A number of Valley people died under mysterious circumstances at the San Antonio State Hospital, ranging from teenagers to the elderly. When authorities showed up days later after reports had surfaced that the family had not been seen, the officers not only found the dead bodies of the women, but also the notes which had been etched in blood, and the scratch marks dug into the walls as though the women had tried to claw themselves out of their very existence. A horrifying description that does little to paint the State Hospital in a good light during the 1940s. 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. With spiders that jump 25 feet, massive reptilian birds possibly flying overhead and a whole host of other strange and delightful things, San Antonio is a fun, adventurous place to live and work. . It is a spooky experience that you won't soon forget! As I mentioned, there were also speciousness deaths of the elderly. 9. 1) The Menger Hotel. The AC system kept temperatures to 80 degrees, a welcome relief for all those workers doingwhatever people did in offices decades before the first desktop computers. Things to do in San Antonio this Weekend of January 27, 2023 San Antonio, Texas. Yes, theyre a staple Mexican food, and yes, were totally obsessed with them. 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. It's also reported that you can hear ghostly footsteps from the fallen soldiers and men crying. The head of the San Antonio Paranormal Investigations, Guillermo Fuentes, has been referenced as saying that one of the reasons why San Antonio is so haunted is because the ghosts feel as though they have some form of ownership over the land. Visit a city rich in history and booming with modern attractions. Another apocryphal ghost story in San Antonio is the Donkey Lady. A rendering of the Texas Stingray at SeaWorld San Antonio. The district's history of hauntings even predates its conception, reaching back to when the area was nothing but farmland. The settlers' stamp of "ownership" did nothing to dissuade the onslaught of attacks from the Comanches and Apaches peoples. The 10 Most Haunted Hotels in San Antonio The Japanese Tea Garden. In fact, its the second-biggest city in Texas. Spurs Nation. Muscles began to spasm and tire easily; the pain in your lower back rendered you useless. When guests are not enjoying the tremendous accommodations, which include a lounge and bar, modern amenities, as well as a pool and fitness center, they might also encounter the Gunter Hotel's resident ghost. Today, the Witte Museum is super legit as well as super popular, with exhibits ranging from Texas art, to dinosaur bones, to one of the worlds largest collections of circus artifacts and memorabilia. It was because of the devastating results of the spread of smallpox that tribes like the Comanches and Apaches finally agreed for treaties and truce. He would have raving spells, following which he would become depressive. Though the blisters scabbed some ten days later, smallpox remained the biggest killer in San Antonio. and looked just like a fantasy Mediterranean Sea. How many other places in the US can. 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. 830 North Saint Mary's, San Antonio, TX 78205 [ Book a Room] Located right across the street from the Alamo, the ghostly sounds of cannons firing can sometimes be heard from the historic site. Stepping into this museum is definitely a step back in time. So much culture, history and fun can be had here. Plan Your Trip We give you ideas and our favorite things to do, eat and see. Since that harrowing day, locals and visitors alike have attempted to reconnect with the lost souls who died in the crash, for that crossing at Shane and Villamain is said to be one of the most haunted locations in all of San Antonio. He also still holds the state record for number of rebounds in a season, with 791. Another San Antonio fact is it's also the second-largest city in the south and the seventh-largest city in the United States. . He added, "Chapa was not a violent mental case. Here at Ghost City, we are proud to offer our ghost tours in Texas' most haunted city! There is some debate though that Frito pie was actually invented in New Mexico. 2. Either way Frito pie is a famous concession stand food at most high school football games in South Texas. People have claimed to see her ghost walk at night along the river, with her dark as night hair swishing against her back, and her white dress a sharp contrast to the black of the sky. For more information read our privacy policy. WHERE: Meet at the Sisters Grimm Tours & Gift Shop located at the back of the Menger Hotel down Blum Street located at: 204 Alamo Plaza Suite #T San Antonio, TX 78204. Historic Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio | The Emily Morgan Hotel It was not the Comanche way to murder the people of the San Antonio villa and destroy them out rightno, it was better to allow them to work the fields and raise the horses, before the Comanches took what they deemed "theirs.". There are bullet holes in the bar, and the legend is that they are from Rough Riders before they shipped out to Cuba. Patrick O'Brien had been institutionalized at the San Antonio State Hospital for a total of eight times from 1966-1975. Something to Remember. Along the Riverwalk you'll find the Arneson River Theater, which became famous worldwide for being featured in the film Miss Congeniality. First - we cannot stress this enough - do not trespass. She's created the segments 'Creating Black History in S.A.' and 'New Week. Spooky SA: 13 Urban Legends, Obscure Stories, & Unexplained Phenomena Not once did he stay for longer than a period of ninety days, which begs the question: if the Hospital had kept Patrick institutionalized, would he have been driven by some unseen force to brutally stab his mother and father? Back in December 2011, 17,132 tamales were made there. 300 coffins found inside a convent attic. 161 Recommended Theater Shows from $36.99 per adult The Haunted Ghost Bus Tour in San Antonio 267 . 4. In 1979, a 300-pound man named Patrick O'Brien (a 36-year-old recluse), told police after his arrest that he was the son of Hitler and the father of the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders. This is where the story gets a little strange, and its necessary for us to rewind a bittwelve yearsto not longer after William was put in the Southwestern Insane Asylum in the first place. It is for this reasonor at least one of the main reasonswhy Ghost City Tours has decided to launch ghost tours in San Antonio, starting in the beginning of May 2016. Children. 12. Go on a ghost tour to learn about the city's haunted history and hear some spooky stories. San Antonio invites you to be inspired, be curious, and be hungry. . The red spots soon blistered, filling with clear fluid that was highly contagious. San Antonio is filled with ghosts. Here are spooky spots you can visit 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. 11 facts about San Antonio, TX | GeoQuono Cade was a professor of medicine and nephrology at the University of Florida when he was doing research about the football team and why players didnt urinate after a game. San Antonio, TX. This mosaic is a replica of such a candle on a grand scale. At this haunted location, the living come second to the ghosts. * Bei Fragen einfach anrufen oder schreiben: +49 (0)176 248 87 424. this is the zodiac speaking game ending; nissan cvt transmission warranty australia The number one haunted place is the Driskill in Austin. Cade was born in San Antonio in 1927. Adults. Staff cared for two stray cats and buried them on-site with their own gravemarkers when they died. During the Civil War, the park was used as a prisoner of war camp. From the spirit of a young boy who loves to play pranks to the living, to a ghostly former actress who can't sing on-key, this old theater is one of the most haunted places in San Antonio. Just south of San Antonio , Texas, is the site of Texas' most famous ghost story. Or, are you new and want to get the lay of the land? If that weren't scary enough, San Antonio has three species of scorpion: Striped Bark Scorpions, Giant Hairy Scorpions and Stripetail Scorpions. An award-winning disc jockey, Mark Louis Rybczyk started his career at KXZL, WOAI, and KJ-97 in San Antonio before moving to 96.3 KSCS in Dallas, where he had the longest-running morning show in the DallasFort Worth area. Before it mysteriously caught on flames and burned to the ground, subsequent owners of the property heard the sounds of scratching and moaning as though the ghosts of the murdered women had never left the property . Even so, the hospital almost always surpassed capacity. One of these poor souls was Chuauhtemco "Chino" Garcia, just nineteen-years-old, but a big boy, weighing in between 180-190 pounds. The 24 Most Haunted Hotels in America - Country Living Or are the souls here so desperately restless than visitors really should head the sign: Do Not Trespass? Dallas is now the third-largest city in Texas followed by Austin, with Fort Worth closing in at fifth place. No doubt the bus driver did everything he could, but there was nothing to be done. 31. For centuries, San Antonio has been a crossroads of cultures and of people. (Want to find out a little more about our upcoming ghost tours in San Antonio? 2. San Pedro Park is the oldest park in Texas and one of the oldest municipal parks in the United States, according to the Texas State Historical Association. It's 90 percent as high and 60 percent as wide as the original in England. 31 of the most haunted places in South Texas. But for some strange reason, San Antonio, Texas, never seems to make the cut for being one of America's Most Haunted Cities . Aldridge spent three months in the San Antonio State Hospital in 1944. . 28. In 2014, Shaq came back to the Texas state basketball tournament for a reunion with his former high school teammates, still towering over them like he did 25 years ago. The building which houses the institute a striking example of Brutalist architecture. Before she was admitted, a doctor made a comment to police, saying of Mrs. Harrison, "She's so oldwe want the young ones.". Is this because of the two lovers who parted ways here? This Buc-ee's location is the world's biggest convenience store. This San Antonio walking ghost tour is for you if: You're looking for a high-quality ghost storytelling performance full of dark history and chilling ghost lore. However, if you are a stickler about it, San Antonio got their area code first in the early '90s and 210 actually counts down to zero instead of just one, so San Antonio wins! Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. All right reserved. (To be fair, Central Market is a bit pricier than H-E-B but is a little cheaper than Whole Foods.). Unfinished business at the time of death tends to be the most common, along with unrequited love or a tragic ending. . 8. Been there for 8 years. Flickr/brianmoranhdr 3. But though it has a fine reputation nowadays, patients who were once sent to the former Southwestern Insane Asylum were considered to be on "the March of Death." 