The white paint along the detailed trim is chipping and peeling, and the cream-colored brick is stained and dingy. Weve done the homework for you, and the result is the following list of the 15 best abandoned places in Texas to explore in 2021 and beyond. Galveston and nearby barrier islands history have been laced with tragedy. The Toyah School District eventually merged with the nearby Pecos School District, leaving the existing high school vacant. But a much larger share of the Plazas supernatural phenomena may require a ghost hunters skill set to resolve. The Branch Davidians opened fire on the agents, who retreated and sought reinforcement from the FBI, state law enforcement and even the U.S. military. An ambulance was summoned, but in vain: Simms died before he could be removed from the building. Photo: Dave Shafer. 217 US 183, Goliad. Urban exploration can be very gear-heavy, especially when exploring abandoned places in Texas. Many people fear to visit after an environmental officer called his office from the reservoir saying he had seena child with all black eyes deep inside the cistern. The theater then remained dark for about two decades before a grand renovation took place, turning it into a performing arts center in 2006. Dan Klepper. It is important when considering abandoned places in Texas to know the basics of Texas trespassing laws. Youll also want to wear sturdy shoes for climbing the gravel-studded hill to reach the mine, and bring sunscreen and plenty of water to combat the relentless sun. Completed between 1855 and 1858 for shippers and cotton brokers, it was the towns tallest structure during the Civil War; the roof doubled as a Confederate lookout for Union ships. Lately it has been rumored that the hotel has been taken over by a horde of black eyed children. 302 W. 24th St., Austin. Today, many of the vacant buildings look eerily similar to the way they did when the last patients exited, with peeling yellow paint and faded images of Winnie the Pooh and other characters still adorning the walls of the empty, echoing hallways and darkened rooms. The years have not been kind to the Futuro Home in Royse City; the interior is gutted and graffiti-covered, and the exterior has been subject to the elements, although an unknown party saw fit to slap a fresh coat of orange paint on it a few years ago, giving a more modern taste to one of the strangest abandoned places in Texas. In the years that followed, the town flourished, and the primitive housing was replaced by impressive stone structures designed to mimic the architecture of Europe. Killer Urbex Note: It is important to note that many of these locations are in an extremely delicate state. Despite repeated efforts to convince Koresh to surrender peacefully, negotiations failed, and with government forces eventually employing tear gas, armored vehicles and even grenades to breach the perimeter and enter the compound. The hospital closed in 1986, says current caretaker Stephanie Mayfield, after a new facility opened in nearby Cuero. A few nearby residents, including a psychic who was visiting the area, have claimed to have seen black eyed children wandering the grounds when it rains. We recommend both theOsprey Packs Daylitefor sling backpacks or theMardingtop Tactical Backpackfor a standard two-strap backpack. The nearly 700-acre site originally housed 330 patients from 46 counties across the northeast part of the state, adding patients every year until it reached a census of 2,300 in 1920, making it the largest psychiatric hospital west of the Mississippi River. With the vast blue sky stretching out in all directions around it, the mines three aging, sand-colored structures are all that remain of one of only nine mercury production facilities established in the American West. The blade cut open his femoral artery. Depending on recent weather, the concrete pool may be empty or filled to some level with dirty rainwater and runoff. All Rights Reserved. The El Paso Mine was the only place in the U.S. where Tin was dug up. For a complete breakdown, please view ourheadlamp buyers guide. Its population peaked in 1961 with 3,500 patients and hundreds of staff. As far as abandoned places in Texas go, this one is likely going to be one of the most commonly visited. Backpackerverse.