10. Racial desegregation began at the hospital in 1964, as the first African-American patient was admitted. So, while The Cadillac Bar might be known for its delicious Mexican food and fresh margaritas, don't be alarmed if you happen to see something skirt past you . Hippos kill more people in Africa than lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos combined. Robert Pugh, the head of the Bexar County Mental Health Department, said of Patrick, "He is a very, very sick man. One cat was named Ruby and the other was called C.C. The creepiest San Antonio ghost stories offer a chilling glimpse into the . San Antonio is home to America's second oldest park San Pedro Park is the oldest park in Texas and the second-oldest in the nation. Here at Ghost City, we are proud to offer our ghost tours in Texas' most haunted city! 1) The Menger Hotel. Countdown City. While some guests claim that Teddy Roosevelt haunts the Menger, other visitors have . Another apocryphal ghost story in San Antonio is the Donkey Lady. A rare photo of a therapy session at SASH, 1920s. Most commonly, her spirit is seen kneeling on the ground, her arms submerged in the water as she searches for her children. There have been sightings of angry female spirits, as well as unexplainable paranormal phenomena such as objects flying off the shelves or hearing sounds with no distinct source. 12 Experiences You Can Only Have in and Around SanAntonio, 11 Places To See Incredible Live Music in San Antonio, Avoid This Mistake When You Visit Trkiyes Surreal Pamukkale Thermal Pools, From Sparkles To Champagne Elevator Rides: What You Need To Know Before Visiting the Eiffel Tower, Flag, Flame, and Fantastic Views: What You Need To Know Before Visiting Paris's Arc de Triomphe, Royal Wedding, Harry Potter, and Epic Views: What You Need To Know Before Visiting London's St. Paul's Cathedral, Glass Floors and Amazing Views: Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Tower Bridge, Towers, Dress Codes, and Controversy: Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting La Sagrada Famlia, You've Been Referring To Big Ben Wrong (and Other Things You Need To Know Before Visiting), The Sky Blue Waters of Kawasan Falls Might Be the Most Beautiful Waterfalls in the Philippines, Winter Is Actually a Great Time To Visit Michigan's Upper Peninsula, The Best Family Friendly Things To Do in LasVegas, Tips and Tricks To Make the Most of Your Visit To Versailles, Download the 5. For locals of this historic city, which sits at the foot of the Texas Hill Country, know that San Antonio is not only one of the most paranormally active in the States but perhaps also in the entire world . If she had to choose between gambling in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, shed skip the gambling and see a show in Vegas and go to the beach in Atlantic City. The Alamo City is packed with ha. ", Just before Christmas of 2014, the hospital announced that they were unable to admit any more patients. Patrick O'Brien had been institutionalized at the San Antonio State Hospital for a total of eight times from 1966-1975. Spurs Nation. A ghostly hearse, bathrooms that bleed blood, and the spirit of a poor soul only account for some of the paranormal phenomena which occurs regularly at the Institute. . But the Terrell Castle has secretsghostly secrets. Countdown City" is the nickname of Antonio, TX, because of its main area code of 210, but Orlando, FL, can also claim the name due to the area code 321. All right reserved. But what is the truth? For hundreds of years, ghost stories have been told by the locals in San Antonio. scary facts about san antonio Call us today! In San Antonio, the ghost stories range from the standard to the downright creepy, and most are passed from generation to generation. Otherwise, let us continue on the path of finding out why San Antonio is just so very haunted . He is a brilliant man, but a terribly sick man." 1. The Deuce Dime. 11 facts about San Antonio, TXSan Antonio is having a birthday, and it's a big one the Alamo City is turning a whopping 300 years old. What puts this museum in the Top Ten Most Haunted Museums in the World? 2023 RentGroup Inc. All rights reserved. A current employee said of the SASH, "I work there. Below are just a few tales from the past. The four abandoned buildings near the site of the hospital actually belonged to the Bexar County Juvenile Home for Boys. But for some strange reason, San Antonio, Texas, never seems to make the cut for being one of America's Most Haunted Cities . . Shaquille ONeil got his start in basketball in San Antonio. The Alamo City holds another Guinness World Record, we are home to the tallest cowboy boots sculpture. Kids, for example, are warned not to trek out to the Ghost Tracks on the southeast side of the city, where, in the 1940s, a bus full of kids stalled while trying to cross the train tracks. The doctor then hollered at the attendants, "Lay off that boy, he's not crazy.". And through the years, the hotel has hosted infamous. San Antonio, Texas. His reasoning is the city's closeness to water, which might act like a spark or energy-source for