- Creepy Hauntings in Austin
- Texas Horror That's Not About Chain Saws
- Urban Legends Based in Texas
- Haunted Places Around the State
- Deadly Animals You Should Avoid
- Creepy Unsolved Texas Mysteries
- Unexplained Phenomena
- Texas Serial Slayers
- Truly Eerie Scary Texas Stories
- The Most Texan Small Towns
- Chilling Texas Ghost Stories
- Memes Only Texas Will Appreciate
- True Texan Slang and Phrases
- You Know You're From Texas When
- Slayings of the South Texas Fields
- The Most Notorious Serial Murderers
- The Best Shows Set in Texas
- The Best Texas Country Songs
- The Greatest Movies About Texas
- Great Films Named After Texas
- The Greatest Country Songs About Texas
- The Very Best Beers from Texas
- The Best Beers from Austin
- The State's Most Haunted Houses
12 Super Terrifying Ghost Tales From Austin, Texas
There's a weird thrill to hearing seriously spooky tales, like unsettling ghost stories about children . While there are a ton of creepy, scary stories about Texas , the ones that originate from Austin are some of the best the west of the Mississippi River has to offer. There is certainly no shortage of haunted bars, restaurants, and hotels for paranormal enthusiasts to visit in the area. In fact, one of the most haunted places in Austin is the Driskill Hotel, and booking a room on the fourth floor will all but ensure a ghostly encounter.
Austin has some terrifying tales, like the one about the shapeshifting witches who like to spend their nights feeding on the flesh of humans. Collected here are the scariest ghost stories that confirm it’s best to proceed with caution when exploring haunted Austin, especially at night.
The Driskill Hotel Has Two Ghost Brides Haunting Its Halls
The Driskill is a historic hotel widely recognized as one of the most active paranormal locations in Austin. Many claim to feel the presence of Jesse Lincoln Driskill himself lurking on the premises. The hotel has all the classic staples, including a creepy portrait that makes viewers queasy, the spirit of a little girl on the staircase, strange noises coming from empty rooms, and two ghost brides who committed suicide in room 525.
The little girl on the stairs was a senator’s daughter who died on the steps while chasing a ball back in 1887. Sightings of her began a week later. The spirit of a woman who committed suicide on the fourth floor can be heard whispering and weeping. Only glimpses of her have been caught out of the corner of the eyes of witnesses.
Metz Elementary Is Full Of Violent Spirits
Metz Elementary was demolished in 1990, but not without giving a final scare. The demolition crew was haunted by the sounds of giggling children from within the walls and by scrawlings that would just appear on the chalkboards. The bulldozers would abruptly stop as they neared the building, equipment broke down, the workers constantly fell off ladders, and even their watches stopped ticking while onsite.
An exorcism was eventually performed and afterwards, a worker was killed when a wall fell on him. Today, a new school stands in its place, which probably wasn’t a good idea since the entire site is still ridiculously haunted.
Shapeshifting Witches Called La Lechuza Haunt The Night Skies
It’s believed that pretty much all of Texas is considered the stomping grounds of La Lechuza . According to legend, La Lechuza are witches who sold their souls to Satan for immense power and for the ability to shapeshift. They transform into horrible, bird-like creatures and prey on humans who dare to walk the streets at night. They are able to mimic voices and often pretend to be a harmless baby, crying off in the distance. When the would-be hero wanders off to rescue the child, they become witch food.
Shoal Creek Was The Site Of An Indian Massacre
One of the most haunted places in all of Texas is Shoal Creek . It was the site of a brutal Indian massacre, several battles, a flood, and contains burial grounds. Back in 1839, Gideon White built his log cabin home around the springs near Shoal Creek. By 1842, he was murdered by Native Americans. Now, his body is buried deep in the soil while his spirit roams the grounds with many others.
The Paramount Theatre Is Full Of Ghostly Drama
Ghosts and theater go hand-in-hand, so it makes sense that the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas , has its own after hours cast lingering about. The smell of cigar smoke is often reported in an opera box and on a few occasions, witnesses have seen the apparition of an elderly gentleman sitting in the box puffing away on his stogie. A woman in white can also be seen strolling through the lobby from time to time. She like to startle onlookers by disappearing through a wall right before their eyes.
Longtime custodian Tony Johnson witnessed a pair of white shoes walking down the aisle in the auditorium, with no person attached to them.
Buffalo Billiards Has Regulars From The Other Side
Buffalo Billiards has been a few things since its opening day in 1861. It was once called the Missouri House and served as Austin’s first boarding house. It was even a brothel at one point before it opened as a pool hall in 1999. Buffalo Billiards is one of the many places that has their very own ‘woman in white’ who likes to appear and disappear on a whim. According to The Big Book of Texas Ghost Stories , she is often spotted staring out the window long after closing time.
The manager has reported finding things out of place on multiple occasions. One morning he even called the police to report a break-in after finding pool sticks out of place. The pool hall has its own ghostly mascot, a heavy drinker named Fred for whom they leave glasses of beer on the bar for. Fred apparently spends most of his time wobbling on bar stools while moving glasses and billiard equipment around.
The Littlefield House’s Original Owner Hasn’t Moved On
The Littlefield House is a lesser-known haunt, but it radiates with creepiness nonetheless. The owner of the ornate Victorian home, Alice Littlefield, was mentally ill. Some say she was agoraphobic, while others say her husband kept her locked in the attic when he’d go out. Either way, she never left the house.
Thus, it came as no surprise that she decided to remain inside the home long after her death. Passersby have claimed to see her walking past windows and even roaming the grounds at night. Sometimes, the sound of Alice Littlefield playing the piano can be heard floating from the house at strange hours in the night.
The Clay Pit Has A Troublesome Child Toying With The Staff
According to the staff at The Clay Pit , there are many trouble-making ghosts hiding out in this historic building. They like to shatter plates, freak the staff out by giggling creepily in the empty ballroom, and wreak havoc in the kitchen.
The building was originally a trading post when it first opened back in 1853. It was also a general store, a saloon, and a private residence for the Bertram family. Tragically, the Bertram’s five-year-old son died in the upstairs bedroom from typhoid fever. It’s believed he is the mischievous spirit who enjoys pranking the staff.
Oakwood Cemetery Is The Best Place To Spot Spirit Orbs
Austin’s Oakwood Cemetery is a sprawling forty acres of paranormal activity. The City of Austin owns five historic cemeteries, with Oakwood being the oldest. Having been established back in 1839, it has over 23,000 burials. So, it’s no surprise visitors often capture photographs of spirit orbs and strange mists on the land.
The Governor’s Mansion Has Two Otherworldly Residents
While former Governor Pendleton Murrah held office, he had a house guest who fell madly in love with his niece. During the young man’s stay, he proposed to the girl, but she turned him down. He was so devastated that he committed suicide in the guest room and has been haunting it ever since. The strange activity in that room got so bad that they had to seal it up. Weird noises can still be heard coming from the inside today.
The spirit of the first governor of Texas, Sam Houston, never left the mansion, either. Many claim to have seen a full-bodied apparition of him, usually in his old bedroom.
Ghostly Politicians Haunt The Texas Capitol Building
The ghost of Governor Edmund Jackson Davis has been seen staring out a first floor window of the capitol building. The apparition is said to just stare at people walking by before disappearing. Another spirit spotted in the building is Sam Houston, the Texas hero who quit his job as governor because he refused to join the Confederacy.
The ghost of Comptroller Robert Marshall Love also haunts the property. He was shot and killed in his office by an associate in 1903. According to Fiona Broome , a psychic, ghost hunter, and author, "If you've got a nice, misty day there, people see ghosts walking up the path to the Capitol building all the time."
St. Edward's University Has Three Spirits On Campus
The University has three main paranormal hotspots , the first being the Mary Moody Theater. A student hung himself with the sandbag ropes backstage and now haunts the theater. Sometimes, you just hear the sound of the creaking rope, while other times, you can see his full apparition swaying side to side.
In addition, a ghostly nun likes to turn on all the showers in Doyle Hall. A horrible accident left Premont Hall haunted as well, when a resident advisor slipped in the shower and died, only to be discovered a week later. Now he haunts Premont Hall, slamming windows and turning on all the faucets.
- Strange True Stories
The stars at night are big and bright. Everything's bigger. All your exes live there. It's America's second largest state!
Cookie banner
We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use , which became effective December 20, 2019.
By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
Follow Eater Austin online:
- Follow Eater Austin on Twitter
- Follow Eater Austin on Facebook
- Follow Eater Austin on Youtube
- Follow Eater Austin on Instagram
Site search
- Los Angeles
- New Orleans
- Philadelphia
- Portland, OR
- San Francisco
- Twin Cities
- Washington DC
- Neighborhoods
Filed under:
- Eater Guides
A Guide to Haunted Austin Bars and Restaurants
Learn about the ghost stories from five reportedly haunted businesses around town
If you buy something from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy .
Share this story
- Share this on Facebook
- Share this on Twitter
- Share All sharing options
Share All sharing options for: A Guide to Haunted Austin Bars and Restaurants
Prefer to dine with supernatural companions? No, we’re not talking about Family Business Beer Company (whose co-owners are the stars of television series Supernatural ) — these five establishments in Austin are supposedly haunted.
Here is Eater Austin’s guide to the city’s haunted restaurants and bars, complete with a womanizing ghost at a downtown historic hotel who paid a visit to a pop star to a brothel owner haunting a downtown basement bar. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, these spots offer a unique look into the city’s history.
Sadly, one famously haunted spot — Buffalo Billiards, which was located in a formal brothel — closed in 2020. It’s unknown what has become of its ghost Fred .
The Driskill Hotel
604 Brazos Street, Downtown
The Driskill is so famously haunted that it offers its own ghost tours during the fall. Ghostly tales include two brides committing suicide in room 525 ... decades years apart, and Colonel Jesse Driskill, who built the hotel in 1886, roaming the halls leaving the inexplicable aroma of cigar smoke (just ask singer Annie Lennox, who reportedly encountered him ).
Regardless, the Driskill Bar is a fine place to relax with appetizers or a drink—perhaps a Corpse Reviver? — in classic Texas cowboy style.
Moonshine Grill
303 Red River Street, Downtown
The casual Southern restaurant ’s private dining building, the Sunday House, was built in the mid-1800s, and with a lot of history comes a lot of ghosts. Moonshine even has a section in its employee handbook about supernatural occurrences, which include tapping patrons on the shoulder, creepy noises and encounters, and objects inexplicably moving. Other than ghosts and a look at historic Austin, the restaurant offers comfort food fare like chicken and waffles and blackened catfish.
Dumont’s Down Low
214 West Fourth Street, Downtown
This basement bar is in a building that used to be a brothel owned by Sally Dagget and Blanche Dumont in the late 1800s. Employees and patrons have reported feeling a presence, from fingers on their neck to flickering lights (there’s even a short video about their experiences). Spookiness aside, you can grab a nice cocktail and admire the century-old brick walls and whiskey barrels from local distillers.
922 West 12th Street, West End
This West Austin sports bar is not only a place to watch rival sports teams meet their demise: the Tavern has been open since 1916, and was rumored to be a brothel and speakeasy during Prohibition. It’s haunted by a ghost named Emily, who reportedly taps patrons on the shoulder or causes eerie happenings. A pair of old-timey girl’s shoes were found in a crawl space during renovations in 2003, reinforcing the idea that Emily was real (the footwear is now on display in the Tavern). The bar, which is owned by the people behind Esther’s Follies, plays into the haunting with a murder mystery dinner series .
1601 Guadalupe Street, North Side
The Indian restaurant by the Texas State Capitol is located in a historic Bertram Building, which was built in 1866. It was previously a trading post, established by Rudolph Bertram. Legend has it that Bertram’s young son died in his room on the second floor, and his ghost reportedly haunts the restaurant’s private dining room.
Want to look at some of Austin’s culinary ghosts? Here’s a running list of all the restaurants that have closed this year .
DuMont's Down Low
The driskill bar, more from eater austin, sign up for the newsletter eater austin.
Sign up for our newsletter.
Thanks for signing up!
Check your inbox for a welcome email.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.
Where to Celebrate Texas Independence Day in Austin With Drinks and Food
Famous Hot Chicken Spot Hattie B’s Opens First Austin Restaurant Soon
Super-Popular Canadian Chain Tim Hortons Will Open in the Austin Area
Two Boba Tea Cafe Chains Are Opening in the Austin Area
North Loop Tex-Mex Restaurant Is Closed
Lakeway Cookie Bakery Is Going to Open in South Austin
Want to see a ghost in Austin? Check out one of these 'haunted' spots
Austin just might be the spookiest place in Texas — at least it's home to several of the state’s most "haunted" spots, according to a new analysis from Yelp. The user reviews website released its list of the 20 most haunted spots in Texas this week. Unsurprisingly, the Driskill Hotel and Bar tops that list.
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill (#3), Clay Pit (#5), 1886 Cafe & Bakery (#13) and The Tavern (#15) also made the roundup.
To gauge “hauntedness,” Yelp analyzed visitors' reviews of businesses, searching for keywords like “haunted,” “spooky” and “ghosts.” Businesses with those words in their reviews were ranked based on the volume and ratings of reviews. Yelp did not include haunted houses and ghost tours.
The Driskill
The Driskill, which sits on the corner of Sixth Street and Brazos, is Austin’s oldest operating hotel. It was constructed in 1886 by a wealthy cattle baron named Col. Jesse Driskill who decided to spend his fortune to build a luxury hotel in Austin. The Driskill was lauded in newspapers as “one of the finest hotels in the whole country.”
The Driskill family lost their fortune in 1888, after drought and cold weather killed off their cattle, and the hotel was sold. It continued to change hands many times over the years. The hotel has hosted a number of inaugural balls for Texas governors, and it was a favorite spot of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson’s; the couple had their first date in The Driskill Dining Room.
The hotel is also the site of several urban legends — Room 525 specifically. It’s believed that a bride killed herself in the room after her fiancé called off their wedding, and she now haunts the halls in her Victorian dress. A second bride, who was also rejected at the altar, is said to have killed herself in the room in 1991. After going on a shopping spree with her ex’s credit card, she went up to her room and shot herself while in the bathtub, according to Austin Monthly .
There’s also rumored to be a ghost child roaming the Driskill. The story goes that in 1887, a little girl, the daughter of a senator, fell and died on the Driskill’s grand staircase while bouncing a ball. Guests can now hear her ghost laughing and bouncing a ball on the steps, according to local lore.
Col. Driskill is also said to be haunting the place, according to Ghost City Tours , leaving phantom scents of cigar smoke around the hotel. (The Driskill is nonsmoking.)
There’s so much superstition surrounding the hotel, it’s no wonder the hotel’s bar and cafe — 1886 Cafe & Bakery — also made Yelp’s most-haunted list.
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill on Red River, is in part of the old Waterloo Compound , a group of some of Austin’s oldest commercial buildings. In the early 1900s, major floods destroyed most everything around the building, killing many. It’s now believed the ghosts of people who drowned haunt the restaurant, tapping patrons on the shoulder and moving around decor.
This Indian restaurant is located in the historic Bertram Building, another one of Austin’s oldest establishments. A German immigrant named Rudolph Bertram bought the building in the 1870s and used it as a trading post. It later became a grocery store and saloon, and he and his family lived on the second floor. The building was thought to have a network of underground tunnels leading to brothels and one that led to the state Capitol. Bertram’s young son and a murdered prostitute are said to haunt the place .
Located off 12th and Lamar, The Tavern was established in 1916 as a grocery store. Rumor has it it was a bar, casino and brothel during prohibition. Since 1933, it’s been a local pub, serving beer, burgers and more.
“The Tavern has become known as Austin’s most famously haunted bar,” boasts the pub’s website .
The Tavern supposedly has a resident ghost named Emily, who roams the second floor and pulls pranks on guests. Phantom shoulder taps, footsteps and pool games have all been reported. When the space was renovated in 2003, her shoes were supposedly found in the walls of a crawl space. The Tavern has taken the haunting in stride, making “Emily swag” and hosting murder-mystery dinner theater.
Here's Yelp's complete top-20 list:
- The Driskill — Austin
- The Driskill Bar — Austin
- Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill — Austin
- Menger Hotel — San Antonio
- Clay Pit — Austin
- Miss Molly’s Hotel — Fort Worth
- Monteleone's — El Paso
- The Emily Morgan Hotel — San Antonio
- The Adolphus, Autograph Collection — Dallas
- The Alamo — San Antonio
- Jefferson Hotel — Jefferson
- The Tremont House Hotel — Galveston
- 1886 Cafe & Bakery — Austin
- St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel — San Antonio
- The Tavern — Austin
- Faust Brewing Company — New Braunfels
- Faust Hotel — New Braunfels
- The Esquire Tavern — San Antonio
- The Crockett Hotel — San Antonio
- VFW Post 76 — San Antonio
Storytelling
Austin, Texas is a historical place full of monumental figureheads and legendary stories. Infamous for ghosts and hauntings, our walking tours take guests through these spooky places for a spine-chilling experience! Based in truth, our guides here at Walking Tours of Austin share engaging anecdotes from the past, as well as personal accounts and jarring hauntings. According to the 2022 Nightlife Critics Picks , our Murder Walk Tour was voted the “Best of Austin” as it follows the steps of the first serial killer in America. Grab your partner, friends, or family today and join us for our next outing!
Whether you’re interested in the specific Ghost Story at the Speakeasy Misty’s Unexplained Tale , or experiencing a haunted adventure of any kind, we have great options to choose from! Read more about these historical outings, including Austin’s Haunted Speakeasy Bar and The Haunted Driskill Hotel below. Read through our FAQ page for answers to your questions and concerns, or Contact Us directly.
Austin’s Best True Crime & Murder Stories: Experiencing Our Austin Murder Walk
Texas is well known for cowboys and saloons. Most of us go straight to picturing a Clint Eastwood character with arms perched on a fence, chewing on a long piece of wheat, and looking out over their cattle ranch. But what many people do not know is that it’s a hotbed for the tortured and…
Best Streets to Walk in Austin & Why You Need a Guide
Austin , the vibrant capital of Texas , is a city known for its live music scene, cultural diversity, and a plethora of outdoor activities. Among the various ways to explore this unique city, walking its streets stands out as an immersive and rewarding experience. From the historic charm of South Congress Avenue to the trendy vibes…
Top 15 Things To See & Do in Austin, TX
Austin , often referred to as the “ Live Music Capital of the World “, is a blend of traditional Texan charm and a modern, progressive spirit. From vibrant music scenes to delectable dining spots, and scenic parks to avant-garde art spaces, Austin offers a plethora of must-see attractions . Here’s a curated list of the top things to…
Ghost Story at the Speakeasy: Misty’s Unexplained Tale
Austin’s haunted Speakeasy Tavern, located in the historic Kreisle Building on Congress Avenue, is no stranger to paranormal occurrences. The frequent activity is thought to be the result of at least three individuals—the spirits of two women and a firefighter named Jimmie Glass, all of which perished when the Kreisle Building caught fire in 1916….
The Haunted Driskill Hotel
Austin’s Most Historic Hotel Austin, TX is fairly well-known today for being an ultra-modern hub for business and tech, but nestled among the skyscrapers and stylish tech offices sits a rich history that the city has gone to great lengths to preserve. Plenty of buildings from Austin’s past still stand today, all with their own…
Austin’s Haunted Speakeasy Bar
Now a bustling three-level tavern host to a number of live music performances and celebrity guests, Austin’s Speakeasy had its start as an actual speakeasy during Prohibition in the early 1920s —but its true history goes back even further. The bar resides in the heart of downtown Austin, inside of the historic Kreisle Building, constructed…
Murder Walk Tour Wins “Best of Austin”
We are proud to announce that our Murder Walk Austin tour has been named a winner in the 2022 “Best of Austin” Nightlife Critics Picks. About “Best of Austin” The Austin Chronicle’s “Best of Austin” awards allow readers and staff to vote for favorite local people, places, and businesses across a wide range of categories….
Walking Tours of Austin Named Top Attraction by TripAdvisor
We are proud to announce that Walking Tours of Austin has been promoted by TripAdvisor to the number one activity for visitors to do in Austin, TX. We’re honored by this distinction and thankful for the many visitors who have enjoyed our tours. We strive to make each tour an immersive storytelling experience for our…
Haunted Tours Austin: The Perfect October Activity
With Halloween quickly approaching, what better way to celebrate than partaking in haunted tours of Austin with Jim Miles, owner & operator at Walking Tours of Austin. However, if you’re anything like Vi Chetan, writer at The Austinot, you may enjoy celebrating all things spooky year round. Whether you’re a Halloween fanatic or not, Jim’s Ghost Walk Austin is one you don’t want to miss. Vi had the opportunity to experience Jim’s Ghost Walk earlier this month and she says, “it took less than five minutes to get sucked in to his stories.” Jim grew interested in ghost stories at a young age which has developed over the years into a great passion. From tales of ghosts with his grandmother, to a ghost tour operation in Charleston, SC, to today’s Walking Tours of Austin, Jim has the right amount of…
Austin’s Best Ghost Stories: The History Behind A Harrowing and Haunted Past
In the late 1800’s Austin was rapidly evolving from cow town to burgeoning metropolis and was well on its way to becoming the educational, cultural hub of Texas. The spirit of the Old West lives on in historical sites across the city, as do many spirits of the post-war era. If you are drawn to stories of the macabre, nearly every street corner in Austin has a story to tell. A walking tour of Austin is the perfect way to experience these tales of murder, mystery, unrequited love, and of course many ghosts. You may have heard about the haunted Driskill Hotel and the ghosts of Speakeasy Austin, but few tell the gruesome tale of the Austin axe murderer who later became known as the Servant Girl Annihilator. These are a few of the highlights you’ll experience on Austin’s 5-star…
Haunted Places in Austin, Texas
Driskill Hotel
Austin, texas.
At this historic hotel, there is a portrait of a little girl holding some flowers on the third floor that causes a bit of a buzz -- literally as well as figuratively. Folks say that when they look at it, they get a curious tingling sensation of their heels being ...
Omni Austin Hotel
Rumor has it that the ghost at this hotel is the spirit of a man, Jack, who committed suicide by jumping off the balcony. Since he was unable to pay his tab, his name still remains in the computer log. Night staff say they can hear Jack in his room ...
Texas Governor's Mansion
The 1853 mansion that was home to several Texas governors is said to be haunted. According to reports, the north bedroom is haunted by former governor Pendleton Murrah's nineteen year old nephew. He shot himself when the girl he loved refused his offer of marriage. The ghost of Sam Houston ...
Austin Tavern
Rumored to once have been a brothel, the tavern is believed to be haunted by a murdered prostitute named Emily. So the story goes, she and her daughter were killed by soldiers in the 1940s. Witnesses have been pinched, tapped, and watched by an unseen presence, and have heard the ...
Inn at Pearl Street
A ghost or two are said to haunt this inn, an 1896 building that was originally a private home for Judge Charles A. Wilcox and family. It had fallen into disrepair by the 1980s, and it was purchased and renovated as an inn in the 1990s. The apparition of a ...
Littlefield House
Allegedly haunted by the original mistress of the house Alice Littlefield. She is variously reported to have been either insane or possibly agoraphobic, whatever the case, it appears that she rarely left the house in life and it is claimed that her ghost still haunts it to this day. ...
Walter Tips House
House has a dark energy around it at night. It seems out of place in new location. There's probably a good reason its used by a bank because humans sense its not habitable at night. If you are drawn to these kinds of places you will go into the property and ...
St. Edward's University
There are three popular spots with the haunts at St. Edward's University, according to student lore. One is Doyle Hall where a ghostly nun turns on the showers. Another is Mary Moody Northern Theatre, where the ghost of a young man who hanged himself using the sandbag ropes spooks witnesses. ...
This Home Depot is rumored to be haunted by a ghost employees call Fred. Actually, according to a report, the ghost is a craftsman named Herbert who passed away at age 74 in his workshop. He was cremated, and his ashes were let go in the outdoor garden section of ...
Austin Pizza Garden
People have reported seeing floating heads watching them in the pizza parlour. Staff and diners alike have also reported seeing weird apparitions roaming the empty lot behind the building. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Buda Antique Mall
Buda, texas.
The antiques mall is rumoured to be haunted by four spirits, including a ghostly cat and a female presence that is attached to an armoire located at the rear of the store. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Quoffer's Pub
Elgin, texas.
The 1900's building that houses the bar used to be a funeral home and a mortuary. It is rumoured to be haunted by those who were kept there prior to their burial, and were unable to move on. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Old Coupland Inn and Dance Hall
Coupland, texas.
The Old Coupland Inn and Dance Hall dates back to 1910, when the building served as a bordello and a speakeasy. Now rumoured to be one of the most haunted places in the state, the paranormal activity reported at the establishment ranges from appliances turning on and off of ...
Georgetown Art Center
Georgetown, texas.
In this 1894 former firehouse, visitors have reported hearing disembodied footsteps and have seen the apparition of a man in old-fashioned cowboy attire. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Palace Theater
The 1925 historic theater is rumoured to be haunted by the apparitions of a man, a woman and a child. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Cobblestone Antiques
This antiques store is rumoured to be haunted by three spirits from a historical era. Dating back to 1895, much of the paranormal activity, including strange noises and items being thrown by unseen hands, has been reported in the upstairs section of the shop. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Williamson County Courthouse
The 1911 courthouse building is haunted by a woman in a long dress, who has been seen throughout the building wandering around in a dazed state. In the archival room, book pages have been known to flip over by themselves, and a ghostly man has been seen vanishing around ...
1894 Building
Dating back to (you guessed it) 1894, this old building is now an artists studio. The place is haunted by Luther Saint Paul Miller, a former owner. His apparition used to be seen standing at the top of the staircase, but he has not been seen since the interior ...
Masonic Building - Gumbo's North
A restaurant serving delicious southern cuisine now stands on the premises of this 1900 masonic building, which is rumoured to be haunted. Former tenants of the upstairs apartments reported that doors would open and close of their own accord, and cold spots and a strange presence were also felt. (Submitted ...
M.B. Lockett Building
The third floor of 1896 building is haunted. Housing a banquet hall, staff would often report hearing disembodied footsteps and furniture moving around from the otherwise empty room. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Colorado River Forest
Bastrop, texas.
This location has had numerous sightings of Slenderman. There is a large forest where you can find symbols marked on trees, as well as abandoned buildings. Many sigtings of UFOS's have been reported as well. This place is a hot spot for cryptid activity. (Submitted by Morgan)
Thompson Island Bridge
San marcos, texas.
Thompson Island Bridge is said to be a favorite spot for the spirit of a Confederate soldier. His apparition, with his rifle, is said to appear more often before or during times of war. According to legend, the man lived in a nearby cabin and had made a promise with ...
Devil's Backbone
Canyon lake, texas.
This beautiful scenic spot in Texas hill country is said to be haunted by a Native American cattle herder named Drago, a fatally injured miner's widow, and the spirit of a wolf. Other spirits seen here include Confederate soldiers, Spanish monks, and an apparition that appears on the hoods of ...
Stage Stop Ranch
Fischer, texas.
Guests and people driving by have reported seeing a shadowy figure hanging from a tree near the front of the ranch, as well as a wagon that drives past by itself late at night. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
The San Marcos River Entity
Luling, texas.
An invisible presence haunts the banks of the San Marcos River. An ominous feeling and impressions in the grass mark the place where the invisible presence passes.
Seton Edgar B. Davis Hospital
Mr. Davis himself is said to haunt this hospital. Staff have reported that doors open and close by themselves and medicine has been knocked to the ground before their eyes.
Adobe Verde
New braunfels, texas.
Once a 1920s electric cotton gin and now a Tex-Mex restaurant, Adobe Verde is the home of Frank, a ghost who likes to play pranks. According to local legend, Frank was a groundskeeper and a victim of unrequited love--he hanged himself from the rafters, and his spirit never left the ...
Faust Hotel
There have been newspaper articles written about this hotel's ghost. It has been seen drifting in the hallways on an upper floor, floating through closed doors, and turning the water and electricity on an off, among other things.
Milam Street
Seguin, texas.
Milam Street is haunted, locals say, by a headless ghost. Although the ghost's identity is unknown, his pattern is unwavering: He walks from Riverside Cemetery due north. He's thought to be a Confederate soldier who lost his head to a cannonball.
Maxdale Cemetery and Bridge
Killeen, texas.
Pay a visit here and you may encounter a ghost with a limp, who may have been a former cemetery caretaker. Folks say the small iron bridge here is haunted as well. Local legend has it that if you stop on the bridge, turn off your headlights, count to 10, ...
Texas Lutheran University
The Wupperman Theatre is said to house the ghost of a small girl wearing a blue dress, and she seems to want to play hide-and-seek. Lights flicker and the trap door opens by itself at times. In the Trinity Building dorm, lights can be seen to flicker on and off, ...
Saint James Inn
Gonzales, texas.
The 1914 historic inn was built by a merchant seaman, and is allegedly haunted by the former owner, his daughter and three other separate entities. Guest reports range from being awoken by a ghostly man in a dinner suit to seeing a female spirit in old-fashioned clothing roaming the ...
Hastings Books - Randalls Food Store
Employees here have felt a ghostly presence who has been known to knock merchandise off racks or set up pyramids of canned food in the aisles during the night.
Old Bell County Jail
Belton, texas.
Dating back to the 1850's, the old county jail is now a private residence. Reports say a glaring man, possibly a former prisoner, was seen staring down into the street when the place was for sale for a period of time. Upon investigation, the building was empty. (Submitted by Callum ...
Wedemeyer Academy
Formerly a boy's school during the 1800's, this historic building may soon become a bed and breakfast inn. The place is haunted by a number of spirits, including former students and the apparition of a former owner. Footsteps have been heard on the stairs, and a strange voice has ...
Woman Hollering Creek
Schertz, texas.
This creek was most probably named after the La Llorona myth. La Larona (the Weeping Woman) is the hispanic boogey-woman. She appears everywhere and the story is always the same: a woman drowns her child in a river/lake/ocean/pond/drainage ditch/bathtub and then spends all eternity wailing for her ...
Comanche Lookout Park
San antonio, texas.
Built by a local man long ago who wanted his home to look like a castle, this property is now owned by the city of San Antonio. It is said that strange lights are often seen coming out of the tower.
Von Minden Hotel
Schulenburg, texas.
Built in 1927, the Von Minden Hotel is rumored to be haunted by at least two ghosts, perhaps stemming from two known deaths here. Long ago in Room 23, a railroad worker died of an illness in his sleep, and in Room 37 a WWII veteran jumped after finding that ...
Dabb's Railroad Hotel
Llano, texas.
The hotel dates back to 1907, and was situated near the railroad to draw in weary travellers. Apparently, some were so tired that they never left, according to the current owners. During the renovations, a lot of ghostly activity was reported, although it settled down after their completion. ...
Spanish Main Apartments
Numerous sightings of a little boy in period clothing roaming the apartment complex. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Silver Creek Saloon and Restaurant - Robert Striegler House
Fredericksburg, texas.
Dating back to 1905, the historic house is now a restaurant and saloon. The place is haunted by a female apparition in period clothing, perhaps the wife of the original builder. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Victoria's Black Swan Inn
A variety of ghostly activity has been claimed at this current wedding venue. Full-body apparitions, dolls moving location, eerie music, cold spots, doors opening and closing under their own volition and other haunted happenings.
Alte Welt Gasthof - Old World Inn
Housed in the 1915 Stehling Building, the building housed a clothing store and a boarding house when it first opened to the immigrant community. Although reports of hauntings here are largely unsubstantiated, a guest staying at the inn reported sighting a grey shade in their room, while another heard ...
Boerne Emporium
Boerne, texas.
The 1908 antique store is haunted by a young boy in old-fashioned clothing. Running footsteps and ghostly laughter have also been reported here. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
Dienger Building - Boerne Public Library
Dienger Building or Boerne Public Library was built by Joseph and Ida Dienger in 1887. It was originally a dry-goods grocery store with the family living quarters upstairs. When the city purchased the building in 1991, ghost stories began to be told. Locals saw lights going on and off in ...
Ye Kendall Inn
At Ye Kendall Inn, according to local lore, reside the spirits of Erastus and Sarah Reed, who bought the land on which the inn stands in 1859. The Old Reed House, as it was called back then, was a stagecoach stop. Reports say the spots most often visited by the ...
Country Spirit - La Mansion
La Mansion Mexican restaurant, formerly El Chaparral and before that, Country Spirit, is said to be haunted by three ghosts named David, Augustine and Fred. David is the spirit of a teen who, according to local lore, drowned in the upstairs bathroom's claw-foot tub and he still haunts that room. ...
Fort Sam Houston
The Officer's Quarters are said to be haunted. People claim that items move around on their own volition and people claim to see lights when there is no one there.
North Star Mall
Allegedly haunted by "shadows" that brush past you and whisper your name.
» Cemeteries near Austin, TX » Find museums in Austin, TX
23 episodes
A podcast that explores everything unexplainable throughout the great State of Texas. We are 30-year veterans exploring the world beyond our 5 senses. There is no question the ghosts want to communicate with us. Haunted Texas and Beyond is brought to you by The Original Austin Ghost Tours and RenegadeRadio.net. Want to have your own ghostly experience? Sign up with us for a Paranormal Investigations at Pioneer Farms or at Austin's oldest theater the Scottish-Rite. Or join our group tours to Ireland for Samhain/Halloween. Subscribe to our newsletter! https://austinghosttours.com/https://www.facebook.com/AustinGhostTourshttps://www.facebook.com/HauntedTexashttps://www.youtube.com/@hauntedtexasandbeyond6765 https://www.youtube.com/@austinghosttours3765 For all the extra content from this paranormal podcast, great rock music, music reviews and more, head on over to RenegadeRadio.net!
Haunted Texas and Beyond Austin Ghost Tours and RenegadeRadio.net
- Religion & Spirituality
- 5.0 • 3 Ratings
- OCT 31, 2023
Pioneer Farms Investigations Part 2
The long-awaited companion to the Pioneer Farms paranormal investigations is HERE! HTAB creator and host Jeanine Plumer discusses the latest astonishing evidence and stories from the living history museum with lead investigator/researcher and tour guide Monica Ballard. Special thanks to Pioneer Farms for continuing to have us out and allowing us to conduct these tour investigations! If you would like to participate in a PF paranormal investigation, sign up for a tour here - https://www.pioneerfarms.org/event-tickets/austin-ghost-tours. Want to have a ghostly experience? Sign up for a tour or a paranormal investigation at Austin Ghost Tours.com - https://austinghosttours.com/! Also check us out on our RenegadeRadio.net page - https://renegaderadio.net/2020/03/25/haunted-texas-and-beyond-podcast-page/.
- OCT 24, 2023
The Driskill Hotel Hauntings Q & A with Monica Ballard
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Austin Ghost Tours conducted a series of virtual ghost tours. One of the virtual tours recorded was a question-and-answer session on the hauntings at the famous Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas with none other than Monica Ballard. There are so many ghost stories about the Driskill Hotel that Monica wrote THE book on them! Join us as she de-bunks popular urban legends, myths, and outright lies about the hotel's most famous spirits. Interested in Monica's book? Get your copy here - https://a.co/d/0TBI2Q4. Want to have a ghostly experience? Sign up for a tour or a paranormal investigation at Austin Ghost Tours.com - https://austinghosttours.com/! Also check us out on our RenegadeRadio.net page - https://renegaderadio.net/2020/03/25/haunted-texas-and-beyond-podcast-page/.
- OCT 13, 2023
The Bremond Block Virtual Tour by Monica Ballard
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown of 2020, Austin Ghost Tours conducted a series of virtual ghost tours. One of the virtual tours recorded was of the historic and very haunted Bremond Block in Austin, Texas by Monica Ballard and hosted by Alexandra White. Enjoy the colorful history and mystery of these beautiful houses and the people that called them home. Make sure you check out the YouTube video of the virtual tour here - https://youtu.be/9YDw76UOd3Y?si=TevZNprdfSbC3P-f. Want to have a ghostly experience? Sign up for a tour or a paranormal investigation at Austin Ghost Tours.com - https://austinghosttours.com/! Also check us out on our RenegadeRadio.net page - https://renegaderadio.net/2020/03/25/haunted-texas-and-beyond-podcast-page/.
- OCT 10, 2023
Astonishing Evidence Virtual Tour with Monica Ballard
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Austin Ghost Tours conducted a series of virtual ghost tours. For this tour, our very own Monica Ballard shares some of the most astonishing EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and photographic evidence she has captured in her nearly 20 years as a paranormal investigator, researcher, and tour guide. Make sure you catch one of her in person tours this 2023 Halloween season by heading over to AustinGhostTours.com and reserving your spot today! Want to have a ghostly experience? Sign up for a tour or a paranormal investigation at Austin Ghost Tours.com - https://austinghosttours.com/! Also check us out on our RenegadeRadio.net page - https://renegaderadio.net/2020/03/25/haunted-texas-and-beyond-podcast-page/.
- OCT 3, 2023
A Near Death Experience
HTAB host and creator Jeanine Plumer sits down with a lady who had a devastating illness. You will hear what led up to the diagnosis and what happened when she was walking the thin line between this world and the other world. Want to have a ghostly experience? Sign up for a tour or a paranormal investigation at Austin Ghost Tours.com - https://austinghosttours.com/! Also check us out on our RenegadeRadio.net page - https://renegaderadio.net/2020/03/25/haunted-texas-and-beyond-podcast-page/.
- SEP 26, 2023
Metz Elementary School
Earlier in 2023, HTAB host and creator Jeanine Plumer received a call from a University of Texas film student wanting to interview Jeanine as part of a short documentary on the history and hauntings of Metz Elementary School. Gaining access to the abandoned school, Jeanine, the film crew, and Austin Ghost Tours paranormal investigator, researcher, and tour guide Monica Ballard began a paranormal investigation throughout the empty corridors of the school. The other side had a lot to say about their visit! Take a listen to some of the astonishing evidence that was captured during their stay at Metz Elementary School in Austin, Texas. You can also watch the short film here - https://youtu.be/1xk1Ay_M49E?si=JhZz7PAMgeeTlhTq. Want to have a ghostly experience? Sign up for a tour or a paranormal investigation at Austin Ghost Tours.com - https://austinghosttours.com/! Also check us out on our RenegadeRadio.net page - https://renegaderadio.net/2020/03/25/haunted-texas-and-beyond-podcast-page/.
- © 2023 Haunted Texas and Beyond
Customer Reviews
Top podcasts in religion & spirituality, you might also like.
- Capital Austin
- Nickname Lone Star State
- Bird Northern Mockingbird
- Highest Elevation 8,751 ft.
- Flower Bluebonnet
- Song "Texas, Our Texas"
- Counties 254
Love Texas ?
TOUR PREVIEW
On Austin Ghosts tours, you’ll see the places and stories that hide just beneath the surface of this magnificent city. Peer into the true soul of Austin with the Austin Ghosts haunted walking tour. Our Standard tour takes in 8 downtown locations that all feature verified hauntings and fascinating historical stories on top.
The route will take in the Alamo and remnants of the Indian culture that was here long before Europeans showed up. There are stories from the earliest days of the city in the Nineteenth Century and more modern ghosts, one of which haunts the Capitol Complex Visitors Center’s gift shop!
The wider Austin area and Texas as a whole have some amazing hauntings and some fascinating stories. While we were researching the stories for this tour, we came across some stories that were too far away to walk to, so we included them on our blog to get you in the mood!
We want your tour experience to be as surprising and unforgettable as possible, so we won’t reveal the tour entirely and spoil it. However, if you’re trying to get a better idea of what haunted sites the Austin Ghosts tour includes, here’s a preview:
WHAT'S ON MY GHOST TOUR
The omni hotel.
The Omni Hotel has always been a grand place, offering comfort and luxury to each of its guests in extravagant fashion. For whatever reason, though, it doubles as a magnet for the supernatural. The Omni isn’t the typical ancient, rustic spot you’d expect to find ghosts lurking around; its modern atmosphere makes it appear totally normal…until the ghosts come out to play.
The Driskill
Probably the most famous haunted place in all of Austin, the Driskill has experienced much tragedy, this has led to countless ghost sightings and accounts of spooky things happening. The architecture of this building will make you feel like you’re back in the 19th century, and the stories it holds from that period will send shivers down your spine. Here we will explore the tragedies of the suicide brides, the brutal death of a senator’s daughter, and the inability of the original owner of the Driskill, Colonel Driskill himself, to ever truly leave the halls of his beloved hotel.
Texas Capitol Extended Tour Exclusive
What do you think is more frightening – ghosts or politics? You may think you have an easy answer to that question, but once you hear the stories that plague this building, you may change your mind. Between the terrible accidents of Ed Wheeler’s 160-foot fall to his death and another man’s conscious cremation, this building carries a history of misfortune and woe. In addition, you will hear the story of Robert Love’s unjust murder and the scandal of the Lady in Red’s secret stairwell trysts.
Read Our Blog For More Haunted History!
The white sanitarium of central texas, la llorona: the weeping woman, the paramount theatre.
Original AGT Story
On June 18, 2023 | In All
This individual called AGT to share their story. Enjoy!
Let me begin my story by saying that I have always been a skeptic about the existence of ghosts. I felt I was much too practical and levelheaded, now I’m not so sure.
A happy couple moves into their new home
In 1992, excited to begin our new life together, my husband and I moved to Austin. Several months before moving, we visited the city to find the perfect rental. We searched non-stop for two days and finally found our prospective home. It was custom-built with a great view, and unknown to us, contained an unusual history.
We were told, without much detail, that the owner’s wife had died in the home. We met the husband at the final viewing of the house. While showing us around, with a distant gaze, he told us that her death had been unexpected, and he no longer wanted to remain in the house. He went on to say that it had been their dream home and he wasn’t ready to sell. He wanted to find a “nice couple” to rent it for a while. Even after signing contracts, it was never quite clear what had happened, only that she had possibly been murdered. I suppose I shrugged off those thoughts of murder and a “tainted home.” It would be months before we moved in, the death had happened nearly a year before, and it was the perfect place for us.
A strange event takes place
We had been living in the house about two years and having the time of our lives. Working, traveling, living in and loving Austin. Then one night after a trip to Jamaica, I woke to the eerie sound of my husband moaning a sort of muffled scream in his sleep. I began feeling this overpowering sense of fear weighing upon me. Terrified, I opened my eyes to see what appeared to be a large, dark, shadowy figure standing at the foot of our bed. I held my breath in fear, my heart was pounding. I elbowed and pushed my husband who was now almost beginning to howl. He would not wake, so I closed my eyes and silently commanded the thing to go away. Then all was quiet again. Oddly enough, I must have felt safe again because I turned over and fell asleep.
In the morning, I told my husband about his restlessness and the awful sounds that he had made in his sleep. He told me he’d been having a horrible dream that someone was in our room, standing next to our bedside, and described the intruder as a large dark silhouette of a person. I looked at him in disbelief and told him of my experience during the night while he had been crying out. Together we half-heartedly laughed and thought, “Wow, that’s weird.” I suppose we considered it some strange coincidence and didn’t talk much about it.
Another unexplainable event
About a year later, after another vacation, we were again visited. Only this time, it was by my husband, who was asleep alone in bed. I had been up late writing in my journal when I heard what I thought was the hooting sound of an owl. It became continuous and creepy, and I realized the sound was not coming from outside, but from our bedroom. I walked slowly to the bedroom and found it was my husband making that awful, muffled howling sound. I went in to wake him and he seemed so afraid that I snapped on the light. He said he had had another dream about the dark and shadowy figure in the room. He felt its presence but couldn’t get to me. I touched him reassuringly, saying, “See, there is no one here.” He was a bit shaken, but having the light on seemed to help. Surprisingly enough, we again shrugged it off as merely a dream. (NOTE: Later that year, her family pursued another investigation of the death of the woman who had lived in the house prior to us. The husband was finally found guilty, convicted and sentenced to prison for the murder of his wife. )
Only one other incident remains in my memory as quite odd. In retrospect, it could’ve been a ghost. Yet, I will say again, in all of these experiences I try to give each some tangible, rational meaning. I never once considered a supernatural force, until now.
Arriving home late from work one evening, I walked into my kitchen to catch up on the day’s mail. It was already dark outside, and my husband remained at work for the night. The house was quiet.
Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye something swooshed by and made me jump. I looked down to see my cat running by. That was strange, because my cat had stayed outside since moving to our rental home. I started to scold him for being inside, then I froze. Something was not right. Trembling, I wondered, “How did the cat get in the house?” My mind raced, “Did my husband allow him in since it was cold outside? Was there, is there, an intruder in the house?” With my keys in hand, I ran quietly back toward the bedroom to get our gun. As I went past the steps that lead upstairs, I sensed cold air rushing down. Feeling as though someone must be up there, I ran to the car, got in, locked the doors and sped out of the driveway. At the top of the hill, I called my husband. Breathless, I asked for his advice and had he let the cat in this morning? He said “no” he had not and if I thought there was someone in the house then I should call the police.
Gasping after each word, I described what I thought was an intruder to the police. They said they would be out shortly. Upon inspection, the police said there had been no forced entry, no open windows, only one scared kitty underneath the upstairs bed. My husband and I never could figure out how the cat got into the house. We each suspected the other of letting the cat in while leaving for work. I never did understand the rush of cold air down the steps that frightened me so. Even then we loved the house so much we decided to buy it.
The Living go on
Through the years we have told a few friends our bizarre story. I think we just enjoyed seeing their hair stand on end. Nothing was tangible enough for us to understand, so our lives just went on as usual. Soon, we decided to start a family and put the house up for sale – it seemed impractical for children. Several months went by with no buyers. Until one day, during an open house, a couple came to see the house. The woman claimed to be one of the deceased’s best friends. She told the realtor she remembered her friend building what was to be her dream home and that she could almost feel her there. Shortly after, they signed contracts with us to buy the home.
Austin Ghost Tours
Even after these strange events, we never gave them much significance until recently. While on a tour of haunted places downtown ( THAT’S US AUSTIN GHOST TOURS), the group was asked if anyone had any ghost-like experiences. Naturally, we were eager to share our spooky story that had so intrigued our friends. We soon found out that our sighting was one of the most commonly seen apparitions. This information piqued my curiosity to find out more about ghosts and haunting. Upon further investigation, I found out that the woman had been murdered in February, approximately the same time that we had returned from our vacations and when these weird events took place. What had visited us, I do not know. What I do know is that these things did happen. Now I have begun to believe that some things you cannot touch or explain do exist. Once a skeptic, now I am not.
More Articles
Ghost of white rock lake 2.
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT WHITE ROCK LAKE? – DALLAS These are articles about just some of the bodies found in White Rock Lake THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LADY IN...
Texas, Maryland
This is from the University of Maryland link below Texas, in present day Baltimore County, is an unincorporated village located 12 miles north of Baltimore City. The site is located...
Keep the spirit alive .
Subscribe to our newsletter.
- Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
- Newsletters
- Account Activating this button will toggle the display of additional content Account Sign out
What Zombie Vice Will Try to Do Next
The website will continue to try to make money just … in a very different way..
The staggering incompetence of Vice’s management came to a new head on Thursday. The onetime titan of digital media had already filed for bankruptcy protection and fallen into the hands of (new) private equity owners, but this was a different level of finality: In addition to hundreds of layoffs, Vice decided that it would no longer publish stories on its website. Its content management system, staffers said, became a brick. The Vice website remains there for the clicking , which is a bit better than nuking it from the internet altogether, as the Messenger did when it burned out after less than a year of operation. But its ultimate destiny seems tragic. The CEO, Bruce Dixon, talks of a “strategic shift” to social channels to be carried out by the remaining employees. Vice is twin-track, dead but nominally alive.
The Vice story is about a few things at once. It’s about the struggles of the digital advertising market for everyone other than Google, Meta, and Amazon. It’s about a shocking degree of ineptitude and grift from the people in charge, who lavished one another with enormous bonuses while the business they led was disintegrating last year. And it’s now also about a belief from executives that they can wring a useful business out of a media company’s name without doing anything to support a media company’s work . Vice’s website will become a glitzy store selling no new products, a ghost ship that still flies its old banner but doesn’t have anyone on deck. And when a media company stops producing media, it’s nothing but a bleak symbol of how its bosses see the world.
What is a media company for when it stops publishing work? Historically, the question would not compute. A TV channel would go off the air, or a newspaper would stop showing up at your door, and that would be that. Vice will still just sit there. Most people don’t follow media news, so some decent number will still navigate to Vice for a time before they realize nothing new is happening. Google’s algorithm is a mystery, and perhaps Vice will continue to generate enough search traffic for a while that executives can keep taking nice bonuses for a job well done. The Wall Street Journal reported that Vice will emphasize its “business-to-business media arm, including its production studio and creative agency.” That sounds like the cessation of editorial activities and a pivot to making sponsored content that you see on YouTube every once in a while, but who knows? It does not sound anything like journalism , so while Vice the company may not be gone, Vice the news brand has surely gone to internet heaven.
That Vice’s overlords think their best move is to use the Vice name to sell services to other businesses, while ending the work that made the company notable in the first place, is a grim addition to an unmistakable trend.
Many execs now see media firms as vats of intellectual property, which they believe they can harness for some extended period of time without nurturing any new growth. Vice cannot retain its own brand power for long if it fundamentally has stopped being Vice—if it has stopped publishing distinct stories and documentaries that people are interested in, about gun violence or movies or labor rights or anything else in Vice’s wide portfolio. That work does not continue. But the people in charge think that the Vice name and its remaining distribution channels can still bring home some bacon, at least for a time.
It’s not a new playbook. Deadspin still publishes even though the entire Deadspin staff resigned in 2019 rather than work for a boss they could not tolerate. Deadspin’s parent company hired a replacement staff after they bolted, and readership is a minuscule fraction of what it used to be. Deadspin is no longer distinct in anything but its name, and I only think of it when it gets into trouble for falsely claiming that a little Native American kid is racist toward Native Americans or it intentionally passes on reporting one of the biggest media stories in years . The prestige is gone. Deadspin’s heart and soul are elsewhere now, with the staffers who started their own website . Some time a few years ago, the nickname “Vichy Deadspin” became popular on Twitter, and this time, nobody is coming to liberate Paris.
The same thing happened when a deep-pocketed media exec tried to recapture the old magic of Gawker, a once-great site that died in its old form after a vindictive Hulk Hogan lawsuit. The revival was intriguing, and the rebooted Gawker got a few good writers. But it did not work and never felt like the old thing. Now it’s gone, its archives living on a separate site, but the plague of companies trying to capitalize on media brands without developing the product that built those brands goes on. Sports Illustrated is currently on life support, its operator poised to lay off all or most of its remaining full-time staffers this spring, but its owner has nonetheless been trying to open Sports Illustrated–branded resorts in college towns.
The sad thing is that this kind of tactic might make money. I doubt it makes a lot of money, because nowhere in the business genius handbook does it say that gradually degrading iconic brands is a way to create value in the long term. But media brands do build cultural cachet from the work their staffers produce, and I’m not sure that ordinary people are so attuned to their decline that they wouldn’t want to support the zombified versions that exist today. Deadspin’s traffic is not what it used to be, but it’s still something . It probably doesn’t matter to the algorithms that the site has not published work that caught my eye in years. Sports Illustrated’s leaders have taken a paragon of sports journalism and hit it repeatedly with a hammer, but why wouldn’t some sporty dad visiting campus for Parents Weekend at least think about staying in an SI-branded hotel? The tanking of these companies isn’t good business, but it might yield enough returns that the perpetrators feel smart.
That will be the hope of Fortress Investment Group, leader of the collection of investors who plucked Vice out of bankruptcy for $350 million last year. (In 2017, Vice achieved a $5.7 billion valuation in private markets and looked like it could become the biggest digital media business anywhere.) The domination of the ad market by tech behemoths means that Vice never had a chance to keep that valuation for long, but the company’s journalists still built a great brand. Now private equity is in charge, and the money does not believe in trying to rebuild Vice back into a thriving (if not quite $6 billion) media company under a name people care about. Instead it wants to bleed Vice’s name for whatever it’s worth. That might work out well for the investors’ cash flows, or it might not, but either outcome is totally disconnected from whether Vice creates interesting work for the rest of us. After all, making cool stuff was Vice’s work of yesterday. Its work of tomorrow is to sit there and hope enough potential clients forget what it was once good at.
The biggest Austin stories to watch in 2024
T here's no shortage of issues sure to occupy Austin this year — from abortion-ban challenges to the continued culture wars over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Here are some local storylines we'll be watching over the next 12 months.
🛣️ The big dig
The Texas Department of Transportation's ambitious, multibillion-dollar plan to expand I-35 through Austin will turn dirt this year, leading to lane closures and headaches for Austin drivers.
- Construction is scheduled to start by the middle of the year, beginning with the reconstruction of the interstate from Holly Street to SH 71/Ben White Boulevard.
Catch up quick: State officials say expanding the interstate is necessary to accommodate the region's booming population, improve emergency response times and ease traffic congestion.
Yes, but: Critics contend expanding the highway will add more vehicles to Austin's roads — and will renew historical wrongs around race and segregation .
☀️ Total eclipse of the sun
A historic solar eclipse will occur on April 8, and Central Texas is in its path of totality.
- It's the first time the region has seen a total solar eclipse since the 14th century, NASA told the Statesman .
- Expect a celestial celebration, with sold-out hotels and Airbnbs and packed state parks.
By the numbers: Texas is predicted to see the majority of the country's eclipse travelers, with more than 1 million visitors estimated, per Great American Eclipse .
What we're watching: How the expected influx of people impacts our traffic and local businesses.
☑️ It's an election year
Voters at the Carver Branch Library in 2022. Photo: Montinique Monroe/Getty Images
It's a presidential election year, and Texas will be a de facto piggy bank for the national candidates from both parties.
The big picture: Texans will vote on all state and U.S. representatives. Plus, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is up for re-election after his narrow victory over Beto O'Rourke in 2018.
Zoom in: In the mayoral race, Kirk Watson appears very likely to run for re-election — though he hasn't yet officially declared. No other candidates have thrown their hat in the ring yet.
🏈 SEC welcome mat
Jordan Whittington of the Texas Longhorns reacts against the Washington Huskies during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl. Photo: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
The University of Texas will test its newfound might in the nation's best football conference .
Between the lines: Scion of football royalty Arch Manning could become the starting quarterback.
What we're watching: The money arms race as Longhorns boosters try to lure football, basketball and volleyball recruits from other universities.
🔌 Grid questions
The state's electric grid is likely to be put to the test again this year, even as the power grid operator says it's ready for winter demand .
Context: The grid operator has been closely watched since February 2021, when mass outages during a winter storm led to hundreds of deaths, cost the Texas economy an estimated $80 billion to $130 billion and caused as much as $20 billion in property damage.
Between the lines: It's not just winter conditions that are an issue for the grid. The state's growing population and the possibility of another very hot summer mean power generators may face challenges again this summer.
- Officials asked Texans to conserve energy throughout last summer as Austin faced its second-warmest summer on record .
🌆 The trajectory of downtown
The mixed-use housing and office property called The Republic is seen undergoing construction downtown in October. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
With the throes of the pandemic behind us, 2024 could be a pivotal year for apartment and office construction in Austin.
Why it matters: Austin's downtown was rocketing along before the rise of remote work put a giant dent in occupancy rates.
What we're watching: So much of downtown's fate appears tied to the fortunes of Big Tech, which gobbled up real estate and then found itself, amid 2023 layoffs and slowdowns, offering up sublease contracts .
The bottom line: Good thing it's a leap year. Austin will need the extra day to squeeze it all in.
Dig deeper: What 2024 holds for Austin's real estate market
Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.
IMAGES
COMMENTS
12 Super Terrifying Ghost Tales From Austin, Texas List Curator Lyra Radford Updated September 24, 2021 There's a weird thrill to hearing seriously spooky tales, like unsettling ghost stories about children.
Site of a tragic suicide Is The Driskill Haunted? You know you're spooky when there are books written about your property's poltergeists. From Samantha the Child Specter to phantom cigars, The Driskill may be Austin's Most Haunted Hotel. The Senator's Daughter
A fearful midnight murder on West Pecan." Thus, began a ruthless reign of terror by the Servant Girl Annihilator. Over the next twelve months, five domestics would be viciously murdered by an unknown midnight assassin all within the city center.
Ghostly tales include two brides committing suicide in room 525 ... decades years apart, and Colonel Jesse Driskill, who built the hotel in 1886, roaming the halls leaving the inexplicable aroma of...
October 2015 Austin may not be home to as many spirits as older cities, but there are still quite a few that pop up every now and then. Here are some locations that have a spooky story or two to tell. No Vacancies The Driskill Hotel
Austin just might be the spookiest place in Texas — at least it's home to several of the state's most "haunted" spots, according to a new analysis from Yelp. ... There's also rumored to be a ghost child roaming the Driskill. The story goes that in 1887, a little girl, the daughter of a senator, fell and died on the Driskill's grand ...
10. The Driskill Hotel This hotel is without a doubt one of the most famous and ghastly spots in Austin. The Driskill Hotel has garnered quite a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the whole of the Lone Star State. The presence of spirits is so prevalent that the staff even have handouts for guests, their very own game of Pokemon…
The Haunted Littlefield House. 302 West 24th Street, Austin, TX 78705. There's something dark lurking in the Littlefield House. From eerie sensations to disembodied footsteps, this Victorian mansion is alive with the dead.
Ghost Story at the Speakeasy: Misty's Unexplained Tale Austin's haunted Speakeasy Tavern, located in the historic Kreisle Building on Congress Avenue, is no stranger to paranormal occurrences.
Austin Ghost Tours. 412 E. Sixth St. Tours run $7-$25. Various evenings throughout the week depending on the tour. For 30 years, Jeanine Plumer has operated Austin Ghost Tours. What began as a ...
67.6 miles from the center of Austin, TX. Dienger Building or Boerne Public Library was built by Joseph and Ida Dienger in 1887. It was originally a dry-goods grocery store with the family living quarters upstairs. When the city purchased the building in 1991, ghost stories began to be told. Locals saw lights going on and off in ... Read more »
THE DETAILS. The Driskill has been smoke-free for more than a decade, but that hasn't deterred pockets of cigar smoke from being detected by unsuspecting guests. Some blame the hotel's founder, Col. Jesse Driskill, who was known to frequently partake of a good stogie. Regardless, one cigar-wielding male ghost dressed in 19th-century cowboy ...
Hear stories about Austin's Old West history and spooky unexplained happenings—and discover many of its most atmospheric drinking dens—on this two-in-one Old West ghost tour and pub crawl. Meet your guide in the evening in central Austin and get ready to explore. Visit multiple bars and historical landmarks over the course of the tour, with a dose of storytelling—and chances to buy ...
Austin Ghost Tours | The only Locally Owned Original Austin Ghost Tours We wrote the book on Haunted Austin, LITERALLY. (Four of them, in fact.) The other ghost tours just read from the pages of our researched stories.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Austin Ghost Tours conducted a series of virtual ghost tours. For this tour, our very own Monica Ballard shares some of the most astonishing EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and photographic evidence she has captured in her nearly 20 years as a paranormal investigator, researcher, and tour guide.
The Most Terrifying Ghost Story To Ever Come Out Of Austin Is Truly Chilling By Elisa Regulski | Published October 04, 2016 The tales from the Driskill Hotel will send bone-chilling waves of fear through your body. Though luxurious and ornate, this historic hotel is loaded with creepy ghost stories.
This Victorian-style home was built in 1893 and now serves as a meeting area for UT students. Spooky sightings, eerie noises, and bone-chilling images flutter through this historic landmark. This haunted house will give you nightmares. The architecture looks gorgeous and regal, but the interior holds creepy secrets.
The 'ghost' that haunted the UT Austin campus in the early 1900s Many suspected that a ghost lived in the Old Main building on the University of Texas campus long ago. But some clever...
The Driskill Hotel - National Registry Historic Places Reference #69000212 - was built in 1886. The Romanesque Revival structure was founded with what could euphemistically be labeled as: BLOOD MONEY. This isn't hyperbole, this isn't you're hyperactive spiritual guru trying to add a little frisson to the whole affair, this is an ...
The folklore of this town (that I've been hearing for my 20 years here) is that everything on 6th street is haunted. I've been on the ghost tours, read the books, and am very familiar with Austin's history. What I'm missing is personal experiences of people working in these old buildings in Downtown Austin, or houses in the historic areas ...
On Austin Ghosts tours, you'll see the places and stories that hide just beneath the surface of this magnificent city. Peer into the true soul of Austin with the Austin Ghosts haunted walking tour. Our Standard tour takes in 8 downtown locations that all feature verified hauntings and fascinating historical stories on top.
THE HISTORY. Jesse Driskill, a successful cattle baron, had moved to Texas from Missouri in 1849. Flush with cash from his service to the Confederate Army, to which he supplied beef throughout the Civil War, he decided to diversify by constructing a grand hotel in Austin.In 1884, Driskill purchased land at the corner of 6th and Brazos for $7,500 and announced his plans for the hotel.
Austin Ghost Tours. Even after these strange events, we never gave them much significance until recently. While on a tour of haunted places downtown ( THAT'S US AUSTIN GHOST TOURS), the group was asked if anyone had any ghost-like experiences. Naturally, we were eager to share our spooky story that had so intrigued our friends.
The Vice story is about a few things at once. It's about the struggles of the digital advertising market for everyone other than Google, Meta, and Amazon. It's about a shocking degree of ...
FILE - A 9mm "ghost gun" pistol build kit with a commercial slide and barrel with a polymer frame is displayed in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 11, 2022.
Austin will need the extra day to squeeze it all in. Dig deeper: What 2024 holds for Austin's real estate market Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Austin.