If there’s a ghost story involved, I’m already intrigued. Give me a thriller, a haunted house, or anything with a little edge and I’m in there! Pair that with cocktails and a little history, and it’s a no-brainer! US Ghost Adventures offers paranormal ghost tours, haunted pub crawls, history walks, and food tours across the USA, including haunted overnight stays in famous locations such as The Lizzie Borden House, and The Welty House. So when US Ghost Adventures invited me on a haunted pub crawl while I was home for the holidays, I didn’t hesitate! There are over 170 locations and San Antonio was on the list so I grabbed my brother and we made our way downtown to experience the “haunted pub crawl before Christmas”!
TO CHECK OUT LOCATIONS AND BOOK A SPOOKY TOUR FOR YOURSELF, CLICK HERE! USE CODE: HEELS10 FOR A DISCOUNT ON SAN ANTONIO GHOST TOURS.
LET THE GHOST TOUR BEGIN!
We met up with our tour guide, Nick, 15 minutes before the start of the tour at the Crockett Hotel in Downtown San Antonio. We were then able to meet the couple who would be joining us. Though, this wasn’t a hotel we’d be touring, Nick did mention that it too is considered haunted. It was built in the early 1900s on historic Alamo battlefield grounds so needless to say, there are many reasons it’s considered haunted. I won’t spill the beans about each hotel but I will give you a little something-something to pique your interest to do more digging or book a tour for yourself!
Our first official stop on the tour was San Antonio’s “Most Famous Haunted Hotel”, the Menger Hotel.
WHAT’S SPOOKY ABOUT THE MENGER HOTEL?
Not only is it the oldest and continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi River, The Menger Hotel, established in 1857, has some pretty cool spooky stories associated with it. There have been sightings of soldiers from the Alamo, Teddy Roosevelt and “The Rough Riders”, and Captain Richard King, but the story I found most chilling was that of Sallie White, a former chambermaid of The Menger hotel who had a tragic passing.
NEXT STOP ON THE GHOST TOUR, THE ALAMO:
WHAT’S SPOOKY ABOUT THE ALAMO?
What’s not spooky about The Alamo!?! As someone who grew up in San Antonio, and took several field trips there as a kid, I just knew that it would be a stop on our haunted pub crawl! For starters, we know about the brutal 13-day long battle that took place there in 1836. Additionally, it is situated on top of a former cemetery where many soldiers, Native Americans, and priests, are buried. There have been numerous accounts of ghostly sightings, including apparitions of Davy Crockett, as well as voices, whispers, and cold spots reported over the years, making The Alamo one of San Antonio’s most haunted sites.
NEXT STOP ON THE GHOST TOUR, THE EMILY MORGAN HOTEL:
WHAT’S SPOOKY ABOUT THE EMILY MORGAN HOTEL?
On the way to the next hotel on our list, we made a pitstop during our ghost tour to learn about The Emily Morgan Hotel. Why is it spooky? Well, because this 13-story building, established in 1924, was a former medical facility serving those injured at The Alamo, just steps away. As a health-science buff, I found this haunted story especially intriguing. First, I love the slanted design of The Emily Morgan and the medical gargoyles that depict different ailments, that still adorn the building. The medical facility was turned into a hotel in the 80’s and there have been several reports of ghostly sightings and abnormalities like the smell of antiseptics on the 14th (once 13th floor), ghostly nurses in white, haunted elevators that go to the wrong floors, and full on surgeries happening in the middle of the hotel. Crazy, right!?! If you ever decide to stay there, I would avoid room 810…unless you enjoy being spooked out!
NEXT STOP ON THE GHOST TOUR, THE ST. ANTHONY HOTEL:
WHAT’S SPOOKY ABOUT ST. ANTHONY’S HOTEL?
I found St. Anthony’s Hotel, established in 1909, to be one of the prettier hotels we stopped at that evening. The decor was stunning.
It gave the feeling of regal spookiness. The reported sightings include objects that move on their own, phantom cigar smoke and phone calls, and the one I found most interesting was the couple that could be seen dancing into the darkness inside of the Anacacho Ballroom.
Since this was a haunted pub crawl, I would have loved to have stopped by the bar there called “Haunt”. It is said to have cocktails named after the spirits that reside at St. Anthony’s. We didn’t make it into the bar so I’ll have to bookmark it for the next time I’m in the area.
NEXT STOP ON THE GHOST TOUR, THE MAJESTIC THEATRE:
WHAT’S SPOOKY ABOUT THE MAJESTIC THEATRE?
The Majestic Theatre, established in 1929 is still quite popular with locals and visitors alike. Could be because there are amazing talents that have graced its stage or maybe because it’s haunted! The uneasy history of The Majestic include hauntings stemming from a rumor that a troupe of ballerinas were killed there. Though this rumor in unfounded, there are reports of unexplained apparitions of phantom ballerinas that haunt the stage, ghostly women, and illusionists.
LAST STOP ON THE GHOST TOUR, THE GUNTER HOTEL:
WHAT’S SPOOKY ABOUT THE GUNTER HOTEL?
The last stop for us that evening was the Gunter Hotel, established in 1909. Another lovely hotel on the inside but haunted nonetheless! Why is it so spooky? Well probably because there was a killing there in 1965 in room 636. As the story goes, the maid found the culprit covered in blood moments before he escaped. Needless to say, anyone who stays in that room, may be in for some peculiar activity. There has also been sightings of ghosts on the 12th floor and phantom music from some of the rooms. And not to say I’m saving the best for last but I was finally able to see something that appeared supernatural! While speaking to the bartender, he showed me a picture captured in the lobby on his phone that showed what looked like an apparition behind the boy. Can you see it?!?
Overall, this was a very informative and interesting ghost tour and an adventure I’ve never had before. I’m happy to have been extended the opportunity! The only thing I wish was different considering it was a haunted pub crawl, was to actually have cocktails while learning about the history of these different historical sites. I never got any but my brother and I fixed that once we left. All in all, it was a cool experience and for ghost, paranormal activity, and history fanatics, this is the adventure for you.
Again they have over 170 locations so you’re bound to find a ghost tour that suits your fancy! If it happens to be in San Antonio, be sure to use my discount code: HEELS10 for 10% off your San Antonio tour!
As always, thanks so much for stopping by, your readership is much appreciated!
XOXO