paranormal phenomena. These stories told by and revealed by the press ultimately spurred Coke R. Stevenson to open an investigation into the hospital's actions. Along the Riverwalk you'll find the Arneson River Theater, which became famous worldwide for being featured in the film Miss Congeniality. During the tour, see several key historic locations and properties around downtown San Antonio and the Old Town area. If you select the Extended Tour route, enjoy an additional 30 minutes of blood-curdling stories to fuel . In the dead of night, she grabbed her children and brought them down to the river. All alert the living that they are not alone. Take a peek inside the Menger Hotel, the "Most Haunted Hotel in Texas," and just a block away, peer into the Emily Morgan Hotel, one of the city's first hospitals and where many men and women lost their . 24. As I mentioned, there were also speciousness deaths of the elderly. O'Brien was arrested by the police for murdering his parents, William and Mary, who were reportedly stabbed so many times that they looked like they had each been blasted with a shotgun. He lunged at his wife and two daughters with a knife, slashing their throats and dragging their bodies to the second floor where he stashed them in a closet. While it's kind of surprising that Texans didn't make a bigger Stonehenge, they did make up for it with the World's Biggest Cowboy Boots ever made, found towering outside the North Star Mall. Additionally, provisions are included in the new ordinance that allow the granting of preferences in certain discretionary contract solicitations to local businesses or businesses with knowledge of, and/or experience working with, local conditions . According to the Churchs website, George W. Church opened the location in 1952. Only, Dr. Braragons diagnosis and condemnation of Browne was done without an adequate examination and the proper process of law. Are you visiting San Antonio? Today, visitors to the Military Plaza where Bob Augustine was gruesomely hanged still swear that they hear the Rebel yell that he hollered after his capture. Everything is bigger in Texas, and thus, you'll find large spiders in San Antonio called Jumping Spiders. It seems that no matter where one turns in the historic San Antonio district, ghosts have been sighted. Built in 1859, today the hotel offers up luxurious rooms, a bar, and the beloved Colonial restaurant. Another San Antonio fact is it's also the second-largest city in the south and the seventh-largest city in the United States. The man was horrified. 2.64. Similarly to Voodoo, those who practiced Santera used drumming and dance to communicate with their ancestors and the deities of theRegla de Ocha. According to local lore, it has been home to Satanists practicing rituals, as well as brave individuals hoping to take on the dark energies within the Mansion. Welcome to the Huebner-Onion Homestead: one of the most haunted houses in San Antonio, Texas, but a place that you visit only at your own risk. During his visit, he also deemed San Antonio the most Catholic city in the U.S. Archdiocese marks 25th anniversary of papal visit. Your guide, a sinister fellow who proclaims to be in tune with the afterlife, leads you on a chilling exploration of the city's famed haunted sites including the Menger Hotel, the old Red Light District, the former Bexar County Jail, an historic cemetery, and more. Along with the iconic Alamo, they were selected for UNESCO designation in 2015 after a successful campaign by city and state officials. Founded in 1717, it's . The golden age of the paperback has ended, so why not borrow e-readers from the library and attend book club meetings streamed online? Depending on whom one might have asked in the eighteenth century, smallpox was both the best and worst thing to ever happen to the burgeoning city of San Antonio at that time. You can't talk about the most haunted places in San Antonio without mentioning the Alamo. A complex argument of facts versus fiction, right versus wrong, and what the battle was even about hasn't let up since, even as Texas became a U.S. state in 1845 and ensuing decades saw San . Those who are admitted may have done so voluntarily, but more often than not the choice was not theirs to make. (To be fair, Central Market is a bit pricier than H-E-B but is a little cheaper than Whole Foods.). From ghostly legends passed down through the generations, to the more concrete sightings at locations like the Emily Morgan Hotel or the Alamo, it's safe to say that while San Antonio might not always be considered one of America's Most Haunted Cities . Their online reviews are quite eerie. . 2. The streets surrounding the tracks are named after the children who died, and people have reported their windows splintering and breaking from the outside-in by an unseen force, as though something or someone wanted to be noticed. And then there's La Llorona, the "Weeping Woman," who lingers near the water. William I. Browne was released from the Southwestern Insane Asylum (SASH), on orders by County Judge Phil Shook based on the illegal restraint of liberty. 