19. Perhaps, hazing the new guy, or maybe the spirit is trying to scare off any non-union operators. To find the hospital, you can use the map we provided. 80+: 3%. The self-guided bullet, capable of hitting laser-designated targets more than a mile away, is a product of New Mexico's Sandia Labs. 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. The cathedral was founded in 1731 by a group of families from the Canary Islands. A local hiking group, Hiking Heroes, organized such a hike in October 2021 to raise funds for a local breast cancer nonprofit. 10. The Myrtles Plantation. Eurgh! Aldridge's nervous condition was only getting worse, so he committed himself to the SASH as an ultimate last resort. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Alyssa Medina is the Video-On-Demand Producer and has worked at KSAT since 2016. Get a glimpse of the dark underbelly of San Antonio history as each haunted location ratchets up the tension of the tour. Another youth by the name of Raul G. Chapa entered the hospital after suffering a nervous breakdown, and was found dead eleven days after he was admitted to the institution. 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. app for Android and iOS. He told her that she was mad, insane, and that he would have nothing to do with her. 4. 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. Sitting on more than half an acre and built in 2005, a Terrell Hills home recently listed for nearly $2.9 million features, Charles Haarmann paid just $1,000 for a half-acre lot in what's now the King William Historic District. The San Antonio State Hospital (SASH) is still in operation today at the same location of its conception at 6711 S New Braunfels Avenue. The value of these holdings grew steadily over the next decade, while William Browne continued to sit and wait for a possible release from the Insane Asylum. Another San Antonio fact is it's also the second-largest city in the south and the seventh-largest city in the United States. Most people are aware of the fact that San Antonio, Texas, has a significant paranormal presence. 3.) Once you've gotten some fudge and jerky at Buc-ee's, stop by Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum to gape and awe at this amazing collection of decorated toilet seats. The Menger Hotel in San Antonio is rich in history. 1. It's said that some of the most haunted places in the world are theaters and the former Alamo Street Theater (now a hot dog place called Frank) is no different. This time it was for good. 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. He adds We are now down to a sinking lifeboat. Dallas is now the third-largest city in Texas followed by Austin, with Fort Worth closing in at fifth place. Countdown City. . With a population of over 1.4 million, its the seventh-largest city-proper in the country and is gaining on all six above it. In the year of 1910, the hospital was given a hundred thousand dollars for expansion, and by 1912 they were able to accommodate up to 1,140 patients. Recently, BuzzFeed got a chance to checkout the hotel IRL and learn some fun, fascinating, and ~spooky~ facts . Rumored to be haunted by the spirits of young children, as well as the victim of a heartless murder, the vibrant paranormal activity here clearly demonstrates that not all of its ghosts are able to forget what happened to them in life. The Legend of The Haunted Railroad Tracks in Texas - LiveAbout The Cadillac Bar & Restaurant is said to be one of the most haunted places to eat in all of San Antonio, Texas. 1.) Except that the mother and daughters had not been dead. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is home to four of the citys five Spanish missions outposts that date back to the 17th century. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! For those which are currently abandoned, paranormal investigative groups flock to them to uncover the sometimes tragic events which occurred to them. There, the skinny, nearly 7-foot-tall teenager led his team to a 36-0 state championship record in 1989 (they had a 68-1 record over two years). This Plaza, perhaps more than any other, has had numerous of ghostly sightings surface. It has been a battleground for warring nationalities, and the morality of the lawless gunslingers and the vigilant citizens hoping to enact order. Only the very brave trek down to East Ashley Road to see how very lucky they are--but the questions remains, are you just as lucky? June 30, 2022 . On the morning of January 15, 1947, police in Los Angeles made a horrifying discovery: a woman, sliced cleanly in half at the waist, posed such that onlookers thought she was a mannequin. According to the Churchs website, George W. Church opened the location in 1952. A number of Valley people died under mysterious circumstances at the San Antonio State Hospital, ranging from teenagers to the elderly. Party held to celebrate Mission World Heritage status. Geoquono. True Adventures. "Personally, they didn't treat me mean," Aldridge said, before adding, "But the helpless and really insane were treated in a brutal manner. The famous boots outside North Star Mall are 35-feet, three inches tall and weigh more than 10,000 pounds. A rare photo of a therapy session at SASH, 1920s. But at almost every old bridge, there are rumors that the Devil himself was involved with its construction. His reasoning is the city's closeness to water, which might act like a spark or energy-source for paranormal phenomena. The San Pedro Park is home to so much history. 