus visitor center or at the Columbus public library.)
This was an amazing tour in a great Texas town.
If you have a chance to ghost hunt in Columbus, Texas, it’s well worth exploring. Bring your dowsing rods!
Looking for ghosts in Houston, Texas? Try this cluster of haunted parks and haunted cemeteries.
Bear Creek Pioneers Park is a favorite spot for picnics, sports events, and ghost hunting. Its official address is 3535 War Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas. The most convenient entrances are off Patterson Road, between Highway 6 and Eldridge Parkway, or off Clay Road. [Google Maps]
Addicks Reservoir
This was the site of a thriving German community in the 19th century, when it was a railroad stop for the MKT line. The nearest town was Addicks, established in 1850 and named after its postmaster, Henry Addicks.
Both Addicks and the Bear Creek community were destroyed in the 1900 flood brought inland by the Galveston hurricane.
Today, the original town of Addicks is covered with water, under the Addicks Dam Reservoir between Patterson Road and I-10. Part of this area is shown in my photo.
You can hike in on a dirt road to see the reservoir, but only posted, private, paved roads lead to the perimeter of it. [Google Maps]
The town was relocated and is a very small suburb of Houston by Highway 6 and I-10, latitude 29.78 & longitude -95.64.
Cemeteries and memorials
In addition to this submerged “ghost town,” there are at least three haunted Houston cemeteries in or near Bear Creek Park, plus a war memorial.
Blue Light Cemetery
Bear Creek Park, looking towards “Blue Light” Cemetery.
Blue Light Cemetery is the local nickname for Hillendahl Cemetery, also called Hillendahl-Eggling Cemetery. (There is another Hillendahl Cemetery in Houston.)
This small cemetery in Houston’s Bear Creek Park acquired its name because a blue glow seems to emanate from the graves at night.
The effect was more dramatic when the headstones were still there. Many of them were made from Labradorite (Calcium sodium aluminum silicate) which catches light and creates a glow so unique that it’s called “labradorescence.”
Today, the glow can still be seen on nights when the moon is especially bright.
It’s probably caused by shards of the broken headstones. Some credit the glow to swamp gas, since this area floods regularly and is very damp.
The cemetery is isolated, near patches of poison ivy, and attracts poisonous snakes. It’s surrounded by a 14′ high Federal fence, due to repeated vandalism and grave robbing.
It’s also been a crime scene, and the victim of Halloween pranks.
Park rangers have done their best to make it difficult to reach this cemetery. Some researchers report that one headstone remains; others say that none are there.
We’ve heard no first-person ghost stories about this Houston cemetery. Its glowing blue lights seem to have brought it to the attention of ghost hunters, without other paranormal activity.
Directions vary. According to some researchers, it’s off a path the starts at Pavilions 9 and 12 and leads SSW. The photo above shows the area you’ll be walking through. It’s fairly marshy in some areas. If you’re using GPS, this is noted as 29 degrees 49’45″N, 95 degrees 39’03″W. [Google Maps]
Harris County War Memorial
Harris County War Memorial
Although this isn’t a cemetery, we’ve noticed that many war memorials – especially those with names on them – are haunted. We notice consistent orbs in our pictures taken near them.
The memorial at Bear Creek Pioneers Park covers a wide, open, paved area. Several monuments list the names of Harris County soldiers who gave their lives in battle.
The memorial is at 3535 War Memorial Drive, just off Eldridge Parkway, and it has its own parking area.
The memorial is next to the park office; night visits aren’t recommended. However, late in the day, it’s a great place to visit, and you may get some orbs around dusk.
The wildlife habitat is in the same area, and features a wide variety of animals. Take some photos of the animals, and then stroll to the War Memorial for more pictures.
Addicks-Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery
Sign at Addicks Bear Creek Cemetery, Houston, TX
At the corner of Patterson Road and Highway 6 near Bear Creek Park, Addicks – Bear Creek Cemetery is a 20th century cemetery. It was moved there after repeated flooding in the town of Addicks, including the Galveston flood of 1900 which destroyed the town.
The cemetery is relatively new, and actively in use. It’s on a busy street, and padlocked to prevent visitors. However, the parking lot is not posted, and you can probably take photos through the chain link fence.
This cemetery has no ghost stories that we’ve heard about. According to some genealogists, “Blue Light” Cemetery is technically part of Addicks-Bear Creek Methodist Cemetery.
Beeler Family Cemetery is part of Beeler Memorial Park, 1150 Enclave Parkway, Houston, Texas. It was the family cemetery of pioneers James and Amanda Beeler and their descendants, as well as some other pioneer families.
When the cemetery was neglected, Harris County took responsibility for maintaining it.
To visit the cemetery, take Eldridge Parkway south from Patterson Road. After I-10 and Memorial Drive, look for Enclave Parkway on the left. (There is a traffic light with a protected left turn.)