20. The famous boots outside North Star Mall are 35-feet, three inches tall and weigh more than 10,000 pounds. The 2,311 seat theatre was designed in 1929 by architect John Eberson, and was home to San Antonio's Symphony from 1989 to 2014. Discover Old San Antonio's most haunted places and uncover the history that lies waiting for those who dare to enter their doorways. But we didnt stop with office buildings San Antonio is home to countrys first air-conditioned bank, hotel, and Catholic Church. Rooms & Suites . He should have never been out on the streets. If you run across a group of women hiking in San Antonio without shirts on, don't ogle. This mosaic is a replica of such a candle on a grand scale. People have been seeing a massive, reptilian bird flying around the city for decades, and it's bigger than a pterodactyl more of the size of a pteranodon with wingspans of 15-20 feet. When: January 27, 2023, 6:30 pm Where:City Cemetery #1, 01023-000-0010, San Antonio, TX 78203 San Antonio's Midget Mansion has also been called the Gillespie Mansion and the Donore Manor, but despite the different names this urban legend is perhaps one of the most gruesome in all of Texas. . The cathedral was founded in 1731 by a group of families from the Canary Islands. Even the building itself is impressive, dating to 1884. The spirits of San Antonio are some of the strangest out there. Turns out we really love our fried chicken-to-go, and the joint quickly expanded throughout San Antonio, and now has over 1,600 locations in some 30 countries around the world. We've shared some San Antonio facts and a few San Antonio secrets that help to make this great city such a fascinating place. Shaquille ONeal, star of Kazaam (oh right, and also 15-time NBA All-Star), went to Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio. The Japanese Tea Garden. Tall spires reach for the sky and the architecture is beautiful no matter what time of day you strolled by. This post is proudly produced in partnership with, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, 9 San Antonio Airbnbs Within Walking Distance of the Riverwalk and Downtown, 7 Idyllic Destinations for a Family-Friendly Thanksgiving Vacation ThisNovember, 11 Things You Didn't Know About San Antonio, 12 Things You'll Only Understand if You've Visited San Antonio, 11 Ways a Trip To San Antonio Will Surprise You. It was built in hopes of attracting an NFL team. Tourists flock to San Antonio for delicious food, the River Walk, and the bright atmosphere which makes the city so lively and beautiful during the day-but for visitors interested in spooky legends, there are plenty of haunted places in San Antonio to explore after dark.. With 300 years of turbulent history since its beginning in 1718, it is no surprise that San Antonio is one of the most . The number one haunted place is the Driskill in Austin. Cemeteries are known for being the final resting places to many souls - but no cemetery in San Antonio, Texas, has gives off quite the level of dispair as the Chinese Graveyard? San Antonio is also home to the biggest Virgin Mary mosaic in the world, found at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Think you know everything there is to know about San Antonio? The term O'Niner" refers to residents of the exclusive 78209 ZIP Code that includes the upscale neighborhood of Alamo Heights. San Antonio surpassed Dallas as the second biggest city in Texas after the 2010 census count. Check out our tours of haunted San Antonio. 2012. . The event is just one of many extravaganzas that occur every April during Fiesta, the biggest party youve never heard of. The next night when they saw him trying to escape, the mob of angry citizens allegedly captured him and dragged him to a chinaberry tree where they strung him up and hanged him without further delay. She's created the segments 'Creating Black History in S.A.' and 'New Week. And did we mention the creator of Gatorade was from San Antonio? 42 Best Bedroom Paint Color Ideas for 2023. Yes, San Antonio has a museum dedicated entirely to artsy toilet seats. Over 700 people were put in jails across the state during this period. Shelly Duvall, best known for her Earth-shaking screams in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," lives in nearby Hill Country. . . DICE Dental International Congress and Exhibition. More than 180 Texans died Guests have reported hearing moans. Stephanie Brail Stephanie Brail has a diverse background as a writer and holistic health expert with a previous incarnation as an internet consultant/web developer. The Battle of the Alamo, where not a single defender survived, was only one such battle fought between the independence-seekers and Mexican rulers. Pope John Paul II visited San Antonio in 1987 and held a mass where more than 350,000 people showed up. Aldridge's nervous condition was only getting worse, so he committed himself to the SASH as an ultimate last resort. The Emily Morgan Hotel receives AIA San Antonio's Twenty-Five Year Distinguished Building Award. Heres a list of facts you may not know about: 1. 