17. 10 Creepy Facts and Legends about New Orleans - Hotels As the legend goes, God struck down on her then for her actions. The Superintendent of SASH recognized that the hospital was at its breaking point, and that it was in desperate need of additional facilities. You can't talk about the most haunted places in San Antonio without mentioning the Alamo. #1 Rated Ghost Tour In San Antonio, TX - River City Ghosts The Aztec Theatre (San Antonio) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go 14 of the Most Haunted Places in San Antonio - Lone Star Travel Guide In 1928, the 21-story Milam Building in downtown San Antonio became the first air-conditioned high-rise in the US. The collision was inevitable. Top 12 Surprising Facts About San Antonio - Ryan Reiffert, PLLC. Haunted Menger Hotel in San Antonio - Legends of America 24. Come and check it out. River City. 14. The root of this was caused by a shortage of nurses, as explained by Carrie Williams, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services (which oversees the San Antonio State hospital): We have a total of 83 nurse positions at the hospital (SASH), and 12 of those are vacant, plus we have several nurses out for an extended period of time due to medical reasons. she then added. 3. No cause of death was given in the report or his obituary. The devil impressed San Antonio women with his dancing back in the '70s Back on Halloween 1975, many locals said a handsome man dressed in all white showed up to El Camaroncito Night Club.. In this week's Throwback Thursday, we look back at the unique story of the "World's Largest Cowboy Boots" at North Star Mall. Lanier High School holds the world record for the most tamales ever made. It's a history filled with hardship, corruption, scandal and death (much like our nation's capital). It's not uncommon to hear that New Orleans is haunted, or that Savannah is teeming with paranormal activity. At this haunted location, the living come second to the ghosts. Thanks to its unique past, the city has no shortage of urban legends and ghostly encounters that have . Patients were being turned away at the door. But in Texas, the heavy influence of the Latin culture has also spawned stories of La Llorona, or the phantom banshee. Aside from the Alamo, the Riverwalk is San Antonio's most famous attraction. Neighborhood: Hot Wells. 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. You probably know the Alamo it was a mission and fortress compound established in the 1700s and the site of the infamous Battle of the Alamo in 1836. This put the Alamo City in the pages of the Guinness World Records,though the officials did have to create a new category: Most Tamales Made in a 12-hour Period.. Rougarou. Hotel Monteleone. Aldridge, not willing to take that sort of verbal abuse, responded with similar language. Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2017-2021. They were created by Austin-born artist Bob Daddy O Wade and were placed in January of 1980. Download the Rent. It contains a whopping 67,000 square feet of retail sales space, which could house 22 7-Elevens or 2 Whole Foods stores. Disembodied footsteps and voices, a female spirit who seems to determined to appear at every performance. Menu Close. 2.) At 750 feet, San Antonio's Tower of the Americas is taller than the famous Seattle Space Needle, making it the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the city. Let's not forget the Alamo, which rumor has it is also haunted. 2023 RentGroup Inc. All rights reserved. Gatorade was invented by San Antonio native Robert Cade. He was also a smart kid, who was attending the University of Texas just before he was admitted into the San Antonio State Hospital. The 20 Creepiest Scary Facts to Spook Your Friends 2022 It doesn't seem to matter if you're downtown, out at one of the Missions, or in the out-laying areas, you're never far from somewhere haunted. 51 Things About New Mexico You Probably Didn't Know - Movoto Real Estate (In Austin, just up I-35, you're likely to hear them called frontage roads. Pope John Paul II visited San Antonio in 1987, where he held mass in . (Um, duh!). Fritos were invented in SA, we have the oldest park in Texas and hold the world record for most tamales made. Many people from across the city participated in the event that was put together by the culinary program at Lanier. 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. After the Alamo fell, General Santa Ana of Mexico tried to have the Alamo burned down so it would not become a shrine to the fallen soldiers. 20 random San Antonio facts you may not know about - KSAT Library membership is free to all Bexar County residents. The Alamo. Here's Where To Get Itand Where To See Whats Tex-Next. BiblioTech opened on Sept. 14, 2013. River City Ghosts provider a different perspective on the vibrant and beautiful city of San Antonio; we take you to the safe and tranquil setting of the River Walk. SAN ANTONIO When it comes to the top 20 most haunted places in Texas, San Antonio makes up 35% of that list, according to Yelp. The San Antonio Missions are the only World Heritage Site in Texas. This man who fought in WWII, said of the hospital, "Never again do I want to experience the sight of such cruelties." Coincidently, (or not), his brother Albert was the Mayor of Brownsville, Texas, at the time of Williams death. The highest point in New Mexico is Wheeler Peak at 13,000. The largest Mexican market outside of Mexico is the Historic Market Square. Thus, ghosts are the reason why the Alamo still stands today.