It’s October — the leaves are changing and each passing day presents a bread crumb trail leading to Halloween. Sure, you’re already planning your elaborate costumes, parties, and pumpkin patch trips. But are you properly educating yourself on some of the best seasonally appropriate, creepy and curious San Antonio stories?
There’s no quicker ticket to get in the spirit of things than digesting first-hand accounts of the ghosts that lurk some of our city’s most historic places. Perhaps you’re more interested in the story of a local cryptid hunter chasing Texas’ giant birds, or a New Braunfels-based Texas UFO expert.
Whatever the case, you don’t need to revisit your favorite childhood episodes of Canadian television series Goosebumps to catch a scare. You can access all the frights you need, in real life, right here in San Antonio.
As someone who dabbled in the creepy stories beat, here are some of my favorite tales I’ve uncovered so far.
Hot Wells Ruins
Courtesy of Justin Parr
Meet the ghosts haunting Hot Wells Ruins
Earlier this year, I chatted with local artist Justin Parr, who was a longtime resident and grounds keeper of the city’s historic Hot Wells Ruins, about some of his eeriest experiences with the paranormal on the grounds. Highlights include the cases of a couple of scared skaters, a Halloween party gone wrong, and strange interactions with a character called “Paranormal Paul.”
Discover one man’s search for the giant pterodactyl-like birds flapping over San Antonio
In my short tenure reporting around San Antonio, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Ken Gerhard, a cryptological personality that has made multiple appearances on the History Channel, who resides here in San Antonio. Over 10 years ago, Gerhard moved to the area to explore report of giant, unrecognizable bird-like creatures flapping over the city and towns in the Rio Grande Valley. These reports of this unknown creature are not only from his own research, but have actually been documented in newspapers across Texas.
JUNE 2021: Flooring at the Menger Hotel
Camille Sauers
Become acquainted with the lesser known ghosts in the historic Menger Hotel
The Menger Hotel, resting on the original battle grounds of the Alamo in downtown San Antonio, has long been known to be home to ghosts. Naturally, San Antonio has a pretty complicated history, and that coincides with complicated ghosts. Some include King Ranch founder and Confederate Captain Richard King and President Teddy Roosevelt who is said to have spent some time in the bar (the bartender showed me a snapshot of a figure in the area). One that gets discussed less often is Sallie White, a former Menger chambermaid who was biracial and embroiled in an abusive relationship, ultimately shot and killed by her husband outside of the hotel. I visited the site and chatted with a local ghost tour expert from Sisters Grimm to learn more about her life.
UFO Jane and Glurp, pictured at the Wonderland of the America’s 2nd annual UFO Festival, August 2021.
Courtesy of Jane Kyle
Explore the galaxy with Texas UFO expert “UFO Jane”
After attending a UFO Festival on a whim with my friend at the Wonderland of the America’s Mall, I met Jane Kyle, a true alien believer, who runs a website documenting reported UFO sightings around Texas. Together with her partner in crime “Glurp” (a man that presents as an alien who I suspect is her boyfriend) she runs a YouTube channel discussing her findings and alien insights. We chatted about some of the most significant sightings around Texas and whether or not we are truly alone.
Photo of the ruins of Gillespie Mansion taken in 1981.
Courtesy of Deborah Moore Wolff
Revisit the local folk legend of the Gillespie Mansion — more often referred to by its more problematic name.
San Antonio is full of our own histories and legends. Some claim to have grandmothers who have danced with devil at a Westside bar, while others have family members who snuck off in high school to drink Lone Star’s in an abandoned mansion, said to be the site of a brutal familial murder. Learn more about some of the mysteries surrounding the site.
Read more from Camille
from WordPress https://ift.tt/3ap1q1M
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment