Holiday Hauntings: Where Warm Light Meets Cold Spirits
Every December, historic homes across Texas are draped in garland and candlelight — but not all the visitors are alive. From Victorian mansions to prairie inns, holiday hauntings blend nostalgia and mystery into the perfect winter tale.
The Driskill Hotel – Austin
This elegant downtown hotel transforms into a holiday masterpiece each winter, yet guests still report the scent of cigar smoke and a ghostly child playing with a ball.
Ghostly Highlight: The “Cattle Baron’s Daughter” who never checked out.
Excelsior House – Jefferson
One of Texas’s oldest operating hotels glows with Christmas charm — and a few lingering guests from the 1800s. Visitors report phantom footsteps and flickering lights near Room 215.
The Menger Hotel – San Antonio
Decked out for Christmas since the 1800s, the Menger combines warmth with whispers. Guests swear they’ve seen the ghost of Teddy Roosevelt raising a holiday toast in the bar.
Moody Mansion – Galveston
This 1895 Victorian mansion hosts an annual holiday tour, yet many claim that during the quietest moments, they hear faint piano music and footsteps on the grand staircase.
Final Toast
For travelers seeking festive magic with a touch of mystery, these historic Texas homes deliver both. Visit, stay the night, or join a holiday ghost tour — and meet the real spirits of Christmas.