An oncoming train sped down the tracks, its pace so furiously fast that there was no chance to evacuate the children, or even the driver, off of the stalled bus. Here at Ghost City, we are proud to offer our ghost tours in Texas' most haunted city! (Well, maybe a buck-fifty these days.) 25. This man who fought in WWII, said of the hospital, "Never again do I want to experience the sight of such cruelties." This Plaza, perhaps more than any other, has had numerous of ghostly sightings surface. Yet, some locals pronounced it waterburger" when they were kids and still can't break the habit as adults. But, luckily, just then a doctor walked by. . Robert Pugh, the head of the Bexar County Mental Health Department, said of Patrick, "He is a very, very sick man. San Antonio is the oldest city in Texas and celebrated its 300th anniversary on May 1, 2018. The Alamo. Party held to celebrate Mission World Heritage status. Ghost City Tours offers the best Ghost Tours in San Antonio. If the dirt wasnt recycled it would cost nearly $25,000 to purchase new dirt every year. Many historical buildings, hotels, museums and parks are reportedly haunted in the city. He was close to a Ph.D. in mathematics. The history of the San Antonio State Hospital (originally called the Southwestern Insane Asylum), is one that is especially hard to grasp. Hot Wells Hotel & Spa Ruins. If you run across a group of women hiking in San Antonio without shirts on, don't ogle. River City. This mosaic is a replica of such a candle on a grand scale. . San Antonio's award-winning Children's Museum (located in Central San Antonio) isn't just for kids anymore. With a history as murky as the San Antonio State Hospital's, reports of haunting are undoubtedly believable. Flash forward and its easy to see why the city has kept this bold nickname: With 133,000 people hitting town each year to attend the graduation of students from military training, the USAF Airman Heritage Museum being right here, Fort Sam Houston being one of the Armys oldest posts, and over 300 years of military history, this is one city you really dont want to mess with. Nah, it's actually (maybe) worse. Things To Do Real Experiences. These days, its home to works from some of the best artists of all time, like Picasso and Georgia OKeeffe. Dallas is now the third-largest city in Texas followed by Austin, with Fort Worth closing in at fifth place. Lanier High School holds the world record for the most tamales ever made. Weaver H. Baker (Chairman of the State Board of Control) was put in charge of the investigation, though little was ever actually done to help the people held at the San Antonio State Hospital. 1. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Before the San Antonio built River Walk, the area was a place to stay away from due to high crime and river rats. The oldest cathedral in the state in San Fernando Cathedral. That's a San Antonio fact! The root of this was caused by a shortage of nurses, as explained by Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services (which oversees the San Antonio State hospital): We have a total of 83 nurse positions at the hospital (SASH), and 12 of those are vacant, plus we have several nurses out for an extended period of time due to medical reasons. she then added. Shaq gives Cole Cougars shoutout before state tournament. Are you visiting San Antonio? In 1910, the alleged "insane" Browne sued for having been incarcerated at the SASH. Let's not forget the Alamo, which rumor has it is also haunted. There is, however, other evidence as to how his family felt about about poor Williamand that feeling was not warm or loving at all. The driver tried to get the children off the bus, but a train soon crashed into it, killing all of the students and the bus driver. It was not the Comanche way to murder the people of the San Antonio villa and destroy them out rightno, it was better to allow them to work the fields and raise the horses, before the Comanches took what they deemed "theirs.". Legend has it that if you position your car over the tracks, and put your car in neutral, the ghosts will push the vehicle the whole way across in an attempt to protect you from any imminent danger. And it seems that though ghosts roam the halls, no one feels all to comfortable to discuss the phenomena that occurs daily. The highest temperature ever recorded was 111 F on September 5, 2000. True Adventures. The event is just one of many extravaganzas that occur every April during Fiesta, the biggest party youve never heard of. Read more 0 Country Spirit - La Mansion Boerne, Texas 75 miles from Uvalde, TX 16. scary facts about san antonio. But though it has a fine reputation nowadays, patients who were once sent to the former Southwestern Insane Asylum were considered to be on "the March of Death." The hospital was now able to administer modern treatments for the patients, but just a year later the hospital became overcrowded yet again, surpassing capacity at 2,308. 