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Curious visitors can reach the site on foot via a 2.5-mile trail that starts at Boykin Springs Recreation Area or take Highway 63 from Zavalla to a right turn on County Road 32, followed by another right on County Road 34, which leads to the gated entrance to Aldridge Sawmill. M.M.P. }); We here at Killer Urbex have noted a distinct lack of guides to dead malls and zombie malls. The spirits of the nuns residing on the second floor are said to push and scratch at men with tattoos. Before the current road was built, the arrow-straight clearing served as Santa Fe Railroads branch line built in 1903. The oldest continuously operating hotel in East Texas, the Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson, is notorious for sightings of a headless man; a woman in black holding a child; and Diamond Bessie, murdered by her itinerant lover. His assistant, whod stepped out for a moment, returned to find him bleeding out on the floor. The town of Waco found itself thrust into the global spotlight in February 1993, when Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh led a compound full of followers in a 51-day standoff with state and federal law enforcement. Just all urbex all the time. Today, its been rumored that the Toyah High School has been taken over by a group of black eyed children. Naturally, it also acquired a lasting reputation for ghosts. The town officially incorporated in 1933 but continued to hemorrhage residents, with a population of around 400 by 1950 and less than 200 in 1980. The Baker Hotel was briefly resurrected by a group of local investors a few years later, but its fortunes failed to improve, and it closed its doors for good in 1972, turning into yet another example of abandoned places in Texas. After a second fire in 1914, Aldridge apparently decided to exit the lumber industry, leaving the companys vice president (who happened to be his brother) in charge of operations. Originally built in the 1950s and managed by the Felician Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church, the sprawling facility contains two main floors, a basement, two wings, a chapel, and an observation tower. Take only photos, leave only footprints. Perhaps Dr. Wilbur is afraid of the dark. In 1933, the center again made headlines when one of the workers on its dairy farm was indicted for murdering another 14-year-old boy in its care. The vibes not good once you shut those doors and get in here, you forget theres even anything beyond the hospital.. After World War II ended in 1945 and nearby Fort Wolters was shuttered a year later, the towns population declined significantly, and its hospitality industry soon followed. If you are on the hunt for a great respirator to more safely observe some of these incredible abandoned places in Texas, we highly recommend the3M 6800for a full-face option and theNorth 7700if you would prefer a half-face option. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own, and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers. In Goliad, the Presidio La Bahia commemorates the Goliad Massacre with Spanish-speaking poltergeists, humming women, and a spooky (though entirely real) flock of vultures. Buoyed by visitors drawn to Mineral Wells for its therapeutic springs, the hotel complex featured a bowling alley, two ballrooms, a spa and beauty shop and 450 lavish guest rooms. Reported resident ghosts are Browns daughtersthe adventurous Bettie Brown and piano-playing Tilly Brown-Sweeneyand Confederate soldiers seen patrolling outside. With its flashy architecture, brightly-colored neon lights and enticing posters advertising the latest Hollywood hits, the theater remained a popular destination for locals for three decades. Rust stains cascade down the cream-colored stucco, and a lifeless neon sign perched outside still boasts about the hotels air-conditioned rooms that once provided motorists with a welcome respite from the relentless Texas heat. Though most of its early buildings were later demolished and rebuilt, the original fountain in the campus circular park remains in excellent condition thanks to a recently-completed restoration project. As he was cutting toward himself, the knife slipped in his hand, stabbing his leg near the groin. Word is the most auspicious times to see the light are on moonless autumn nights. A few of these children have tried to approach passerby, but the locals fled after feeling as though they were temporarily not in control of their minds and bodies. On September 28th, 2015, Amarillo lost this buildingthat had been an eyesore for quite some time. A leak was discovered about a decade ago, and it was deemed too expensive to fix. Rumor has it that hundreds of patients died there, Mayfield says. During renovations, workers reported tools mysteriously moving around. Though some of the buildings were razed, many still stand in varying states of decay. Its said that she ran over to help him but when she looked under the bed, nobody was there. The yard surrounding the home is choked with weeds and other overgrowth, and creeping vines have made their way up the ornate Corinthian columns that flank the front of the mansion. There are stories of patients killed by neglect or surgical mistake and the ghost of the surgeon who is often held responsible. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for many of the products and services listed on the site. Ranch-to-Market 32, southwest of Wimberley. With the onset of the Great Depression, however, the towns population was cut in half by 1930. Founded at the turn of the 20th century, the mine primarily employed Mexican immigrants who crossed the border to escape the ongoing revolution. Some of the Plazas creepy tales, concocted in abundance, feature all the usual suspectsa drifting woman in white, a materializing man in black, a vanishing child bouncing a ball. Interested in venturing outside Texas? Not only has the local high school been abandoned, but the entire town of Toyah has been as well. A group of theater students from a neighboring town once entered the building to explore. Its said that a group of explorers saw a black eyed girl within the mine. The site where the complex once stood is known for being haunted by apparitions. Cameras, headlamps, respirators and more. Today, the 9-acre site contains the residence Fritz Zedler built in 1900 as well as seven other structures featuring wooden feed chutes, grain towers and grain elevators. Theres the Confederate soldier seen on the roof and around the building. The third iteration of the elegant Tremont House features ethereal as well as physical vestiges of its earlier incarnations, including a Civil War soldier; the mischievous small boy Jimmy; and the gambler Sam, murdered for his winnings. The hospital offers daily walking tours for $25, photography/video shoots for $100 an hour, and overnight investigations for $500. 432-386-4205; In 1959, Roy Simmsforeman of the meat locker in Texas A&M Universitys old Animal Industries buildingwas performing a bit of routine butchery on a slab of bacon. Every year on Nov. 1, Jenkines constructs an elaborate Day of the Dead altar that includes the photo and lighted candles. If youre not there on an official tour, honor that most hallowed of haunted house signs: Keep out. Very little is known why the mansion was eventually abandoned, but its said to be the home of two black eyed siblings who have been known to knock on peoples doors in town during the night. A three-year renovation plan for the hotel was recently announced, with the goal of reopening it with 157 guest rooms, so if you want to see it in its original form, youd better hurry. Seventy-six members of the religious group lost their lives in the siege, and most of the buildings were gutted by fire and later razed. Beyond the empty walls, the only thing that remains of this once magnificent hotel is the sign advertising refrigerated air inside. A series of renovations of the building have turned the site of Simms accident into an office space. Most people consider the women mentally unstable and believe she made up the story to cover up the fact that she murdered the boy. Today, the site is marked by signs warning of potential exposure to mercury radiation, although visitors dont face any major risk from the trace elements remaining on the property. With hundreds of vacant buildings, abandoned infrastructure and other interesting sites to visit, it can be hard to narrow down your choices to a manageable list. Theyre friendly, says Cheryl Jenkines, manager of Galvestons eclectic Hendley Market. portalId: "5317100", Backpackerverse.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The new church building was constructed near the towns second location by the train depot, and the ruins of its predecessor were abandoned. After two decades at the center of Ozonas social scene, the hotel closed its doors in 1948, when its ownership group dissolved. The California Street site has since been targeted for redevelopment as multifamily housing units, but the propertys haunting history lives on in the legends still passed along by longtime Wichita Falls residents. Many Corsicana residents believe the Emhouse school has been haunted since it was abandoned during the late 1950s. It may have been damaged when Hurricane Ike roared through the region in 2008, but today its screen has been torn from its wooden scaffolding, which is rotting and leaning precariously. Initially, he traveled from ranch to ranch selling his goods, but he eventually established an adobe storefront that became a central gathering point for ranchers and other residents. formId: "a9576402-3ef9-46a1-958d-d0c75d4b7bf6" No wonder Texas writer Bryan Woolley called Galveston an old cemetery with a beach attached.. If you want to visit a well-preserved example of a Futuro Home, youll need to search elsewhere, but drivers along Highway 276 east of Rockwall can get a glimpse of this ill-fated architectural trend in the form of an abandoned home strongly resembling a spaceship that made an emergency landing in a Texas field. Since then its said that the parents to the teenagers think their children are possessed by something demonic. A devastating fire razed the mills original wooden structures