Spooky Texas Homes: 5 Haunted Houses and My Personal Ghost Encounter!
By Pauline Reese | Reese Real Estate
I’ve spent much of my life traveling Texas as a country singer, and I’ve stayed in plenty of memorable places. But one stay in Weatherford gave my family and me a story we still talk about.
We went into the attic for vintage hats. We came out with a ghost story.
As a seventh-generation Texan, rancher and Realtor, I love homes with history. This Halloween, I’m sharing five Texas properties with spooky reputations, starting with one where I experienced something I still can’t explain.
1. Angel’s Nest Bed & Breakfast, Weatherford
Two whistles from the corner
During our stay at Angel’s Nest, my tour manager, my two children, my niece and I went into the attic with the owner. She was giving us vintage hats, and we had gone upstairs to look through them.
Then we heard it.
From a corner of the attic came what sounded like a toy train whistle.
Not once. Twice.
We all heard it.
The story shared with us was that the house had once held a school. On rainy days, the teacher would take the children into the attic to play. Supposedly, children can still be heard playing up there.
Suddenly, those two little whistles felt a lot less ordinary.
I can’t prove what caused the sound, but I know what we heard. And I certainly believe we experienced something unusual in that attic.
When people ask if I’ve ever stayed in a place I thought was haunted, Angel’s Nest is my answer.
2. The Grove, Jefferson
A lady in white
The Grove is associated with stories of a mysterious woman dressed in white. In the folklore surrounding this Jefferson home, an unexpected visitor might be someone who never really left.
There is something especially unsettling about that kind of ghost story. No monsters. No dramatic special effects. Just the possibility of noticing a figure where you thought no one was standing.
From a real estate perspective, I understand the appeal of a historic home with personality. Although a resident ghost might be a little more personality than some buyers have in mind!
3. Ashton Villa, Galveston
A former resident who feels right at home
Ashton Villa’s ghost stories often center on Bettie Brown, a former resident whose name remains closely connected to the mansion.
According to local legend, her presence lingers in the home she knew during her lifetime. Whether you believe that or simply enjoy the story, it adds another layer of intrigue to a remarkable old property.
Some people leave their mark on a home through the art, furnishings and memories they create. The legends surrounding Ashton Villa suggest that, occasionally, they might leave a little more.
4. Bishop’s Palace, Galveston
Beautiful by day, mysterious after dark
With its dramatic architecture, Bishop’s Palace hardly needs a ghost story to capture your attention. But tales of a lingering former resident have given this Galveston landmark an eerie reputation, too.
A grand staircase is beautiful in daylight. Imagine that same staircase after dark, when the house is quiet and every small sound seems a little louder.
That is the power of an old home and a good ghost story. The craftsmanship draws you in. The possibility that you aren’t alone makes you look over your shoulder.
I’d happily admire the architecture. Whether I’d volunteer to be the last person inside is another question.
5. Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, San Antonio
An estate with stories of its own
Victoria’s Black Swan Inn is associated with tales of apparitions and unexplained encounters. Its historic estate setting makes an atmospheric backdrop for stories about the past refusing to stay in the past.
For me, it brings up the same question I had after our experience at Angel’s Nest: how many people have walked into an old house expecting an ordinary visit and left with something they couldn’t explain?
Some stories are folklore. Some are personal experiences. Either way, they can become inseparable from the place itself.
Every home has a story. Let’s find yours.
My experience at Angel’s Nest brought together two parts of my life: traveling Texas through music and appreciating the homes and history that make this state special.
As a Realtor, I look at a property’s setting, craftsmanship and potential. As a lifelong Texan and rancher, I also appreciate the connection people develop with a place.
A home becomes part of your story. Sometimes, apparently, you become part of its story, too.
If your next chapter includes a Hill Country home, a ranch or a waterfront retreat, I’d love to help you find it.
Preferably with beautiful views and no unexplained noises in the attic.
Pauline Reese
Reese Real Estate | eXp Realty
ReeseRealEstate.net
Have you ever been in a house where something happened that you couldn’t explain? Tell me your story.
This Halloween article shares my personal recollection of Angel’s Nest alongside ghost legends associated with four other Texas properties. The school history is the account shared with us during our visit; the supernatural stories are folklore rather than verified events.
