Abandoned buildings are hauntingly beautiful. Whether fully intact or withering away from the elements, their remains tell stories of the life and memories that once existed inside the now-empty walls. These 13 abandoned places in Texas closed their doors long ago, but they still stand as tall and proud as ever — maybe due to some paranormal presence keeping them alive.

  1. Douget’s Rice Mill (Beaumont)

Google Maps If you grew up in southeast Texas, this creepy place might bring back countless memories of Halloween nights spent parked outside this rice mill telling stories about the gruesome fates met by some terribly unfortunate employees. If you gaze up into the open door at dusk, you just might see one of them standing in the threshold. Doguet’s Rice Milling Company, 795 S Major Dr, Beaumont, TX 77707, USA

  1. Baker Hotel (Mineral Wells)

Flickr/davehensley By far the most well-known abandoned place in Texas, the Baker Hotel finally shut its doors in 1972 after its incredibly successful run, the heyday of which was in the ’20s and ’30s. Guests — many being celebrities — flocked to Mineral Wells from all over to experience the healing power of its “crazy water.” So much traffic was bound to result in a few tragedies such as the owner’s mistress diving off a balcony after their affair had been discovered. She might reveal herself to you during a walking tour of the grounds, but if not, merely stepping foot onto the property is enough to make every hair on your body stand at attention. The Baker Hotel and Spa, 200 E Hubbard St, Mineral Wells, TX 76067, USA

  1. Zedler’s Mill (Luling)

Flickr/seiya234 Although the mill is now part of a community park that strives to reintegrate the values held by Luling’s first settlers into the city today, there’s no denying the eeriness of this potentially haunted place in Texas. Considering the rudimentary technology that existed back when it was operating, it stands to reason that a few lives were lost to the machinery. Since this is one of the few abandoned places in Texas you can actually go inside, maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of some of them. Zedler Mill, 1170 S Laurel Ave, Luling, TX 78648, USA

  1. Stewart Mansion (Galveston)

Flickr/Debi Beauregard What on earth would cause such an affluent family to abandon their beautiful home? They commissioned the elaborate murals on the walls, so clearly moving wasn’t in the cards for some time. We should also point out that the mansion is located on an ancient pirate burial ground… could this mystery be the work of vengeful spirits exacting revenge on the people who stole their land? The photos of this haunted abandoned place in Texas are truly beautiful. Haunting, but beautiful. Stewart House Rental, Galveston, TX 77554, USA

  1. Water Wonderland (Odessa)

Facebook/BringBackWaterWonderland Built in 1980, Water Wonderland served as a much-needed oasis in the hot, dry West Texas desert. After suffering bankruptcy in 1994 and a lawsuit in 1996, the park once filled with children’s laughter was left to decay into oblivion. Odessa, TX, USA

  1. Rig Theatre (Premont)

Google Maps Of all the places to abandon, movie theaters are some of the saddest. Many of us associate particular movies with certain events or phases in our lives, and seeing the places that created those memories being destroyed by the elements is extremely disheartening. In the small town of Premont, with a population of less than 3,000, there probably aren’t very many activities to participate in even today — so you can imagine how this place was probably the primary hangout spot for youngsters in the 1950s. Today, this abandoned place is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature. Premont, TX, USA

  1. Mosheim School (Mosheim)

Flickr/texasbackroads This K-12 school was built in the Roaring Twenties and never saw a graduating class of more students than you can count on your fingers. Although it never lived up to the grandiose expectations set forth by the town’s residents, nobody has the heart to tear it down. There’s just something sacred about old-fashioned schoolhouses that shouldn’t dare be tampered with. Check out this drone footage which shows a whole new side of this abandoned place. Mosheim, TX 76689, USA

  1. Dr. White’s Sanitorium (Wichita Falls)

TripAdvisor/Joe R Severely mentally ill patients roamed the halls of this asylum in the mid-1900s — and they weren’t confined to a single cell, which means their spirits are free to walk the entire building. Dr. White believed he was doing good work by allowing so much freedom, but he probably didn’t have the afterlife in mind. Now abandoned, it’s top of the list when it comes to creepy places. Dr. Marylin H. White, 1704 11th St, Wichita Falls, TX 76301, USA

  1. Tundra Village (San Antonio)

Google/Jim Nixon If a single abandoned home is creepy, then an entire abandoned neighborhood is absolutely terrifying. Plans for this subdivision fell through, and the builders left it to rot into the soil — but rumor has it plans might be in the works to restore it into what it was supposed to be! San Antonio, TX, USA

  1. Superconducting Supercollider (Waxahachie)

Wikipedia If completed, this scientific breakthrough would’ve been the largest, most energetic supercollider in the world. Unfortunately, budget problems forced a cancellation in 1993, and the physicists who worked on the project can only dream of what the finished product would’ve done for us as a society. Magnablend Inc, 326 N Grand Ave, Waxahachie, TX 75165, USA

  1. Woodmen Circle Home (Sherman)

Google/Eric Friedebach Serving as a home to hundreds of children and elderly women between 1930 and 1971, Woodmen’s Circle saved many lives while it was open. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet building code requirements in the late 1900s and had to be shut down. Today, the 15-acre property has been left to decay, much to the dismay of residents who hate to see a building with so much potential being neglected. Many believe it’s one of the most haunted places in Texas. Sherman, TX, USA