in 1911, which were then replaced with reinforced concrete structures, the remains of which are still visible on the site. In 1997, Hardin County designated Bragg Road as Ghost Road Scenic Drive Park. Originally built in 1915 to house aging and destitute residents of San Antonio and the surrounding communities, this so-called poor farm was converted a few years later into the Bexar County Juvenile Home for Boys. Inside the building, a cool breeze wafts down the dark hallway, leaves press against dusty windows, and wasps crawl along the walls. The Youngblood Trading Post expanded to include a hotel as well as a retail store, and the towns continued growth led to the construction of the A.M. Fields Hotel as well as additional restaurants and saloons. Though its neon lights have long since gone dark, the towering vertical sign that reads RIG is a symbol of the towns perseverance and the enduring hope that someday, the historic theaterand the surrounding downtownwill someday enjoy a renaissance. His aunt claimed to have seen him screaming as he was dragged under a bed by a black eyed female. His widow Julia remained in the home until 1912, when the property changed hands (as it would several more times in the century to come). The abandoned structure was named to the National Register of Historic Places a decade later, but very little has changed about the hotel since then. The desolate structures are located on the parks south side, requiring travel down unpaved, poorly-maintained roads and across dry stream beds, so taking a vehicle with four-wheel drive is recommended. As a stop along the rail line between Denver and Fort Worth, Quanah was founded in 1884 and grew well into the middle of the 20th century, when the town added the theater at the height of the drive-in movie trend. The majestic Hotel Galvez hosts ghost tours (reservations required) with tales of spooky occurrences and spirit sightingsmost famously a sailors distraught bride-to-be Audra from the 1950s; Sister Catherine, a heroic nun killed in the 1900 storm; and naughty, laughing phantom children. When the Texas & Pacific Railroad brought its tracks through Reeves County in 1881, the towns population jumped, with shops, houses, saloons and restaurants popping up soon afterward. Many believe the hotel was abandoned during the 1940s or 50s but no one seems to know why. Sign up for magazine extras, upcoming events, Mercantile specials, subscription offers, and more. When a student first saw a young man with head down in the last row, she thought it was someone from her group. Asher Elbein. In Houston, Market Squares La Carafe Wine Bar, built in 1860 and the oldest commercial property in the city, is home to the ghost of bartender/manager Carl, plus footsteps, loud noises, and unexplained lights from the empty upstairs. The Zedler Mill flourished for decades, ultimately becoming the main source of power and water to the City of Luling. The home, which he dubbed Walnut Ridge, was designed by architect James Riely Gordon; tragically, Miller died less than a year after construction was completed. Urban exploration of abandoned places in Texas is no fun if one of your hands is occupied with a flashlight. TheJackson Square Apartmentscomplex was abandoned after it became the scene of several brutal murders. The sprawling hospital was originally designed in the Kirkbride tradition, with a central administration building flanked by patient wings on either side. Check them out at the Marfa Lights Viewing Area and be patient: The lights are often a no-show until they arent. DHanis soon added a school, post office and a grand Catholic church, St. Dominic, where residents attended mass led by a priest imported from one of Castros other settlements. The upper floors house apartments and offices now, but Hendley Markets glass ceiling reveals views of stairs and landings (and perhaps apparitions). It was the nights when we were in the Meat Laboratory, conducting research, usually by ourselves, that one would hear strange noises or feel like you were not alone., Cow-skull design on a door. When the boy seemed to say hello to her from inside her head, she insisted on leaving the premise immediately. Rivera hired Mayfield to look after the building after the departure of an earlier caretaker. Broken windows lead into a black interior; the door is chained shut. Director Steven Spielberg told the Dallas Morning News he was spooked while staying there in the 1970s. The Big Thicket is a dense, biodiverse forest region in East Texas. A nearby monument is inscribed with the names of the souls who died on that fateful day in April 1993. hoto credit left: flickr/yyellowbird right via youtube. While I consider myself to be intelligent, if you ever spent the night in the Plaza Theatre, you might change your mind. E. For example, one marker tells of the sad fate of Mary