9. It contains a whopping 67,000 square feet of retail sales space, which could house 22 7-Elevens or 2 Whole Foods stores. Its seen its ups and downs, but after being designated the first historic district in the state, its been rebuilt and reborn. It was no long after this time that Williams father died. Yes, theyre a staple Mexican food, and yes, were totally obsessed with them. A few days later, flat red spots appeared your face before showing on your hands and on your neck and on your torso. It's also reported that you can hear ghostly footsteps from the fallen soldiers and men crying. San Antonio is home to the oldest miniature golf course in the United States at Cool Crest Miniature Golf. app for Android and iOS. If you're local to San Antonio, Texas, you've probably spent a night or two driving out to Shane Road. Do you think an evening exploring San Antonio's most haunted places sounds like fun? Computer and Internet Use. Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. Its also currently undergoing a $100 million redevelopment not bad for a bake sale project. While we will never know the particulars of William Brownes death, its safe to say that his siblings were once again in control of his finances. Hotel Monteleone. San Antonio is home to the nations first all-digital library. The hospital officials may want to forget the "long train of abuses," but the souls of these departed patients will never let that happened. or if that uncomfortable sensation of being watched kicks up. 1. The San Antonio Stockshow and Rodeo reuse the same dirt every year. All right reserved. And for those who come here for a wedding or another event, well, it can't be said that the Castle's resident spirits are the kind to greet you with open arms. But what is the truth? A concerned mother commented. Learn about our 160 years in business as the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi. They're hairy and have two large obvious eyes on the front (in addition to their other eyes) that watch you. While there are new buildings in place of the original structures, the hospital is not associated with the nearby, often-photographed ruins that have lit up the Internet in recent years. Pope John Paul II visited San Antonio in 1987, where he held mass in . ", Just before Christmas of 2014, the hospital announced that they were unable to admit any more patients. 21. She scrambled back to the river, but her children were nowhere in sight. Do you know those tall votive candles with pictures of Mother Mary you can get at the grocery store for a buck? A number of Valley people died under mysterious circumstances at the San Antonio State Hospital, ranging from teenagers to the elderly. A complex argument of facts versus fiction, right versus wrong, and what the battle was even about hasn't let up since, even as Texas became a U.S. state in 1845 and ensuing decades saw San . . 3. or the impoverished themselves. If she had to choose between gambling in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, shed skip the gambling and see a show in Vegas and go to the beach in Atlantic City. Sometimes, it's simply that the ghost prefers the land of the living to anything else. Those who are admitted may have done so voluntarily, but more often than not the choice was not theirs to make. The settlers' stamp of "ownership" did nothing to dissuade the onslaught of attacks from the Comanches and Apaches peoples. The San Antonio Spurs have won five championships and are the only former ABA team to win an NBA Championship. But don't worry, you're more likely to be killed . Patience who were legitimately in need of aid, as well as those who suffered more undiagnosed diseases like seizures. Thus, ghosts are the reason why the Alamo still stands today. Here are some unique facts about San Antonio, Texas: San Antonio is the second-most populous city in Texas, with a population of over 1.5 million people. Tragedy underlies the history at this haunted location, and the stories which have emerged from previous owners tell us only one thing something exists here, at this abandoned property, and it's more than likely that it is not a spirit but something much darker. According to the Churchs website, George W. Church opened the location in 1952. The 2,311 seat theatre was designed in 1929 by architect John Eberson, and was home to San Antonio's Symphony from 1989 to 2014. Since this is Texas, you can imagine their size. Rumored to be haunted by the spirits of young children, as well as the victim of a heartless murder, the vibrant paranormal activity here clearly demonstrates that not all of its ghosts are able to forget what happened to them in life. And that open communication between the living and the dead? In San Antonio, the ghost stories range from the standard to the downright creepy, and most are passed from generation to generation. DoSeum's Redo Recess Night. Countless newspaper accounts have reported on the horrific conditions at the San Antonio State Hospital since its construction--and for many years, those who were sent there were deemed to be "on the march of death." He lunged for a chair, grabbing and positioning it before him to protect himself from their attack. If you want to learn more about the most haunted locations in San Antonio, please browse through the pages below. One of these poor souls was Chuauhtemco "Chino" Garcia, just nineteen-years-old, but a big boy, weighing in between 180-190 pounds. It was determined players lost so much fluid that none was left to form urine and that is when he invented a drink that had salts and sugars which was the basis for Gatorade, according to the University of Florida. The term O'Niner" refers to residents of the exclusive 78209 ZIP Code that includes the upscale neighborhood of Alamo Heights. 