What’s better than a road trip across the Lone Star State? A spooky road trip across the Lone Star State. Texas is home to a diverse food scene, beautiful state parks, unique history — and its fair share of ghosts. Check out some of the state’s most haunted spots for a good ghost story while road tripping through these Texas towns.
Hill Country: Haunted Hotels
Texans remember the Alamo, but just down the street is another historic — and haunted — San Antonio landmark that deserves some remembrance. First opened in 1859, the Menger Hotel is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Texas, boasting visits by a number of illustrious individuals over the course of its long and storied history, including former U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, Woodrow Wilson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. Such a historic hotel is sure to have plenty of ghosts haunting the halls — who will you catch a glimpse of on your San Antonio ghost tour?
Up the road in Austin, The Driskill Hotel has stood proudly in the heart of downtown since 1886, another iconic Texas landmark that is certainly haunted. Perhaps the hotel’s most famous ghost story is that of a young girl who tragically fell down the lobby’s grand staircase chasing after her toy ball in 1887, only a year after the hotel opened. Now, she is said to haunt the stairs, as well as a historic painting titled “Samantha” — guests have reported hearing the sound of a bouncing ball echoing through the halls.
Spy ghosts and other paranormal activity for yourself on a city ghost tour or book a stay at one of these hotels to roam on your own. History comes to life here, literally.
Houston: Historic Spirits
In Houston, La Carafe is a great spot to grab drinks with friends while you’re in town — as well as immerse yourself in a little slice of history. This haunted bar is believed to be the oldest in the city, opened in the 1960s — the building itself is ancient, serving first as a bakery in 1860, as well as a drug store and hair salon before becoming a bar. With such a long history, La Carafe is rife with ghosts, some of which make themselves known by pushing bottles off shelves, thudding around the upstairs rooms, and lurking in windows. The bar embraces its haunted reputation with an eerily antiquated atmosphere, featuring flickering candles, dark wood, and walls adorned with vintage artwork and photographs. Stop by for a sip of your favorite spirit! While you're in the area, you can also dive deeper into the rich and mysterious history of Galveston Island—often dubbed the most haunted city in the U.S.—by taking a spine-tingling Galveston Ghost Tour.
Terlingua: A Ghost Town
Outside of Big Bend National Park, Terlingua Ghost Town is a can’t-miss stop on your spooky road trip. Once a booming mining town in the early 20th century, Terlingua is now a collection of historic buildings, deserted mine shafts, and very tall tales, abandoned by its miners after the mine closed toward the end of World War II. Visitors can explore the ruins with a self-guided walking tour, which includes a stop at the authentic boot hill cemetery, where history and ghosts come alive. Or, coordinate your visit with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), when locals celebrate with candlelit alters and campfire stories under the star-filled West Texas sky.
Corpus Christi: What’s Below Deck
Permanently docked in Corpus Christi Bay since 1992, where it now operates as a museum and popular tourist attraction, the USS Lexington is the world’s oldest aircraft carrier — but this World War II vessel carries more than just aircraft. In addition to historic planes and artifacts, visitors might also spot a spirit or two wandering the ship’s 100,000 square feet and 11 decks. The carrier was even nicknamed the “Blue Ghost” during WWII — before it became known as one of Texas’s most haunted destinations. Keep an eye out for specters in the ship’s passageways while enjoying a guided or self-guided tour, the Pearl Harbor exhibit, or the exclusive Lockdown On The LEX escape rooms. You're most likely to see the Blue Ghost's famous spirits, however, during an overnight stay on the vessel, in an adventure the location offers called Camp LEX. These ghosts are said to be of the mischievous variety — so if you’re looking for a family-friendly spot along your spooky road trip, this is the one.
Marfa: Night Sky Mystery
Out west, the Marfa Lights have been attracting visitors to Lone Star State since the 1800s, when the first accounts of seeing strange lights in the West Texas sky began. Depending on the sighting, the lights can appear red, blue, or white, and have been described as “glowing orbs” flickering on the horizon southeast of Marfa. The so-called paranormal phenomenon remains a mystery to this day, but there is something particularly supernatural about how the lights dance in the night sky, seemingly without a source. Is it ghosts? Aliens? Or just the reflection of normal lights from cars or campfires? Decide for yourself on a trip out to see them — if you plan to visit during the fall, make sure to check out the annual Marfa Lights Festival, a weekend full of good food, music, and entertainment for the whole family.
