The 9 Most Haunted Hotels in San Antonio

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most haunted hotels in san antonio

San Antonio might be known for its friendly faces and breakfast tacos, but we’ve got quite the reputation for haunted places, too.

As an old city with hundreds of years of history under its belt, SA is no stranger to ghostly apparitions.

In my experience, these 8 hotels are among some of the most haunted in San Antonio—so spend the night here at your own peril.

Map of San Antonio’s Haunted Hotels

Menger Hotel

I stayed at the Menger for my 29th birthday, and boy, it didn’t disappoint. You can definitely tell that this place has been in business since 1859, which makes it one of the oldest hotels in Texas. The hotel is definitely old and quirky, with multiple additions and wings tacked onto it over the years.

I personally didn’t see any ghosts (the hotel claims there are 32 total), but guests frequently complain about a woman in white who walks through walls, the disgruntled ghost of a maid, and even Teddy Roosevelt himself slamming a few drinks in the hotel bar.

While that might sound like a fun time, it… isn’t. I know several people who used to work at the Menger and they refuse to even step inside because of the creepy stuff that goes down here.

  • Address: 204 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Website: Menger Hotel

Emily Morgan Hotel

Based on the sheer number of creepy reports, the Emily Morgan Hotel is the third most haunted hotel in the United States. It was first built in 1924, but many people believe its proximity to the Alamo makes it prime haunting territory for ghostly spirits.
Visitors have reported phones mysteriously ringing at night, only to pick them up and hear no one on the other end. Others find their rooms suddenly rearranged. And spookiest of all, many visitors have seen a woman in white walking through the walls!

Holiday Inn Express

I stayed at this hotel for work a few times and had no clue it was haunted! But yes, apparently the unassuming Holiday Inn Express in downtown SA is haunted AF. (It also happens to be close to all of the best attractions downtown but without the huge price tag)

That’s because this Holiday Inn Express is actually the Old Bexar County Jail. There were plenty of hangings in front of the courthouse, and many people say the unlucky prisoners never left. The last public execution by hanging actually happened here in 1921, so there’s a lot of bloody history within the walls of this reasonably-priced hotel chain.

People report seeing ghosts on security cameras and windows flying open on their own. I never saw anything like that, but maybe you’ll get lucky?

Bullis House Inn

Former Union Army General Bullis finished building the Bullis House Inn for his family in 1909. With rich paneling, crystal chandeliers, and marble fireplaces, this place looks cozy enough, but its history makes it the perfect setting for a spooky ghost story. General Bullis was instrumental in capturing the Apache chief Geronimo, whose ghost reportedly still haunts the grounds where he was once held captive.

While that’s definitely spooky, Bullis House Inn really tries to lean into its heritage as an old-fashioned bed and breakfast. They have a pool open in the summer and even boast a menagerie of tame animals—like deer, rabbits, and geese—that will eat from your hand. If you’re down for a little bucolic relaxation and don’t mind the angry ghost of a fallen Native American chief, Bullis House Inn sounds like a darn good time.

Wyndham San Antonio River Walk (formerly Crowne Plaza)

The Wyndham has changed hands so many times that it’s hard to keep its name straight. Some people know this hotel as Crowne Plaza, but whatever you call it, there’s some downright spooky stuff going on at this hotel. Guests report seeing weeping ghosts, waking up with scratches all over their bodies, and footsteps in the middle of the night.

Victoria’s Black Swan Inn

We nearly got married at the Black Swan until I realized how expensive this place is! Black Swan is situated on 35 acres of pristine woodland, but it makes for a very creepy setup once the sun goes down. This inn is so famous for its ghosts that it actually allows paranormal investigations (prices start at $50/person) and is a member of the Scientific Paranormal Investigative Research Institute of Texas (S.P.I.R.I.T.).

Black Swan is so haunted because it’s allegedly built on top of Native American land, which includes a burial ground. It’s also close to a bloody Civil War site from the Battle of Salado. People report seeing Native American ghosts, the ghosts of Confederate soldiers, and even the ghosts of the inn’s former owners.

The Grey Moss Inn

The Grey Moss Inn makes for a super romantic date night location, but watch out, because it’s reportedly super haunted.

Most people say it’s the ghost of the inn’s first owner, the zealous Mary Howell. She died in 1976 and in the decades since, she’s kept a domineering watch over the inn’s current owners. It isn’t unusual for silverware to fly across the room or for candles to roar back to life after you blow them out.

Some employees have been so spooked that they left the inn in a hurry—without so much as their last paycheck.

St. Anthony Hotel

Built in 1909, the St. Anthony was actually the first luxury hotel in the State of Texas. It’s hosted a slew of celebrities in the 100+ years since its founding, but it’s mostly famous for its ghosts. Nobody’s been able to identify who the specters are, but if you’re lucky, you’ll see ghosts in the men’s locker room, ballroom, tenth floor, and some bathrooms. Be on the lookout for the famous Lady in Red!

The Crockett Hotel

Davy Crockett allegedly died on the land where the Crockett Hotel now stands. After duking it out with the Mexican army at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, Crockett and the other men of the Alamo died and—if the rumors are true—never left the site of their death.

Today, guests at the Crockett Hotel report seeing translucent orbs going through walls as well as doors opening on their own. Maybe it’s the restless spirit of Crockett himself?