32. All in all, there are now some 20,000 works at the McNay. And then there's La Llorona, the "Weeping Woman," who lingers near the water. For hundreds of years, ghost stories have been told by the locals in San Antonio. San Antonio surpassed Dallas as the second biggest city in Texas after the 2010 census count. There was further progress in the 1970s with the San Antonio State Hospital (SASH) becoming accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals; outreach clinics becoming established in other nearby towns, (which helped in reducing the hospitals population to 1,836); and with renovations and additions that modernized the hospital. Heck, Salem, Massachusetts is known for its infamous witch trials during the seventeenth century, and no one can visit Chicago without hearing about the gruesome mobs, whose equally gruesome deaths have spawned countless ghosts stories throughout the Windy City. Additionally, Fuentes has said that San Antonio is just perfectly placed for being ghost friendly. The designation was made in July 2015. 5. Take a trip to one of the haunted hotels; the Menger and the Crockett are both mainstays on ghost tours. We have carried on Ripley's tradition of scouring the globe for the world's most unbelievable exhibits. It was reported on March 6, 1910, that a man was held at the asylum for twelve years. It's said that some of the most haunted places in the world are theaters and the former Alamo Street Theater (now a hot dog place called Frank) is no different. ", Another current employee added, "There's Death around We hear and see things., For the most part, it seems that many of the employees of the Hospital are perturbed by the paranormal events, but arent willing to. +. It's not just the Texan soldiers who died there in a stand-off with the Mexican army in 1836. This popular area has been around since the 1700s. Paranormal investigators flock to places like the Menger Hotel or Military Plaza; and at any time of night, people can be seen standing by the illuminated Alamo, wonderingjust maybeif they might spot the specter of Davy Crockett who defended the historic church against the Mexican General Santa Anna in 1836. Se Habla Espaol 210-223-4361. But the fight for land did not stop there, because soon the Texans wanted their independence from Spain and, later, Mexico. 9. 9. Yes, San Antonio has a museum dedicated entirely to artsy toilet seats. MY RESERVATION . Staff cared for two stray cats and buried them on-site with their own gravemarkers when they died. 4. San Antonio's most iconic spot is said to still hold the spirits of the men violently killed while trying to defend the Alamo. Outlaws made themselves home in San Antonio's saloons, gaming hells and dance halls, where excessive drinking led to violence and violence almost always led to death. How many other places in the US can. . The Tower of the Americas is a whopping 750 feet tall and provides a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Some of her most notable contributions focus on race and culture or health and wellness. Speaking of big, how could we forget Buc-ee's, the favorite waystation of Texas travelers? 2.64. A local hiking group, Hiking Heroes, organized such a hike in October 2021 to raise funds for a local breast cancer nonprofit. As you're traveling throughout the city and talking to people, though, expect to pay your respects to American veterans on occasion. O'Brien was arrested by the police for murdering his parents, William and Mary, who were reportedly stabbed so many times that they looked like they had each been blasted with a shotgun. Checkout. 3. They have seen soldiers, cowboys, Native Americans, and priests. . And did we mention the creator of Gatorade was from San Antonio? 30. For those which are currently abandoned, paranormal investigative groups flock to them to uncover the sometimes tragic events which occurred to them. Auto Ads . . Some people use baby powder on the car to show the ghostly handprints of the spectral children as in one viral video. Here's Why. Here's Where To Get Itand Where To See Whats Tex-Next. BiblioTech opened on Sept. 14, 2013. See the haunted side of San Antonio on this ghost-themed bus tour. A speeding train smashed into the bus, killing ten of the children and the bus driver. When he returned to Brownsville, he tried to be admitted to the Veteran's Hospital, but the government had yet to make necessary provisions for veterans of WWII. The theatre's other claim to fame was that it was also the first theatre in the state to be totally air-conditioned! Menu Close. He also added that they would have had to stomp his guts out to get him to work for them. You can't talk about the most haunted places in San Antonio without mentioning the Alamo. 