Top 10 Haunted Places To Visit in East Texas That Will Send Chills Down Your Spine
East Texas harbors some of America’s most spine-tingling haunted destinations, perfect for brave souls seeking supernatural encounters.
With historic hotels, abandoned buildings, and mysterious roads scattered throughout the piney woods, ghost hunters find endless opportunities for paranormal adventures.
1. The Jefferson Hotel
Whispers of ghostly children playing in hallways have terrified countless guests at this Victorian-era establishment. Built in the 1850s, the hotel has earned its reputation as one of Texas’ most haunted buildings.
Room 19 seems particularly active, with visitors reporting cold spots, disembodied voices, and objects moving mysteriously during their stay.
Many guests have cut their visits short after unexplainable encounters with the other side.
2. The Excelsior House Hotel
Guests beware! This historic hotel dates back to the 1850s and hosts several permanent spectral residents who refuse to check out.
The ghost of a headless man roams the second floor, while a woman in black haunts Room 215.
Steven Spielberg reportedly fled in the middle of the night after supernatural occurrences during his stay.
Phantom footsteps, mysterious knocks, and unexplained temperature drops keep the hotel’s paranormal reputation alive and thriving.
3. The Grove
Known locally as the “Stilley-Young House,” this 1861 home harbors multiple entities that have frightened visitors for generations. Footsteps echo through empty rooms while doors open and close by unseen hands.
The most famous apparition is the “Lady in White,” believed to be a former resident who refuses to leave.
Electronic equipment malfunctions mysteriously inside these walls, and paranormal investigators consider it one of East Texas’ most active haunted sites.
4. Diamond Bessie’s Grave
Murder and mystery surround this infamous burial site in Jefferson’s Oakwood Cemetery. Diamond Bessie was brutally killed by her husband in 1877, and her restless spirit now wanders among the tombstones.
Visitors report seeing a woman in a blue dress near her grave, especially during foggy evenings.
Some claim Diamond Bessie leaves jewels on her headstone that mysteriously disappear. The annual Diamond Bessie murder trial reenactment keeps her tragic story alive.
5. Camp Ford Historic Park
Formerly the largest Confederate prisoner-of-war camp west of the Mississippi, this site holds echoes of suffering that refuse to fade.
Visitors report hearing phantom marching, disembodied voices, and seeing shadowy figures among the trees.
Over 6,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned here, with many dying from disease and exposure. Their restless spirits are said to reenact their daily routines.
6. Graystone Scream Park
Before becoming a haunted attraction, this Longview property housed a psychiatric facility with a disturbing past. Actual paranormal activity competes with the staged frights, creating a doubly terrifying experience.
Security guards report strange phenomena when the park is closed – disembodied footsteps, doors slamming, and eerie voices calling out.
Several employees have quit after encountering full-bodied apparitions of former patients. Paranormal investigators have documented unusual energy readings throughout the building.
7. Beckham Hotel
Room 215 at this historic Mineola landmark hosts a spectral guest who never checked out. Built in 1880, the hotel’s paranormal reputation attracts ghost hunters from across the country.
Staff members avoid certain areas after dark, especially the third floor where shadowy figures dart through hallways. Guests report hearing children’s laughter when no children are present.
8. Bouton Lake
Locals warn against visiting this remote East Texas lake after sunset. According to legend, a family drowned here decades ago, and their spirits now lure unwary visitors into the depths.
Fishermen report hearing children’s laughter coming from the water at dawn. Strange lights hover above the surface on foggy nights.
Several drownings over the years have been attributed to victims feeling an unexplainable pull toward deeper water.
9. Light of Saratoga
Also known as the Ghost Light of Bragg Road, this unexplained phenomenon has puzzled visitors for generations.
A mysterious orb floats among the trees of the Big Thicket, changing colors and seemingly responding to human presence.
According to local folklore, the light is the lantern of a decapitated railroad worker searching for his head. Paranormal investigators have failed to debunk this enduring mystery.
10. Oakwood Cemetery
Not just Diamond Bessie haunts Tyler’s historic Oakwood Cemetery.
Established in 1846, this burial ground houses numerous restless spirits visible after sunset. Cemetery caretakers have documented strange phenomena for generations.
Mourners report seeing Civil War soldiers standing at attention near their graves. EVP recordings capture voices discussing events from the 1800s.
