10 Abandoned Places in Texas with Chilling Backstories

Texas is a bountiful land of flat deserts, rolling piney woodlands, and historic towns, but also of eerie reminders of the past. The state is littered with locations shrouded in whispered mysteries, devastating tragedies, and lost dreams. The crumbling, empty buildings on these sites hold their stories in every brick and tile—some sad, some strange, and some downright chilling.

If you have a predilection for history and even a hint of the macabre, then these abandoned spots will be haunting and intriguing for you. Some are left behind due to economic shifts, natural disasters, or unspeakable events, while the origins of others are even more unclear. In any case, let’s explore these spine-tingling ruins and uncover their complicated backstories.

Mineral Wells, The Baker Hotel

Once a beacon of luxury in the early 20th century, The Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells was home to numerous Hollywood stars and wealthy guests. Although stories of ghostly apparitions keep it alive in local lore, the hotel is dead for business and shut its doors in 1972. Many visitors to this creepy location claim to have felt an otherworldly presence and encountered the spirit of a red-haired woman. According to the legend, the red-haired ghost is that of a mistress who tragically committed suicide at the property.

Yorktown: Yorktown Memorial Hospital

This former hospital turned rehabilitation center is said to be one of Texas’s most haunted locations. The rehab center closed in 1980 but is still rumored to be haunted by the spirits of patients who died too soon. Visitors to the haunted location have also reportedly heard disembodied voices and been touched by unseen hands.

The Grove, Jefferson

Abandoned for years before being partially restored, The Grove was dubbed one of the most haunted houses in Texas. Reports of things such as ghostly figures, strange objects moving on their own, and unexplained cold spots give the building its eerie reputation.

Presidio La Bahía, Goliad

Despite being restored and open to the public, the history of The Presidio La Bahía is as dark and chilling as it gets. It’s said to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers who lived through the Texas Revolution and Goliad Massacre. Tourists and visitors have reported hearing phantom footsteps and faint cries in the dead of night.

League City: Texas Killing Fields

This desolate spot near Interstate 45 earned its grim nickname, Texas Killing Fields, from the discovery of multiple bodies in the area over the decades. Now an abandoned lot, this eerily silent location served as a dumping ground for numerous horrible crimes. Its story is now a chilling reminder of tragic mysteries never solved.

Fort Worth: Swift Meat Packing Plant

Rich with historical symbolism, the decaying Swift Meat Packing Plant in Fort Worth’s Stockyards District is an abandoned industrial site. Since closing in the 1970s, rumors abound of ghostly workers and strange noises in its now-empty halls. It’s a favorite haunt for paranormal enthusiasts, who come looking for evidence of its haunted reputation.

San Antonio: Woman Hollering Creek Bridge

There is a terrifying legend attached to this seemingly ordinary bridge. The local folklore tells the story of a ghost of a woman who has been crying for her lost children. While the hollering bridge isn’t actually abandoned, its eerie atmosphere and creepy past keep all but the bravest people away at night.

Corpus Christi: The Ritz Theater

Now abandoned for decades, the Ritz in Corpus Christi was once a thriving movie theater. Since then, the theater has become a popular haunt for ghost hunters searching for evidence of reported phantom audiences crowding the aisles. The decaying interior and reports of phantom footsteps only contribute to its haunting allure.

Glenrio: Ghost Town

Glenrio, located on the Texas-New Mexico border, was a lively stop on Route 66. The town dried up when the interstate bypassed it, leaving a gas station, motel, and café that were forever stuck in time. It’s a snapshot of another time, but it feels horribly unsettling.

Fort Wolters: Mineral Wells

Once a bustling military base, Fort Wolters has transformed into a haunted shadow of its former self. Crumbling buildings, overgrown grounds, and strange sounds send a shiver down the spine of all who dare to visit. The abandoned base is believed to be the final resting place of the spirits of soldiers who couldn’t leave the place they once called home.

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10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience

Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.

But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.

10 Best African Photo Safaris You Must Experience