4. Sculptor Bob Wade gave each one a crisscrossed steel skeleton, over which a concrete-fiberglass mixture was poured. Restless spirits are said to haunt the famed Alamo. River City. The Menger is considered the oldest hotel west of the Mississippi and one of the most haunted places in San Antonio. Next time you stay at a Hilton, remember that Conrad Hilton, the founder of the hotel chain, was born in San Antonio, N.M. This time it was for good. He also still holds the state record for number of rebounds in a season, with 791. There is some debate though that Frito pie was actually invented in New Mexico. The San Antonio Museum of Art, which opened in 1981 in the old Lone Star Brewery complex, may not serve up local brews, but its collection of 30,000+ objects spanning 5,000 years will probably quench a different kind of thirst. Blood was spilt on the grounds of San Antonio, and it is said that the souls of the victimsthough all are victims in their own rightcontinue to haunt the city. The settlers placed the poor on the outskirts of the city, in hope that the tribes would take the belongings of the impoverished . Still, we tell you all about its less than respectable past. But San Antonio has four other historical missions, too: Mission San Juan, Mission San Jos, Mission Espada, and Mission Concepcin. Years of fighting rose up among the different nationalities. 22. Just south of San Antonio , Texas, is the site of Texas' most famous ghost story. After murdering his parents in 1979, Hitlers Son (more commonly known as Patrick OBrien, who was not in fact Hitlers son) was once again checked into the State Hospital. Here's a different kind of Texas creepy: There's a place called The Tracks" where it's said if you put your car in neutral over the railroad tracks, ghost kids who died in a fatal bus crash in the 1930s or 1940s will push the car over for you. Perhaps, hazing the new guy, or maybe the spirit is trying to scare off any non-union operators. The horrific "treatments" that the patients of these institutions were subjected to is often thought to be the source behind this paranormal phenomenon. He turned right around and sued those responsible for his incarcerationit didnt help that he was now at odds with his siblings, who had purposely stolen the bequeathing from their fathers will and left him to dry. The worst was yet to come. Called Midget Mansion (because the mother and father's smaller statures), rumors have been told of satanic rituals since having been performed at the house. The hospital was essentially a self-sufficient village with crops, livestock and a lake for fishing. The largest Mexican market outside of Mexico is the Historic Market Square. The highest temperature ever recorded was 111 F on September 5, 2000. So many bizarre things (all about headless chickens) and some very authentic things (George Washington's hair). There is one house more beautiful, it's said, more elegant than all the others: The Terrell Castle, which also goes by the name of the Lambermont House. None of their venoms are lethal (except for rare cases of allergy), but they can hurt like hades. The DoSeum's "Recess Redo" nights invite adults (21+) to explore the whimsy and wonder of the massive playscape, cocktail in hand! Either way Frito pie is a famous concession stand food at most high school football games in South Texas. Some are thought to be places of ritual and sacrifices; others are said to be the place where living beings go to die. It's a good habit and a San Antonio fact to shake your shoes out before you put them on. San Antonio's most famous haunted landmark. This man who fought in WWII, said of the hospital, "Never again do I want to experience the sight of such cruelties." Rougarou. Adrenaline-seekers will want to map their day at SeaWorld around the many thrill . 3. Alyssa Medina is the Video-On-Demand Producer and has worked at KSAT since 2016. Fritos and Frito pie were invented in San Antonio. It was only after Judge Phil Shook ordered Williams release from the asylum in 1910 that he realized that he should have accumulated a whole lot of money from the holdings and land ownership. Today, still, those who died continue to haunt the property. In fact, its the second-biggest city in Texas. San Antonio Fact Sheet San Antonio at a Glance The River Walk More to Explore Eat A food and drink scene bursting with flavor and fun. . All in all, there are now some 20,000 works at the McNay. Not long after the Battle of the Alamo took place, stories about ghosts and hauntings started to be told by the people of San Antonio. San Antonio's first center for the mentally ill was the Southwestern Insane Asylum (San Antonio State Hospital) and was established on April 6, 1892. The Alamodome opened on May 15, 1993, and cost $186 million to build. These days, its home to works from some of the best artists of all time, like Picasso and Georgia OKeeffe. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) is a museum and library located in the Texas Pavilion at HemisFair Park in Downtown San Antonio, Texas. app for Android and iOS. The city has a total area of 465.4 square miles; 460.93 square miles of San Antonio's total area is land and 4.5 square miles of it is water.