2012. The Milam building downtown was the first high-rise office building in the U.S. to have air conditioning. Sightings of apparitions on translucent operating tables at the Emily Morgan have been reported, as well as hearing the disembodied moaning of the sick. Library membership is free to all Bexar County residents. . Sadly, San Antonio had a very real angel of death in their midst at Bexar County Hospital, in the form of Genene Jones, who was convicted of poisoning somewhere between 11 and 50 infants. According to its former owners, the living are very protective of these energies. Instead of a human head, however, there is one of a horse. Shaquille ONeal, star of Kazaam (oh right, and also 15-time NBA All-Star), went to Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio. The following year the hospital's capacity averaged around 2,103, which was one of the few years that the hospital did not exceed more patients to beds than they actually had in their disposal. Discover Old San Antonio's most haunted places and uncover the history that lies waiting for those who dare to enter their doorways. Not because I didn't want to workit was because I was afraid of my heart.". As I mentioned, there were also speciousness deaths of the elderly. +. 22. Texans love their homegrown fast food joint, Whataburger, based in San Antonio. 210-223-4361. The air-conditioning design was created by Willis H. Carrier of the Carrier Engineering Corporation. 3. (Want to find out a little more about our upcoming ghost tours in San Antonio? San Antonio loves creepy stuff. A rendering of the Texas Stingray at SeaWorld San Antonio. But for some asylums, like the San Antonio State Hospital, it is not abandoned but still currently in use. Aldridge's nervous condition was only getting worse, so he committed himself to the SASH as an ultimate last resort. One person who used to work at the hospital claims that the grounds are madly haunted, which makes complete sense. All right reserved. The golden age of the paperback has ended, so why not borrow e-readers from the library and attend book club meetings streamed online? But San Antonio has four other historical missions, too: Mission San Juan, Mission San Jos, Mission Espada, and Mission Concepcin. 15. Conditions only worsened over the next few years, with reports of the hospital overcrowding again in 1934. So, she was brought to the hospital. There, she drowned them both. (Seizures were often deemed to be the sign of an overwrought, mentally unstable individual). But the Majestic Theatre is also home to more than a few ghosts, those who have made themselves comfortable in the grand Majestic. But, once again, don't do anything dumb like try to trespass on private property. Tourists flock to San Antonio for delicious food, the River Walk, and the bright atmosphere which makes the city so lively and beautiful during the day-but for visitors interested in spooky legends, there are plenty of haunted places in San Antonio to explore after dark.. With 300 years of turbulent history since its beginning in 1718, it is no surprise that San Antonio is one of the most . 16. 50-59: 12%. . Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Bexar County BiblioTech was the first library in the US to offer an exclusively digital collection and is still the only one to do so. Get a glimpse of the dark underbelly of San Antonio history as each haunted location ratchets up the tension of the tour. The Alamo City holds another Guinness World Record, we are home to the tallest cowboy boots sculpture. Grunch. The displays are professional and interactive - obviously designed by professionals. 10. Racial desegregation began at the hospital in 1964, as the first African-American patient was admitted. 2022 Ghost City, Ghost City Tours. The Alamo City is packed with ha. Both scorpions and spiders like the Brown Recluse like to hide out in shoes. He sealed them in with the turn of the lock, and then took his own life moments later with a pistol . President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson got married at St. Marks Episcopal Church in downtown San Antonio. Follow thislink!). After spending over a decade in the asylum, William Browne, was once again free to live his life. Rougarou. It was originally opened in 1929 and is now a historical landmark. The cathedral was founded in 1731 by a group of families from the Canary Islands. 14. A relief on his part, no doubt, since hed been locked away in the asylum for a dozen years. He also had a nervous condition that needed to be attended to. And we have no community-based alternatives, no step-down units, no residential treatment facilities., Judge Oscar Kazen who presides over Bexar County's Mental Health Court, commented, Its only in the last couple of years that weve been able to convince University (Hospital) to begin taking unfunded involuntary patients". it really should be. At 750 feet, San Antonio's Tower of the Americas is taller than the famous Seattle Space Needle, making it the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the city. A woman left a comment on their facebook page, saying the her beloved brother was is in the facility, and that she was not able to get a hold of him. None of their venoms are lethal (except for rare cases of allergy), but they can hurt like hades. Local Adventures Explore, shop, drink and dine like a local. As late as the 1950s, the San Antonio Old City River Walk was a seedy area with high crime and a large homeless population. Test your knowledge against this list. The Alamodome opened on May 15, 1993, and cost $186 million to build. Seven months later, Mrs. Harrison was dead. 31. The legend tells of a school bus that stalled on the railroad tracks at Villamarin and Shane in the 1940s, and was hit by an oncoming train (all occupants of the bus were killed instantly). Her writing has been published in numerous venues from computer magazines to life coaching websites to mindfulness publications such as Elephant Journal. There is one house more beautiful, it's said, more elegant than all the others: The Terrell Castle, which also goes by the name of the Lambermont House. 