Haunted San Antonio

The Alamo
The Alamo is haunted for obvious reasons: there was a bloody, gruesome battle over it in 1836. But there are other reasons why it is haunted. One is that Alamo Plaza is the site of a burial ground used from 1724-1793 and holds approximately 1,000 graves according to Spanish records.

The second reason is from an anecdote told by Colonel Sanchez of the Mexican Army. Sanchez was ordered to destroy the Alamo chapel by General Andrdade. When he arrived at the site six “diablos” burst out of the front doors of the Alamo with flaming sabers screaming “Do not touch the Alamo, do not touch these walls.”

Needless to say, General Andrade was less than impressed with Colonel Sanchez’ ability. He decided he’d have to take some men to the Alamo and destroy it himself. However, upon arrival he encountered the same six diablos. There is a belief that when the energy was released from the flames from the burned bodies of the Alamo defenders, a spirit used that energy to manifest itself, make itself visible, and scare away intruders from the Alamo grounds. The Texians that died during the Battle of the Alamo were never given a proper burial. The Mexican Army burned all the bodies in several locations in the vicinity of the Alamo.

Lastly, in the 1700’s two women were walking across the area now known as Alamo Plaza. Lightning stuck both women. One survived, one did not. Local accounts say that there is a female ghost that walks across the plaza.
More here.

The Cadillac Bar
Famous for it’s margaritas – and it’s ghosts! The Cadillac Bar at 212 South Flores Street has been in the spot for 60 years, but the building was erected in the 1870’s. It was originally Stumberg’s General Store and was a meeting place for farmers and ranchers in the area. Two ghosts haunt the restaurant. One is a former owner and the other a former waitress named “Beatrice” who turns on faucets and hurls kitchen utensils.

Victoria’s Black Swan Inn
Built in 1867, Victoria’s Black Swan Inn sits on 35 acres and is the site of the 1842 Battle of Salado between volunteers of the Republic of Texas and the Mexican Army. The owner of the property has reported full body apparitions, unexplainable noises, flickering of lights, doors opening and closing and cold spots throughout the property. In addition to the building built on top of a battleground, the location was also home to Native Americans. Archaelogical evidence has been found on the sight dating back 5,000 years.

A popular venue for weddings, a gazebo sits on the property below a 100 year old oak tree. Sightings of Confederate soldiers and a “lady in white” have been reported at this spot. Witnesses also report seeing a German immigrant by the name of Heinrich who still roams the dairy barn to a 1950’s prominent attorney who was found dead with his hands bind to his back and ruled a suicide.

The Bullis House
This house was built between 1906-1909 at 621 Pierce Street just east of downtown near Fort Sam Houston. It was built for General John Lapham Bullis and his family. Bullis was a General in the Union Army and came to Texas in 1865. He is said to be known to his friends as “The Whirlwind” and his enemies as “The Thunderbolt”. Originally from New York, he gained notoriety from fighting hostile Native Americans in Texas from 1867-1882.

General Bullis was instrumental in the capture of Apache Chief Geronimo. An apparition of an Indian Brave wearing a red bandana is rumored to roam around the house and awaken people sleeping. The house is now a Bed and Breakfast. General Bullis died of cardiac arrest in the house in 1911.