Lots of really creepy things have happened in the history of Dallas – Fort Worth. What else would you expect from an area once filled with cowboys, gunslingers, opportunistic railroaders, and settlers clamoring for their piece of prosperity? According to some ghost hunters, our lively and sometimes violence-filled past is actively haunted by spirits. Here are 10 paranormal sightings to check out to see if you feel the chill.
1. Lady of the Lake at White Rock Lake.
The legend of a girl dressed in white, wet clothing who asks for help to get home first started in 1943. She is said to be seen near the lake at night, and when motorists pick her up and take her to the address given, the girl is gone, and only a wet seat remains. Some say the address can be traced to the home of a young girl that drowned in the lake.
2. The Ghost Doctor of Dallas.
The now-closed Woodlawn Hospital (and original Parkland Hospital) at one time treated patients with chronic illnesses and psychiatric problems. Stories of a doctor who had committed suicide at the hospital is said to still haunt the hallways by staff members. In some instances, the spirit was said to be consoling the ghost of a patient who had been brought in with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, but could not be saved. There are also reports of apparitions, noises, voices, and lights.
3. Rowdy spirits at Catfish Plantation Restaurant in Waxahachie.
This restaurant is known for its famed Cajun cuisine --and its spirits. There have many paranormal reports, including the strong smell of freshly brewed coffee before employees even arrive, pots and pans moved, wine glasses leaping off the shelves, kitchen items hovering, and more.
Three spirits that purportedly haunt the place died there. One was a young woman who died on her wedding day after being strangled by her former lover. Another was a farmer who perished during the depression. A third was an elderly woman with a hot temper, and her agitated spirit has yet to rest decades after she passed.
You can find the restaurant at 814 Water St. in Waxahachie, a suburb south of Dallas, 75165.
4. Wronged souls at Hell's Half Acre in Fort Worth.
There are endless stories about the goings-on in the area known as Hell's Half Acre in downtown Fort Worth. It got its name in in the early 1870s, and was the first area trail drivers saw as they approached the town. It was legendary for its crime and violence, and ghost hunters claim they can sometimes see and hear the moans of poor souls who lost their lives there.
5. Ghost cowboy at Miss Molly's Hotel in the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards.
Miss Molly's Hotel is home to many sightings of restless souls from its bordello days. Most commonly seen is the apparition of a cowboy who typically appears in the aptly-named Cowboy Room.
6. Wandering spirits at Hotel Lawrence in Dallas.
There are said to be three ghosts here who regularly haunt this hotel, which was built in 1925. Apparitions of a wailing woman, a murder victim, and a gambler have been reported. Various unexplained occurrences, cold spots, and disembodied voices have been noted as well.
7. Ghostly residents at the Historic Thistle Hill Mansion in Fort Worth.
Thistle Hill was originally built in 1903. Some say that the extensive renovations in the 1970s awakened some spirits, as two apparitions began to show up in the house regularly. Sightings include a woman in white who appears on the grand staircase landing and a man with a handlebar mustache. Phantom music has been heard in the ballroom, and footsteps and voices have been noted.
8. Spirit at the Texas White House in Fort Worth.
This 1910 home, now a bed and breakfast, is said to have a spirit who regularly visits the Lone Star room. His apparition has been seen by several guests and his presence felt by many others.
9. Runaway Bride at Lake Worth Castle.
Who would have thought there would be a castle in the Dallas - Fort Worth area? It should come as no surprise that it is haunted! The castle is home to a so-called "Runaway Bride," who has been seen running across the entrance road wearing her white gown before disappearing.
10. Spirit of the unlucky animal trainer at the Fort Worth Zoo.
Talk about an elephant in the room! The zoo is said to be haunted by an elephant trainer who died tragically in 1987. His apparition is said to be seen walking outside of the elephant exhibit.
Have you felt unexplained chills or an unseen presence elsewhere in the Dallas – Fort Worth area? What creepy places would you add to this list?
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