San Antonio’s Haunted Sites Range From Ghost Tracks to a Bearded Lady
Local folklore ties specific locations, including a decaying hospital and a creek, to specific legends, some of which have been debunked by historians.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
San Antonio’s supernatural folklore links specific neighborhoods and buildings to distinct legends. The city’s history spans more than 300 years, and local lore has attached ghost stories to that timeline. These tales include demonic encounters, mysterious creatures, and otherworldly visitors. Residents and tourists alike have compiled a list of the most notorious sites.
The Old Stinson Field Graveyard hosts two unusual figures in local legend. A KSAT-TV roundup of South Side stories describes a seven-foot-tall Chinese woman and a mysterious bearded lady. The legend claims the tall woman was ostracized due to her height and died by suicide. The graveyard is one of the stranger locations in the city’s paranormal history.
Yorktown Hospital sits about an hour from downtown San Antonio. Built in the 1950s, the structure is considered the most haunted building in Texas. Reports claim that 2,000 souls have crossed over within its walls. This makes it the second-most haunted hospital in the United States. The Scientific Paranormal Investigative Research Institute of Texas grants members access to the decaying site.
The Ghost Tracks legend has been repeatedly voted the best urban legend in local polls. The story claims that spectral helpers push cars forward on a specific section of train tracks. Enthusiasts say that placing flour on a trunk reveals small handprints. Archivist Matt De Waelsche traced the origin of the story to a 1938 bus accident in Salt Lake City, Utah. Union Pacific later added a second track to the intersection. They leveled the elevation, removing the downward slant that caused vehicles to roll. The push was a trick of physics, not a ghost.
The Gunter Hotel’s Room 636 holds a grisly tale from early 1965. A man named Walter Emmerick checked in under the alias Albert Knox. A maid later found him next to a blood-soaked bed. Employees discovered the entire room covered in blood. Police later found Emmerick at the St. Anthony Hotel, where he killed himself. Some believe he butchered a woman in the room, while others argue the amount of blood was insufficient to support that claim.
Woman Hollering Creek lies between San Antonio and Seguin. Many believe the name is a loose translation of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman. Traditional myth says La Llorona drowned her children in jealous rage before killing herself. Residents report hearing ghastly shrieks at night. Some attribute the screams to a local woman who used the creek to vent anger at her husband.
La Villita is San Antonio’s oldest neighborhood and a former Native American village. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The area contains the Gissi House, built in the 1850s by Cirilus Gissi. Rumors say Gissi buried gold on the property after a failed business venture. Searchers found only old coins. Residents report seeing a woman in an apron and a little girl. The Gissi House is believed to be home to paranormal forces.
The Grey Moss Inn operated for more than 90 years before shuttering in 2020. Mary Howell, the original owner, died decades ago. Employees reported seeing a vision of an older woman resembling Howell. They also noted candle flames flickering back to life after being blown out. The inn reopened under new ownership as a Mexican restaurant. The new owners call the local spirit El Fantasma de Grey Moss Inn.
