7 of the Creepiest Spots in Austin, Texas

When most people head to Austin, Texas, they’re looking for great music and tasty food rather than haunted buildings. But this city has it all, including ghosts and ghouls.

If you doubt there’s a spooky vibe surrounding this vibrant destination, just wait.

Today, we’re discussing five creepy Austin locations to add to your next itinerary.

Let’s get spooky!

Texas Capitol Building, a haunted location in Austin.

Haunted Destinations in Austin Will Chill You to the Bone

History runs deep in the capital of the Lone Star State. Long before the Texas Revolution, Comanche and Tonkawa peoples inhabited the region. Its position along the Colorado River made it a prime location for buffalo hunting as much as 11,000 years ago.

As the heart of the Republic of Texas, the city saw dark times. Among these were invasions by Mexican forces and scuffles with Indigenous Americans. For years, it embodied the true spirit of the Wild West. In less than 20 years, control of the territory changed hands three times.

After the Civil War, Austin entered a new era of growth and industry. The railroad’s arrival in the 1870s brought an influx of people hoping for a new start. Unfortunately, many who entered met untimely ends, and people believe their ghosts still wander the streets today.

Before your next trip to Austin, we suggest checking out some of these creepy, haunted attractions that make the city so intriguing.

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#1 Texas State Capitol Building

The Texas State Capitol Building is known to many as the most haunted government facility in the USA. This imposing structure, which resembles the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, dates back to the late 1800s.

During its early days, it was the site of numerous tragic events. In the early 1900s, William G Hill murdered Comptroller Robert Marshall Love in the manager’s first-floor office. However, Hill didn’t make it far after the incident due to an accidental self-inflicted gunshot. Despite his grizzly fate, it appears that Love’s ghost is a cheerful one, often seen strolling the Promenade with a top hat and cane.

Love isn’t the only spirit inhabiting the building. Visitors and government staff alike have seen a lady in red wandering the stairwells. Those who roam the halls after hours have spotted orbs, will-o-the-wisps, and unexplainable shadows lurking on the grounds.

Between haunts, check out The Best Food Trucks in Austin You Just Can’t Miss!

#2 The Driskill Hotel

Some say the Driskill Hotel was haunted before it was even built. Cattle baron Jesse Driskill made a fortune selling meat to fuel the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He became so wealthy that at least one historian referred to him as “Scrooge McDuck rich.”

When the war ended, Driskill diversified his assets by opening a hotel bearing his name.

These days, that Austin hotel built with blood money is full of loitering spirits. Guests in room 329 have seen the ghost of a lovesick bride who was left at the altar and took her life at the hotel in the 1990s. Others claim witnessing a child who died after a fall down the stairs. Apparently, he still plays with the bouncy ball that caused him to lose his footing.

Perhaps the most notable specter of this creepy Austin establishment is Jesse Driskill himself. One guest awoke in the night to find a man in his bedroom smoking a cigar and gazing out the window. When he turned on the light, the phantom had vanished, but smoke still lingered in the air.

#3 Littlefield House

Civil War veteran George Littlefield and his wife Alice built this impressive Victorian mansion in 1893.

Much lore surrounds the home and its philanthropic owners, including rumors that George would lock Alice in the attic before leaving town to ensure she didn’t go anywhere in his absence. Others say the woman, once considered a child prodigy, was plagued with mental health issues.

Passers-by have claimed to spot Alice’s ghost in the top window of the home. Additionally, students living in the dorm bearing her name at the University of Texas say she acts as the building’s guardian angel. In fact, many have said that her spirit has come to their aid.

Today, UT owns the Littlefield House. They no longer allow folks to enter the building, but visitors can explore the grounds and watch for an apparition to appear in the attic window.

Not finished exploring? Here are 10 Amazing Experiences in Austin, Texas, for Under $20!

#4 Shoal Creek Indian Massacre Site

In 1839, a farmer named Gideon White decided to build a home near the banks of Shoal Creek. Locals warned White to avoid the area, as several indigenous groups considered the land sacred. However, he ignored this guidance and broke ground. Within three years, the bodies of Gideon, his wife, and their child were found slaughtered.

It turns out the land was an ancient burial ground.

Today, a trail recreational trail passes through the site. Cyclists and pedestrians report tales of paranormal activity, including apparitions, orbs, and disembodied screams are all part of the ambiance.

While you can stroll the property, read the interpretive signs, and search for otherworldly sightings, this creepy Austin destination now closes at night due to the high amount of paranormal activity.

Black and white image of a misty cemetery at night.

#5 Oakwood Cemetery

The oldest municipal cemetery in the city holds the remains of over 23,000 souls. Some of its earliest inhabitants include victims of the Great Raid of 1840. It’s no wonder many believe this creepy Austin burial ground contains those who haven’t yet crossed over.

Within the chain-link fence surrounding the property are ornately carved monuments to the deceased as well as blank grave makers denoting the final resting places for many of the city’s less fortunate. They say you can’t take it with you, but here, the disparity between the haves and the have-nots is still apparent in the afterlife.

The fully restored chapel, built in 1914, now serves as the Oakwood Cemetery Visitor Center. You can stop by for a map of the grounds and take a self-guided tour through the property. Keep your eyes peeled for orbs, phantoms, and unexplainable phenomena as you toe the line between the living and the dead.

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Austin is Full of Creepy Fun!

Throughout Austin, you’ll find plenty of creepy destinations to hunt for ghosts and commune with the other side, including haunted hotels, government buildings, and hallowed grounds.

But you don’t have to wait until Halloween to enjoy these spine-tingling thrills. Whether you peek through the links in the Oakwood Cemetery fence or book room 329 at the Driskill Hotel, you just might experience spooky happenings that make you question the world around you!