Haunted Houses in Texas You Can Actually Visit (If You Dare)

There’s a certain kind of magic in Texas when October rolls around. The heat finally lets up, the nights feel longer, and the wind carries that subtle sense of mystery. It’s the perfect time to lean into the stories that have been passed around for generations,  the ones whispered about old homes, creaky staircases, and places where the past seems to hum just beneath the surface.

Texas doesn’t do anything halfway, and that includes its ghosts. From grand hotels once filled with jazz and laughter to small-town homes where the curtains still flutter though the windows are closed, the state is full of places that make you wonder: what if those stories are true?

So grab a coffee, fill up the gas tank, and let’s take a drive to some of the most famously haunted houses in Texas where history lingers, legends grow, and every shadow feels like it might have something to say.

The Grove — Jefferson, Texas

If you’ve ever been to Jefferson, you already know it feels like stepping into another time. Narrow streets lined with oak trees, antique shops with creaky floors, and that unmistakable Southern charm that makes you want to stay a while. But tucked behind all that beauty is a place that’s earned the nickname “the most haunted house in Texas.”

The Grove was built in the 1860s, during the height of Jefferson’s boomtown years. It’s a stunning example of Victorian architectur. High ceilings, detailed woodwork, and wraparound porches that catch the morning sun. But beneath all that elegance, there’s an uneasiness that’s hard to ignore. Visitors talk about cold spots that move through the rooms like invisible guests, footsteps that echo from empty hallways, and doors that open on their own as if someone’s politely letting you through.

Some believe the house’s spirits are tied to the family that first lived there. Others think it’s something older, something tied to the land itself. Either way, The Grove has become a favorite for ghost tours and history buffs alike. Whether you go for the history or the hauntings, you’ll leave feeling like Jefferson keeps a few secrets it doesn’t share easily.

The Baker Hotel — Mineral Wells, Texas

Drive west out of Fort Worth, and you’ll find the quiet little town of Mineral Wells. It’s famous for its mineral-rich waters and infamous for the giant, crumbling structure that rises above it like a ghost of the past: The Baker Hotel.

In its heyday during the 1930s, the Baker was pure glamour. Movie stars, politicians, and oil tycoons all came here to “take the waters” and dance under chandeliers that sparkled all night long. But time caught up with the hotel, and now it stands silent, its faded beauty only adding to the mystery.

Stories swirl about a “Lady in White” who wanders the seventh floor, said to be a former guest who couldn’t bear to leave. Others swear they’ve heard the faint echo of a piano or the soft clinking of glasses from the long-abandoned bar. Paranormal investigators have spent nights there, recording strange voices and sudden temperature drops.

The Baker is being slowly restored, but many say the spirits don’t mind the construction. They’ve been here far longer than any renovation crew. Standing beneath its grand, aging frame, it’s hard not to feel the weight of all the stories those walls have absorbed.

The Schuerenberg House — Brenham, Texas

About halfway between Austin and Houston sits Brenham, best known for bluebonnets and Blue Bell Ice Cream. But hidden just beyond the small-town bustle is a Victorian home that adds a darker note to the area’s charm: The Schuerenberg House.

Built in the late 1800s, this stately home is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl who appears in the upstairs window. Residents over the years have spoken about laughter echoing through empty rooms, music boxes playing without being wound, and sudden chills that sweep through even on hot Texas days.

Unlike some haunted places that feel foreboding, the Schuerenberg House has a softer sadness to it. You get the sense that whatever lingers there isn’t angry, just lonely. It’s the kind of place that makes you believe ghosts might not always be scary. Sometimes, they’re just echoes of love and life that ended too soon.

If you’re in Brenham, take a drive by in the evening. The house glows under the streetlights, and if you’re lucky… or unlucky, depending on how you see it,  you might catch a glimpse of someone waving from that upstairs window.

A Few More Stops for the Brave

If haunted houses are your thing, Texas won’t disappoint. Add these to your spooky-season bucket list:

• The Driskill Hotel in Austin – Still one of the most elegant hotels in Texas, but guests report ghostly encounters, especially on the upper floors.

• The Alamo in San Antonio – A site of courage and loss that some say still hums with energy from those who fought there.

• Yorktown Memorial Hospital – Once a Catholic hospital, now an abandoned maze of echoing halls where visitors claim to hear whispers and footsteps that don’t belong to anyone living.

Why Haunted Places Draw Us In

There’s a strange comfort in visiting haunted places. Maybe it’s the reminder that history isn’t just something in books. It’s something that breathes around us. Every creak, every flicker, every odd feeling in the pit of your stomach connects you, even for a second, to lives long gone.

Texas has a way of holding onto its stories, especially the ones that don’t end neatly. Maybe that’s why so many of us feel drawn to explore them, not just to be scared, but to listen. These places aren’t just haunted; they’re storytellers in their own right.

So this Halloween season, if you’re up for an adventure, take a little road trip. Visit The Grove, stand beneath the Baker Hotel, wander the streets of Jefferson at dusk, or park outside the Schuerenberg House and let your imagination run wild. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, one thing’s for sure.. in Texas, the past never really leaves. It just whispers from the shadows, waiting for someone to listen!

Post written by Michael Stephens from Living Local Texas