  1. Contrabando (Lajitas)

Flickr/davehensley Built for use in the 1996 movie “Lone Star,” Contrabando looks like a real West Texas ghost town. All that remains today is one singular building, but it’s still absolutely worth a visit. Lajitas, TX 79852, USA

  1. Bender Hotel (Laredo)

Flickr/jremigio Laredo’s first hotel, The Bender was built in 1913 and was the talk of the town with its impressive 50 rooms and grandiose balcony. It was abandoned in the later years of the century, and in 2011, a paranormal TV crew visited the hotel and reported unexplained knocking and thumping — even in the daytime hours, leading many to believe it’s one of the most haunted hotels in Texas. Laredo Antiguo Hotel, 1420 Matamoros St, Laredo, TX 78040, USA

Have you ever visited any of these abandoned places? What’s your favorite abandoned place in Texas? If you want to make a road trip out of it this summer, we dare you to take this road trip to Texas’ most abandoned places.

Google Maps

If you grew up in southeast Texas, this creepy place might bring back countless memories of Halloween nights spent parked outside this rice mill telling stories about the gruesome fates met by some terribly unfortunate employees. If you gaze up into the open door at dusk, you just might see one of them standing in the threshold.

Doguet’s Rice Milling Company, 795 S Major Dr, Beaumont, TX 77707, USA

Flickr/davehensley

By far the most well-known abandoned place in Texas, the Baker Hotel finally shut its doors in 1972 after its incredibly successful run, the heyday of which was in the ’20s and ’30s. Guests — many being celebrities — flocked to Mineral Wells from all over to experience the healing power of its “crazy water.” So much traffic was bound to result in a few tragedies such as the owner’s mistress diving off a balcony after their affair had been discovered. She might reveal herself to you during a walking tour of the grounds, but if not, merely stepping foot onto the property is enough to make every hair on your body stand at attention.

The Baker Hotel and Spa, 200 E Hubbard St, Mineral Wells, TX 76067, USA

Flickr/seiya234

Although the mill is now part of a community park that strives to reintegrate the values held by Luling’s first settlers into the city today, there’s no denying the eeriness of this potentially haunted place in Texas. Considering the rudimentary technology that existed back when it was operating, it stands to reason that a few lives were lost to the machinery. Since this is one of the few abandoned places in Texas you can actually go inside, maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of some of them.

Zedler Mill, 1170 S Laurel Ave, Luling, TX 78648, USA

Flickr/Debi Beauregard

What on earth would cause such an affluent family to abandon their beautiful home? They commissioned the elaborate murals on the walls, so clearly moving wasn’t in the cards for some time. We should also point out that the mansion is located on an ancient pirate burial ground… could this mystery be the work of vengeful spirits exacting revenge on the people who stole their land? The photos of this haunted abandoned place in Texas are truly beautiful. Haunting, but beautiful.

Stewart House Rental, Galveston, TX 77554, USA

Facebook/BringBackWaterWonderland

Built in 1980, Water Wonderland served as a much-needed oasis in the hot, dry West Texas desert. After suffering bankruptcy in 1994 and a lawsuit in 1996, the park once filled with children’s laughter was left to decay into oblivion.

Odessa, TX, USA

Of all the places to abandon, movie theaters are some of the saddest. Many of us associate particular movies with certain events or phases in our lives, and seeing the places that created those memories being destroyed by the elements is extremely disheartening. In the small town of Premont, with a population of less than 3,000, there probably aren’t very many activities to participate in even today — so you can imagine how this place was probably the primary hangout spot for youngsters in the 1950s. Today, this abandoned place is slowly being reclaimed by Mother Nature.

Premont, TX, USA

Flickr/texasbackroads

This K-12 school was built in the Roaring Twenties and never saw a graduating class of more students than you can count on your fingers. Although it never lived up to the grandiose expectations set forth by the town’s residents, nobody has the heart to tear it down. There’s just something sacred about old-fashioned schoolhouses that shouldn’t dare be tampered with. Check out this drone footage which shows a whole new side of this abandoned place.

Mosheim, TX 76689, USA

TripAdvisor/Joe R

Severely mentally ill patients roamed the halls of this asylum in the mid-1900s — and they weren’t confined to a single cell, which means their spirits are free to walk the entire building. Dr. White believed he was doing good work by allowing so much freedom, but he probably didn’t have the afterlife in mind. Now abandoned, it’s top of the list when it comes to creepy places.

Dr. Marylin H. White, 1704 11th St, Wichita Falls, TX 76301, USA

Google/Jim Nixon

If a single abandoned home is creepy, then an entire abandoned neighborhood is absolutely terrifying. Plans for this subdivision fell through, and the builders left it to rot into the soil — but rumor has it plans might be in the works to restore it into what it was supposed to be!

San Antonio, TX, USA

Wikipedia

If completed, this scientific breakthrough would’ve been the largest, most energetic supercollider in the world. Unfortunately, budget problems forced a cancellation in 1993, and the physicists who worked on the project can only dream of what the finished product would’ve done for us as a society.

