Most Haunted Places to Visit in Houston

Ghostly Houston: Haunted Places & Local Stories
Houston, with its long history, cemeteries, old buildings, and coastal storms, is rich with haunted places. What makes these sites especially compelling are the stories from people who claim to have felt something unexplainable. Below are five of the most haunted places in Houston and nearby, with local quotes and lore that bring the ghosts to life.

1. Jefferson Davis Hospital / Elder Street Artist Lofts
Once a hospital for the poor and built atop old cemeteries (Confederate soldiers, yellow fever and epidemic victims), the building now houses artist lofts but retains a reputation for paranormal activity.
One longtime resident reportedly said:
“We hear strange howls, felt chills, and seen shadowy figures roaming.”
Others claim there are footsteps when no one is around, voices in the corridors at night, and the sense of being watched — especially in the old nurse-quarters or rooms that once housed psychiatric wards.
2. La Carafe Bar
Houston’s oldest bar, built in the mid-19th century, is not just about drinks and dark wood—it’s got its ghost stories.
One quote from staff:
“Employees also experience flickering lights and objects moving on their own.”
Another common local tale involves a “Lady in White” seen standing by an upstairs window, and Carl, a former bartender, whose voice is sometimes heard calling “last call” when the bar is empty.

3. Hotel Galvez (Galveston)
Although just outside Houston, this historic hotel is a standout in hauntings. The story of Audra, the Ghost Bride of Room 501, is legendary.
A guest recounts:
“I had a few odd things happen in my room, like the TV turning on and off by itself, that I chose to blame on the playful ghosts.”
Another said:
“In the elevator there’s [an] older girl in a white dress … She’ll be standing in there when the doors open … but as their doors open on their floor, they turn around and she’s not there anymore.”
Other stories include hearing children giggling late at night in the corridors, voices whispering “ice cream” near the spa (once the site of an old soda fountain and candy shop), and strange flickering lights.

4. Battleship Texas (San Jacinto Battleground)
Visitors to this retired warship-museum sometimes report seeing figures in old naval uniforms, footsteps in deserted corridors, or hearing voices of sailors.
Though direct quotes are more rare, people who tour at dusk often say the presence is “heavy” in certain parts of the lower decks.

5. Spaghetti Warehouse (Downtown Houston)
Once a restaurant (now closed), this building has a strong local lore of paranormal activity. Luis Sanchez, a former kitchen manager, shared:
“I could also hear children laughing and running up the stairs after hours … Once, as I was moving a buffet table … I turned back to see those same chairs stacked on top of tables.”
He also claims to have seen a photo of a face in the corner of a dining area in a picture taken after hours.