7 Haunted Places In East Texas (and The Stories Behind Them)

East Texas is know for many haunted locations with Jefferson Texas being the most well know for many places in there town.

Haunted Places in East Texas

There are so many more haunted places in East Texas, so in spirit of the season, I thought it would be fun to round up a few of the most popular haunted places in ETX for you to visit.

The Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson, Texas

The Excelsior House Hotel is the oldest hotel in Texas. Located in the heart of Downtown Jefferson, the historic hotel has been welcoming travelers since 1858. Famous guests from both the 19th and 20th centuries include Ulysses S. Grant, Oscar Wilde, Rutherford B. Hayes, Lady Bird Johnson, Steven Spielberg and more.

While each of the 15 guestrooms features lovely antiques and old world charm, each is also equipped with new-world amenities like cable tv and perfect wifi. The grand ballroom and the fountain courtyard at the old hotel are favorite destinations for weddings, receptions, reunions, and romantic getaways. Business groups enjoy meetings, retreats and small conventions at Excelsior House.

Since 1961, the not-for-profit hotel has been owned and operated by the ladies of the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club, in association with the Excelsior Foundation.

The Story: Built in 1858, this historic hotel has hosted famous figures like Ulysses S. Grant and Oscar Wilde — but it’s the unseen guests who make it legendary. Visitors have claimed to see a man in a long coat pacing the hallways, while others report the smell of cigar smoke lingering in empty rooms. One chilling tale tells of a little boy who appears at the foot of guests’ beds before vanishing into thin air.

Beckham Hotel In Mineola Texas

It is said that some of the quests that stayed here at the Beckham, never truly left.

The Beckham Hotel is listed one of the more haunted places in Texas. According to the Butlers, they have heard descriptions of spirits that that are rumored to reside in the hotel full time.

Civic Theatre in Henderson Texas

The Henderson Civic Theatre is located in historic downtown Henderson, Texas at 122 East Main St. in the old Opera House building. It is a community theatre dedicated to the promotion of live theatre on stage.

They present a number of great shows every season, and new auditioners are welcomed for every show! Please come see one of our productions, join the theatre membership, or audition for a play

Historic Hotel in Jefferson Texas

Come see the famous Historic Jefferson Hotel and all that she offers.

Antiquities gallery throughout, (including the very rare and eclectic) 171 years of history(Some of it tragic), and mysteries throughout (some unexplained happenings).

The Story: Known as one of the most haunted hotels in Texas, the Jefferson Hotel has a reputation for paranormal activity dating back to the late 1800s. Guests often report hearing footsteps in empty hallways, children laughing when no one is around, and even shadowy figures in mirrors. Room 19 is especially notorious, with reports of doors slamming shut, cold spots, and a phantom woman in white appearing at night.

Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum in Tyler Texas

Goodman-LeGrand House and Museum is located near downtown; on a large piece of property that includes Goodman Park, that surrounds the structure.

This gorgeous Mansion faces North Broadway, its southern border on its property is Goodman Street, its western boarder is N Bois D Arc Ave West.

The Story: This beautiful 1859 home, now a museum, is said to have several lingering spirits. Staff and visitors report hearing unexplained footsteps, doors opening and closing on their own, and sightings of a lady in a long dress gliding across the upstairs hallway. Many believe it is the former owner, Sallie Goodman-LeGrand, watching over her beloved home.

Howard Dickinson House In Henderson Texas

The Howard Dickinson House was built in 1855 by brothers Dave and Logan Howard, this home was occupied for 50 years by the Howard family and another 50 years by the Dickinson’s, who added a two-story wing in the rear.

Used as a boarding house during the East Texas Oil Boom years of the 1930’s, the house was vacated and sat empty by the 1950’s. Almost lost to the wrecking ball, the home was donated by businessman Homer Bryce to the Rusk County Heritage Association, a group formed in the 1960’s to save the house.

After extensive fundraising and restoration work, the house opened for touring in 1967, receiving a Texas Historical Medallion in recognition of its importance to the town of Henderson and to early Texas history.

The Story: Built in 1855, this historic home is one of the oldest brick structures in East Texas — and one of the most haunted. Visitors have claimed to hear phantom piano music, doors creaking open on their own, and the faint smell of pipe smoke lingering in the parlor. Local legend says a former resident still walks the halls, keeping watch over the home.

McClendon house in Tyler Texas

The Bonner-Whitaker-McClendon House, built in 1878, received designation as a Tyler Historic Landmark in 1984. Also recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark the house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Of the 76 homes or buildings listed in the Tyler Register of Historic Places, only two are available for tours: The Goodman-Le-Grand Home which is owned and operated as the Goodman Museum by the city of Tyler and the McClendon House which is self-financed and self-sustaining.