The City of Galveston is old, it was founded in 1839, Galveston also was hit by a hurricane in September of 1900 that still has the highest death toll in a natural disaster to this day. So, naturally, Galveston has tons of haunted houses.
Cheat Sheet
Ashton Villa
2328 Broadway
This spectacular Italianate villa was built in 1859. James Brown, his wife and his 5 children lived in it. During the 1900 storm Bettie Brown rescued people and let them into her house. Miss Bettie has been known to haunt this house, so if you do find yourself here for an event, don’t ever go through her drawers and lay on her bed! There have been regular ghost sightings throughout the house by guests, there’s even a piano playing ghost! All the reasons that this house is always labeled as on of the most popular of Galveston’s haunted houses.
The house has been renovated and is under the care of the Galveston Historical Society. They no longer do tours but you can rent the house for special events. While not the same as getting to see ghosts, the Galveston Visitor Center is located in the down stairs of the house.
Bishops Palace
1402 Broadway
Built in 1892, visitors here have seen ghosts on the back stairs and strange sounds and bells have been heard. There are tours available so you can see for yourself. Ask one of the people working there about their ghost story and be prepared to feel spooked.
Hotel Galvez
2024 Seawall Boulevard
In true mariner ghost story fashion, Audra was waiting for her sailor fiance to arrive to port. She always stayed in room 501 and would take the elevator to the eighth floor and climb the ladder inside the turret and watch for her beau’s ship to come into port. After one stormy night word came in that his ship went down and he was lost, hoping that he survived she would climb the turret every night and watch for him, until one day she was found dead. She hung herself.
That’s not the end of the story, if you want to find out more you can book a room and take the ghost tour. Be sure to be on the look out for strange orbs!
Michel B Menard House
1605 33rd Street
The oldest surviving structure in Galveston has to be haunted, right ? Well, it is. The Menard house has a practical joker for a ghost. Turning on lights that have been turned off, resetting the house alarm. His favorite game seems to be pranking the staff by turning the lights on and off.
Owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation, this house is available for event rentals but it doesn’t have house tours which is too bad because this is the oldest of Galveston’s haunted houses.
Many Old Houses on the Island
Ask any resident of an old house on the island if their house is haunted and you’ll probably get an affirmative answer. There have been stories of old ship captains to just ornery ghosts haunting these houses.
Haunted Mayfield Manor
2313 Harborside Drive
Now we’re talking, they even have haunted in their name! Actually, Mayfield Manor is a “scary attraction”(according to their website). Think Halloween haunted houses, but this one is open year round! If you’re the kind of person that loves to see fear on your friends/spouse/kids faces, this is where you need to be. Complete with monsters and chainsaw wielding madman you’re sure to get your fill of fear.
Dash Bearsdley’s Ghost Tours of Galveston
2425 Strand
I saved the best for last. With a name like Dash Beardsley, how can you not be a bad ass? This guy is cool, he drives a hearse! If this was the 80’s Hollywood would’ve snatched him up and he’d be a hearse driving, ghost hunting detective. The Travel channel won’t use him for a ghost hunting show because he would put shame on all the other ghost shows that they have. That’s how cool he is.
Luckily for us he’s doing tours around Galveston. Dash offers three different walking tours around town. The tours are part historical evidence and part personal accounts from local residents. When he’s done you’ll have chills down your spine.