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 about four or five 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.
Inside Beeler Cemetery
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]
We’ve heard no ghost stories related to this cemetery, but have found considerable evidence of hauntings.
For additional reading: (links take you to other websites)
One legendary “haunted” Houston picture is actually a huge portrait that is displayed on the second floor of the haunted downtown restaurant, the Spaghetti Warehouse at 901 Commerce Street, Houston, Texas. We started calling him “Mr. Creepy” and “scary guy,” almost as soon as we saw the portrait.
NOT the haunted portrait – This is President Wm. Taft.
It looks a lot like President William Howard Taft (March 4, 1909 – March 4, 1913), shown at right. Many people have suggested that the haunted portrait is the late president, when he was younger.
A few of us have been trying to analyze the picture at the Spaghetti Warehouse, and cannot figure out why this portrait is so troubling. As you can see, we’ve tweaked the contrast and colors, and nothing clearly presents itself to us.
Sure, we can see the ‘bleeding eyes’ effect, but… we think there may be more than that.
If you can see anything especially odd in this photo, or explain why it’s giving some of our researchers nightmares, please comment, below.
The ghosts at the Spaghetti Warehouse are pleasant and playful; it’s not a scary place at all. However, this portrait is very odd, and we’d love to understand why it’s bothering us.
Thank you!
This is how the portrait really looks.
The following photos are modified versions. I created them with Photoshop, partly for fun.
Mostly, I was hoping to make sense of why a stained portrait should be so troubling. I mean, we see stained and damaged photos and artwork at many neglected haunted sites.
So, it doesn’t make much sense that an old picture should interest us so much, but… it does.
Inverted image — like a negative of the original.Same photo, enhanced with blue.Another version of that same photo, enhanced with red.
Old Greenhouse Road, on the outskirts of Houston (Texas), has numerous ghost stories. Most of them repeat tropes I’ve heard before in multiple locations.
Are they urban legends? I’m not sure.
I investigated Old Greenhouse Road, anyway.
My husband and I parked our car just off the road, near the “haunted” bridge, to take photos.
Though the road is the site for the ghost stories, I felt drawn to the little path through the shrubs, just past where we parked our car.
That’s where I took several photos.
Those who know me in real life know that I’m very skeptical of anomalous photos. As often as I can, I return to the location – in daylight and at night – to see if I can debunk whatever’s in the picture.
Debunking the Ecto Photo
Initially, I couldn’t debunk this photo. Not at Old Greenhouse Road, anyway. We visited several times and none of the pictures looked like the one on the lower right, taken in 2005.
Those two photos were taken within seconds of each other using a film camera without a flash.
Digital photos might have looked the same.
It was dusk and the sun was directly behind us, highlighting the dirt path. About 50 feet ahead of us, the trees and shrubs were very dark.
Something there… it seemed very eerie. I hoped my photos would show something unusual. (In other words, I wasn’t 100% unbiased.)
Initially, I thought this might be an “ecto” (ectoplasm) photo.
Later experiments revealed the most likely cause of the red-orange line across the photo.
It was probably a strand of my own hair. (It’s auburn.)
Generally, I wear a scarf or otherwise pin my hair back, so it won’t get in front of the camera lens.
In this case, I’d forgotten.
Ghost Photo Tests with Hair
Though the following pictures aren’t exact matches, I think you’ll see why I’m at least 99% sure the “ecto” at the Houston site is my hair.
Here’s one photo of my hair in front of the camera lens, highlighted by the flash.
And here are a few hairs, held in front of the camera. Once again, the flash highlighted them.
Since those experiments, I’ve been very careful to keep my hair pulled back – preferably under a kerchief or scarf – when I’m taking photos at haunted sites.
Meanwhile, I can’t dismiss every story at Old Greenhouse Road in Houston. Frankly, it’s a difficult location to research. Speeding cars and sharp twists in the road increase the danger of investigating in low-light conditions. I won’t put myself – or my team – at risk, especially at a site that seems to match the “urban legend” profile.
But, for those who’d hoped my photo proved something ghostly at Old Greenhouse Road, I apologize. My initial assessment was wrong, and – even if it’s not a flash photo – hair can explain translucent streaks, when the color matches the haircolor of the photographer.
That doesn’t debunk the streak in the Gilson Road photo. I have never found an adequate explanation for that.
There are several differences. One of the main ones: I was the photographer. My hair was not purple. And, the texture in the original photo is significantly different. (Plus that, the purple streak photo was at Gilson Road Cemetery. We couldn’t debunk the majority of our photos taken at that very haunted site.)
Old Greenhouse Road, on the outskirts of Houston (Texas), has numerous ghost stories. Most of them repeat tropes I’ve heard before in multiple locations.
