Don't Drive On These 8 Haunted Streets In Texas...Or You'll Regret It
By Kristen Lawrence|Updated on October 21, 2020(Originally published October 06, 2020)
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Kristen Lawrence
Author
Texas staff writer for Only in Your State, blogger for Power of Positivity, and freelance health, wellness, and travel writer. I spend any chance I get traveling, enjoying nature, trying out new recipes, and meditating. I love sharing smiles, good food, and great conversation :)
I thought I would put together a list of infamous haunted roads throughout the state that have a reputation for giving travelers a good scare. So, buckle up and hit the road, but keep in mind..once you turn down these haunted streets in Texas, you might never make it out to the other side…
The legend of the Bragg Lights keeps Bragg Rd pretty busy, as everyone wants to catch a glimpse of the mysterious glowing balls of light. Some people claim to see yellow lights, and others red, but even if you don't see any lights, the canopy of trees over the road make it terrifying enough. The story of the road goes like this: Apparently, a man who got into an accident while working on the railroad one day actually lost his head from a piece of metal that shot out from under the train, decapitating the man. He now searches endlessly for his head, and the light is supposed to be from his lantern. It's a tale everyone in East Texas knows all too well, and one that will continue to be passed down for decades to come. It might not look too scary in the day, but come nighttime, the Big Thicket seems a little more foreboding...
This road is so dark that even with high beams on, drivers can only see a short distance in front of them. The legend of this road says that if a rock is thrown across the bridge, no one will hear it land. Many people have caught unusual EVP's as well as felt an overwhelming presence near the bridge. If you go up the street, you will come across a set of train tracks on Shane Rd. Apparently, a bus full of children were killed in a train accident, and you can witness their spirits near the tracks today. Supposedly, if you leave your car running on the tracks, the children will push it to safety. Also, if you dirty the bumper of your car, tiny handprints will appear on the back.
This is one of the most well-known haunted roads in Texas. According to the legend, a woman was badly burned and disfigured in a house fire, and began to haunt the woods near the bridge. She lost two of her children in the fire, which drove her to a state of insanity and rage. The most popular story surrounding the donkey lady is one about a father and his two sons setting up camp near the bridge. They heard repeated rustling in the woods, so the father told his two boys to head to the car, as he was concerned about a predator hiding in the woods. He made it back to the car shortly after, and started to drive off. Suddenly, a deformed, terribly ugly creature sailed through the air onto the windshield, shattering it into a million pieces. The man revved the engine and raced down the road to the police station, where he described a figure that resembled a cross between a woman and a donkey.
This bridge got its name from a tale about a black goat farmer who lived with his family in a house just north of the bridge. Oscar Washburn soon earned a good reputation in the area, and North Texans began to call him the Goatman. However, Klansmen in the local government disliked him, and went after him after he displayed a sign on the bridge: "this way to the Goatman's." In August 1938, the Klansmen came to Washburn's home and kidnapped him. They tied a noose to his neck, securing the other end to the bridge, and threw him over the side. However, they saw no one in the noose after peering over the edge of the bridge, and, in a panic, killed the rest of Washburn's family. The locals say that if you cross the bridge without your headlights on, the Goatman will appear on the other side. Strange lights and ghostly figures have been reported in the nearby woods, and some locals say they've been touched, grabbed, and even had rocks thrown at them!
There are several disturbing legends associated with this bridge. The first one says that a former caretaker of the nearby cemetery haunts the bridge, and you can spot his ghostly apparition walking down the road with a limp. Another legend says that if you stop on the bridge, turn off your headlights for ten seconds, and turn them back on, a man hanging from a noose will appear. Supposedly, he hanged himself after his girlfriend drowned under the bridge, and he couldn't save her. People have also seen a phantom truck, driven by a man who committed suicide by driving off another bridge.
Supposedly, if you stop your car on this woodsy road at night, you will hear tapping sounds all over it. A Civil War battle reportedly occurred near this road, so the spirits tapping the car are said to be the ghosts of soldiers.
This creepy road near the Neches River has an interesting, yet tragic tale behind it. Most renditions of the story say that Sarah Jane was walking along the bridge one evening when she accidentally dropped her baby in the canal. She tried to save it, but it drowned. Then, distraught over the loss of her baby, she hung herself in a nearby tree. Another story says she deliberately drowned her baby, but either way, she haunts the banks of the canal, forever searching for her baby.
Supposedly, the spirit of a Confederate soldier haunts this road, appearing with a rifle more often before or during times of war. The man lived in a nearby cabin and made a promise with his brother that, no matter what happened, they would return home after the war.
Which of these haunted streets in Texas is your favorite? I’d have to say, mine is #1 for sure!
Do you know of any other haunted roads in Texas? Share your ideas and experiences with us in the comments!
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haunted streets in Texas
Jackie Ann |October 20, 2020
Are there any haunted cemeteries in Texas?
Cemeteries are pretty creepy to begin with, before you add in a layer of the supernatural. The Lubbock Cemetery is known to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in Texas, most likely due to its proximity to an abandoned railway trestle known as “Hell’s Gates.” Legend has it that if you enter the cemetery and attempt to leave before kissing the angel tower over the grave of Officer Herrera, a spirit will stop you from leaving the cemetery.
What are the most haunted places in Texas?
No matter what part of Texas you find yourself in, you’re not too far away from a haunted place (or two). Some of the most haunted places in Texas include the Aurora Cemetery in Aurora, U.S. Route 67 on Mitchell Flat (east of Marfa), Goatman’s Bridge in Denton, and the Driskill Hotel in Austin.
Can I go ghost hunting in Texas?
No matter what time of year it is, there’s always a ghost tour happening somewhere in Texas. Just about every major city including Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio all have tour companies that specialize in the supernatural. Most of the tours will lead you around the city’s most famous paranormal hotspots, and who knows…maybe you’ll have a ghostly encounter of your own. If you prefer to take your spirit skills out on your own, you could always visit the Screaming Bridge at River Legacy Park in Arlington. As the story goes, one night a car full of kids were driving up to the bridge when they slammed into an oncoming bar. Both cars crashed into the river below, killing everyone involved. While the bridge has since been closed, you can access the bridge through River Legacy Park. At night, some people claim to have seen the names and dates of those who dies reflected in the river, while others have seen lights and mysterious fog coming from the bridge.