Magnablend Inc, 326 N Grand Ave, Waxahachie, TX 75165, USA

Google/Eric Friedebach

Serving as a home to hundreds of children and elderly women between 1930 and 1971, Woodmen’s Circle saved many lives while it was open. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet building code requirements in the late 1900s and had to be shut down. Today, the 15-acre property has been left to decay, much to the dismay of residents who hate to see a building with so much potential being neglected. Many believe it’s one of the most haunted places in Texas.

Sherman, TX, USA

Built for use in the 1996 movie “Lone Star,” Contrabando looks like a real West Texas ghost town. All that remains today is one singular building, but it’s still absolutely worth a visit.

Lajitas, TX 79852, USA

Flickr/jremigio

Laredo’s first hotel, The Bender was built in 1913 and was the talk of the town with its impressive 50 rooms and grandiose balcony. It was abandoned in the later years of the century, and in 2011, a paranormal TV crew visited the hotel and reported unexplained knocking and thumping — even in the daytime hours, leading many to believe it’s one of the most haunted hotels in Texas.

Laredo Antiguo Hotel, 1420 Matamoros St, Laredo, TX 78040, USA

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Haunted places in Texas September 12, 2022 Jackie Ann Where is the creepiest town in Texas? Marfa is easily the creepiest town in Texas. This ghost town has endured countless supernatural stories, and every year, hundreds of people make the journey to Maria to see if they can experience the phenomenon known as the Marfa Lights. While no one knows the source of these mysterious lights, it remains the reason for Maria being the creepiest town in Texas.  What is the most haunted place in Texas? With so many haunted places in Texas, it can be tricky to narrow it down to the most haunted. Not far from San Antonio, the tiny town of Yorktown is widely believed to be home to not just the most haunted place in Texas, but the most haunted place on earth. Yorktown Memoriał Hospital was in operation from 1951-1986, more than 2,000 people died during the hospital’s run, one of the many factors leading so many to believe this abandoned place is haunted. There are daily ghost tours that will take you around the site and tell you just a few of the paranormal encounters that have been reported here.  What are the most popular ghost stories in Texas? One of the most popular ghost stories in Texas revolves around one of the most famous landmarks in Texas, The Alamo. Due to its dark history, it’s widely believed that this historic site is haunted by soldiers who lost their lives here. For well over a hundred years, visitors and staff have reported hearing the faint sounds of explosions and the sounds of screaming soldiers, and some have even reported seeing full-bodied apparitions of men in uniform. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

Haunted places in Texas

September 12, 2022

Jackie Ann

Where is the creepiest town in Texas? Marfa is easily the creepiest town in Texas. This ghost town has endured countless supernatural stories, and every year, hundreds of people make the journey to Maria to see if they can experience the phenomenon known as the Marfa Lights. While no one knows the source of these mysterious lights, it remains the reason for Maria being the creepiest town in Texas.  What is the most haunted place in Texas? With so many haunted places in Texas, it can be tricky to narrow it down to the most haunted. Not far from San Antonio, the tiny town of Yorktown is widely believed to be home to not just the most haunted place in Texas, but the most haunted place on earth. Yorktown Memoriał Hospital was in operation from 1951-1986, more than 2,000 people died during the hospital’s run, one of the many factors leading so many to believe this abandoned place is haunted. There are daily ghost tours that will take you around the site and tell you just a few of the paranormal encounters that have been reported here.  What are the most popular ghost stories in Texas? One of the most popular ghost stories in Texas revolves around one of the most famous landmarks in Texas, The Alamo. Due to its dark history, it’s widely believed that this historic site is haunted by soldiers who lost their lives here. For well over a hundred years, visitors and staff have reported hearing the faint sounds of explosions and the sounds of screaming soldiers, and some have even reported seeing full-bodied apparitions of men in uniform. 

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Marfa is easily the creepiest town in Texas. This ghost town has endured countless supernatural stories, and every year, hundreds of people make the journey to Maria to see if they can experience the phenomenon known as the Marfa Lights. While no one knows the source of these mysterious lights, it remains the reason for Maria being the creepiest town in Texas. 

What is the most haunted place in Texas?

With so many haunted places in Texas, it can be tricky to narrow it down to the most haunted. Not far from San Antonio, the tiny town of Yorktown is widely believed to be home to not just the most haunted place in Texas, but the most haunted place on earth. Yorktown Memoriał Hospital was in operation from 1951-1986, more than 2,000 people died during the hospital’s run, one of the many factors leading so many to believe this abandoned place is haunted. There are daily ghost tours that will take you around the site and tell you just a few of the paranormal encounters that have been reported here. 

What are the most popular ghost stories in Texas?

One of the most popular ghost stories in Texas revolves around one of the most famous landmarks in Texas, The Alamo. Due to its dark history, it’s widely believed that this historic site is haunted by soldiers who lost their lives here. For well over a hundred years, visitors and staff have reported hearing the faint sounds of explosions and the sounds of screaming soldiers, and some have even reported seeing full-bodied apparitions of men in uniform.