Here are Texas’ most haunted hotels for a real (and ghosty) Halloween experience
Fort Worth may have the scariest haunted house in the world, but it’s filled with actors and fake props. For those who want something more real, there are plenty of historically haunted whereabouts across the state.
Halloween originates from a Celtic festival called Samhain. Those who celebrated believed that souls of the dead would take the day of Nov. 1 to return to their earthly homes. Now, Halloween is just a commercial holiday worth $13 billion.
For those who don’t care about the costumes or candy but would rather celebrate traditionally with the ghouls, Oct. 31 is the time when folklore says they are most active.
And lucky for Texans, there are quite a few overnight stays where you may share a room with a paranormal friend.
Here’s where you can find Haunted Hotels in the Lone Star State.
Halloween Staycation? Haunted Hotels in North Texas
Miss Molly’s Hotel – Fort Worth
This eight room hotel was built in 1910 for cattlemen. It turned into the town’s most popular brothel until it became the Gayette Hotel in 1940. Sin and violence was the foundation laid for this bed and breakfast, which is why it is named the most haunted hotel in Fort Worth.
“Employees of Miss Molly’s Hotel often say that there are more dead guests than living at the old hotel,” according to the U.S. Ghost Tours.
Miss Molly still lives on, lingering at the foot of guest’s bed. An angry cowboy named Jake once slammed a guest’s door and locked it. A tipping ghost sometimes leaves coins around the hotel for house keeping staff to find.
- Location: 109 W. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth (above the Star Cafe).
- Rooms range from $175 to $250 a night.
- There is availability for Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 but all rooms are booked the night of Halloween.
Stockyards Hotel – Fort Worth
Built in 1913, the Stockyards Hotel has seen many murders and suicides.
Rodeo star Junior Cadwell and his wife, Ada, were known to get into toxic domestic violence fits. One so bad, it resulted in Junior trying to kill Ada, but he ended in him killing himself instead. Some say his spurs are still jingling down the hallway, chasing after her.
Customers have also left reviews on Trip Advisor alleging the second floor of the hotel to be haunted.
- Location: 109 E Exchange Ave., Fort Worth.
- Rooms range from $175 to $650, depending on the date.
- Availability for Oct. 30 until Nov. 1 for around $250 a night.
Le Meridian The Stoneleigh – Dallas
Dallas’ second oldest hotel, built in 1923, has a few paranormal stories in the book.
In the 1930s, Colonel Stewart, the hotel owner, had a mistress named Margaret who fell to her death from the top story. Guests have reported dresser drawers filling with water during the night on two separate occasions in two different rooms. Whether it’s Colonel Stewart or Mistress Margaret, their spirits seem to be lingering around the historical hotel.
- Location: 2927 Maple Ave., Dallas.
- Rooms range from $300 to $650 depending on the date.
- Availability for Oct. 31 starting at $220.
Adolphus Hotel – Dallas
The Adolphus Hotel has had so many deaths, it is likely that spirits are haunting the halls. Afterall, this is the oldest hotel in Dallas dating back to 1912. A waiter, elevator boy, cook and the hotel porter all died on separate occasions in the elevator shaft. There are also several accounts of guests falling to their deaths from the 11th, 12th and 14th floors.
- Location: 1321 Commerce Street, Dallas.
- Rooms range from $200 to $1,000 per night.
- Availability for Oct. 31 starting at $200.
An honorable mention for Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells which is under construction and is not open to the public until 2028. T.B. Baker, the hotel’s founder and builder, is rumored to linger around the 11th floor smoking his cigars. Restoration project manager Mark Rawlings said he has smelled that smell before and neither he nor his workers are smoking cigars on the job.
Want a road trip? Historically famous haunted hotels in Texas
The Jefferson Palace Hotel – Jefferson
This hotel is supposedly the “most haunted hotel in the world.” The Jefferson security cameras have even caught ghosts and paranormal activities. Here, it’s not just rumors or word of mouth — they have proof.
The hotel even carries a “Book of Dread” for guests to record all their paranormal experiences. Every room has had an account of ghosts or spirits but certain rooms are consistently haunted. The Mill children (children who died of casualties when the building was a cotton warehouse) also run rampant playing pranks on guests by stealing or moving around small objects. And a bed in Room 19 is haunted by a bride who supposedly hung herself from the headboard in 1912.
- Location: 124 W Austin St., Jefferson.
- Rooms average $250 a night.
- There is no availability on Oct. 30 or 31, however a few openings on Nov. 1.
- During all October weekends, from 8:30 to 11 p.m., the hotel will put on a haunted house tour (optional for guests).
- Distance from Fort Worth: 200 miles, about three and a half hours.
Emily Morgan Hotel – San Antonio
Many consider this “the most haunted hotel in America.” Open since 1926, this stay is just across the street from the Alamo, which is also considered one of San Antonio’s most haunted destinations.
There have been reports of a ghost in the hallways, guests being watched and awakened in room 810, patterings of footsteps with no one around on floor 9, as well as the elevator’s knack to stop on floor 7 – a floor not open to hotel guests.
- Location: 705 E Houston St., San Antonio.
- Rooms start at $100 per night.
- Availability for Halloween starting at $113.
- Distance from Fort Worth: 466 miles, about four and a half hours.
Gage Hotel – Marathon
The Gage Hotel was built in 1926 by Alfred S. Gage and opened for business in 1927. Gage died shortly after in 1928. Guests were scarce in Marathon following the death of Gage, which forced the hotel to close until it was rebought in 1978. This opened decades of abandonment for left-behind spirits to haunt the property.
Some say they see Gage himself haunt the hallways and porches. And a reporter from NBC 5 also said she heard her name being screamed outside her door while she was staying in Room 39. For those who want to be sure of a fright, guests also have reported paranormal activity in Room 10.
- Location: 102 NW 1st Street, Highway 90W #90w, Marathon.
- Averages $200 to $300 per night.
- Availability for Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 starting at $289.
- Distance from Fort Worth: 461 miles, nearly seven hour drive.