Anne Rudinger, who was the first settler to die upon the establishment of the village: Carrying smaller children over streams, she became ill and died on May 25, 1847. The drive from Wimberley to Blanco is known as The Devils Backbone, and contains its own history of phantom riders and undead settlers, as well as gorgeous Hill Country vistas. The University of Texas historic Littlefield Home in Austin was the last home of Alice Littlefield, who passed in 1935 and has been reported to play the piano and move objects around. The dust and cobwebs may be gone, but it appears the ghosts have remained., Intelligent people dont believe in ghosts! exclaimed 90-year-old Charles Russell, Plaza manager from 1940 to 1951, during an interview for the 2006 commemorative reopening. Its not surprising that Hendley Row is a hot spot for supernatural activity. While it may no longer seem like a bando in the sense you might expect, this is still one of the most well-kept abandoned places in Texas. Similar to the Mariscal Mine, the skeleton of the Aldridge Sawmill represents a once-thriving industry stalwart that was abandoned and left to decay decades ago. Not surprisingly, the Plaza spent its 76 years from inception to rebirth accumulating ghost stories. The little girl stalked them through the mine calling out thenames of their family membersuntil the group was too scared to continue their adventure. Also known to locals as the old Asylum, Dr. Whites Sanitarium welcomed its first patients in 1926. A fearsome black specter with red eyes has been reported to haunt the chapel and growl when Bible verses are read there. Toyahs population peaked in 1910 at just more than 1,000 residents, served by four stores, two banks, two hotels, four churches, two lumber yards and a drugstore. The buildings are also thought to contain asbestos and rattlesnakes, so this makes it one of the most dangerous abandoned places in Texas. Theres a good reason why abandoned buildings are often in scenes from horror films. Resembling spaceships with their elliptical shape and bubble windows, the homes were constructed primarily of fiberglass and plastic and consisted of 16 pieces that could be easily broken down and reassembled in a new location if the owner so desired. Those who are close to him have now had him declared mentally insane. Privacy Policy. These are ideal ingredients for a good ghost story. The hotel never managed to recover and was closed five years later. Big Bend National Park was established a year later. When residents refuse to let them enter, the siblings are known to climb their roof and scrape the shingles with their fingernails for hours on end. 432-269-2991, Simms death was a tragic accident. Together, they suggest something more dynamic than a mere ghost story. We dont spam, we dont sell your info. A lot of awful things went on here, Mayfield says. 405 Moseley St., Jefferson. Youngblood in 1879 when he brought his family and a covered wagon full of merchandise to the area about 20 miles southwest of Pecos. National Geographic published a clear photo of the light in a 1974 feature about the Big Thicket. The building is privately owned, so you risk a trespassing charge if you attempt to explore the property, but you can get a pretty good view of the legendary hotel from the sidewalk in front of it. Armed with decades of experience in the mill industry, Zedler bought out his partners in 1888 and replaced them with his oldest son, with his two younger sons joining the company a few years later. Though it has sat vacant for four decades, the distinctively-designed brown brick theater remains a fading local landmark. But all the stories share a common themea floating orb of light. Despite its dilapidated appearance, local residents insist that the home is still occupied. The lone remaining structure on the site is the in-ground swimming pool, which the Branch Davidians used for recreation in good times and as a bunker during the standoff. The Luling Economic Development Corporation purchased the neglected property in 2002, and in 2007 the Zedler Mill Foundation was created to preserve and restore the site. Their vacant, dilapidated appearances, their discarded furniture. The lady in white and the running and playing little boy and little girl are thought to be 1900 storm victims. The property has been abandoned for at least 25 years, though the official date of the facilitys closure is uncertain. Jenkines and staff recall other spooky experiences. 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi. Applewhite Road, San Antonio. MM Pack. Mayfield says she once saw the ghost of a young man staring out from behind the locked front doors, a bullet wound in his head. Alternatively, check outour comprehensive guidefor far more options, tips, and tricks. 2328 Broadway, Galveston.

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