10. The man was horrified. No doubt the bus driver did everything he could, but there was nothing to be done. . She was so desperatedesperate for his love and a possible marriagethat the widow took matters into her own hands. After expansion in the 1920s, the original Southwestern Insane Asylum (now the San Antonio State Hospital) continued to grow ever larger. Adults. The hospital was essentially a self-sufficient village with crops, livestock and a lake for fishing. 60-69: 9%. Over 700 people were put in jails across the state during this period. It seems that no matter where one turns in the historic San Antonio district, ghosts have been sighted. This case was one of those "stranger than fiction" stories. Best Easy, Cheap Dinner Ideas for Your Family. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar. Also in 1964, case worker, Helen Cloud Austin, became the first African-American to become a member of the hospitals elite staff. These stories told by and revealed by the press ultimately spurred Coke R. Stevenson to open an investigation into the hospital's actions. Shaquille ONeil got his start in basketball in San Antonio. DICE Dental International Congress and Exhibition. Each of these animals found in the wild are hiding disgusting, terrifying, or down right spooky secrets. [1] Its altitude is approximately 662 feet (202 m) above sea level. Another apocryphal ghost story in San Antonio is the Donkey Lady. 3.) He should have never been out on the streets. But at almost every old bridge, there are rumors that the Devil himself was involved with its construction. Next time you stay at a Hilton, remember that Conrad Hilton, the founder of the hotel chain, was born in San Antonio, N.M. Neighborhood: Central San Antonio. 24. In 2014, Shaq came back to the Texas state basketball tournament for a reunion with his former high school teammates, still towering over them like he did 25 years ago. Depending on whom one might have asked in the eighteenth century, smallpox was both the best and worst thing to ever happen to the burgeoning city of San Antonio at that time. Along the Riverwalk you'll find the Arneson River Theater, which became famous worldwide for being featured in the film Miss Congeniality. Fritos were invented in SA, we have the oldest park in Texas and hold the world record for most tamales made. Grocery store chain H-E-B's answer to Whole Foods, Central Market, is often called Gucci-B," a San Antonio fact. . Spurs Nation. The spirits of San Antonio are some of the strangest out there. 2. Is it because of outlaws like Bob Augustine who turned to violence as often as they turned to drink or women or alcohol? "OK, this place was much better than I expected, so maybe I'm over-compensating with five stars. This San Antonio walking ghost tour is for you if: You're looking for a high-quality ghost storytelling performance full of dark history and chilling ghost lore. Because apparently there an unspoken code that only the crazies could be mistreated. 18. The previous record was 13,000 tamales. San Antonio's Midget Mansion has also been called the Gillespie Mansion and the Donore Manor, but despite the different names this urban legend is perhaps one of the most gruesome in all of Texas. . Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship; Contact; Home; About; Program; FAQ; Registration; Sponsorship . According to its former owners, the living are very protective of these energies. Thanks to its unique past, the city has no shortage of urban legends and ghostly encounters that have . 11 facts about San Antonio, TXSan Antonio is having a birthday, and it's a big one the Alamo City is turning a whopping 300 years old. Two spiders you should definitely steer clear from in San Antonio are the Black Widow Spider and Brown Recluse Spider. Once the military fortification for the famous Alamo, the Spanish Governor's Palace was never actually home to Texas's governors. The reason why this is important to note is because most spiritual experts say that ghosts can not cross over water. Her name is Beatrice, and it's known about the restaurant that she isn't the kindest of spirits. He added, "Chapa was not a violent mental case. Every year the Texas Cavaliers River Parade takes the term parade float and interprets it literally. . Yet, another death that got mentioned in newspaper headlines was that of a 75-year-old man who was beaten, starved and dehydrated so severely, he lost an astonishing 30 pounds in only 15 days. Built for the HemisFair in 1968, this museum offers exhibits about Big Foot as well as Texas' cultural past. Discover the most luxurious apartments in Austin, where scenic beauty meets state-of-the-art amenities.