Before the famous fried chicken chain was located on every other corner, there was one small walkup location across the street from the Alamo. But, luckily, just then a doctor walked by. They were created by Austin-born artist Bob Daddy O Wade and were placed in January of 1980. +. He added, "Chapa was not a violent mental case. Justice was swift and speedythat is, if you were ever caught. Instead of a human head, however, there is one of a horse. One of these poor souls was Chuauhtemco "Chino" Garcia, just nineteen-years-old, but a big boy, weighing in between 180-190 pounds. The DoSeum's "Recess Redo" nights invite adults (21+) to explore the whimsy and wonder of the massive playscape, cocktail in hand! The park located just north of downtown on North Flores Street and San Pedro Avenue is 46 acres and features the San Pedro Springs swimming pool. The first choice of San Antonio ghost hunters is the hotel located downtown, immediately adjacent to the Alamo and the Rivercenter Mall. 19. and looked just like a fantasy Mediterranean Sea. (Want to find out a little more about our upcoming ghost tours in San Antonio? The displays are professional and interactive - obviously designed by professionals. When authorities showed up days later after reports had surfaced that the family had not been seen, the officers not only found the dead bodies of the women, but also the notes which had been etched in blood, and the scratch marks dug into the walls as though the women had tried to claw themselves out of their very existence. If either of these spiders bites you, do seek immediate medical attention. At 750 feet, San Antonio's Tower of the Americas is taller than the famous Seattle Space Needle, making it the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the city. 31. She scrambled back to the river, but her children were nowhere in sight. And that open communication between the living and the dead? In 1923, local high school teacher Ellen Schultz wanted to start a museum in San Antonio, but was short on cash. San Antonio Haunted History Walk | Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours The Missions were chosen for their interweaving of Spanish and Coahuiltecan cultures. Today, theyre pretty much at the top of any San Antonio visitors to-do list the Alamo alone attracts over 2.5 millions visitors every year. A vintage postcard showcasing the Hot Wells resort in its original form. But, once again, don't do anything dumb like try to trespass on private property. . 20 random San Antonio facts you may not know about - KSAT Welcome to the Huebner-Onion Homestead: one of the most haunted houses in San Antonio, Texas, but a place that you visit only at your own risk. River City Ghosts: San Antonio Apparitions | GetYourGuide So, too, was the fact that there were no survivors following the crash. If the dirt wasnt recycled it would cost nearly $25,000 to purchase new dirt every year. San Antonio is home to America's second oldest park San Pedro Park is the oldest park in Texas and the second-oldest in the nation. Haunted San Antonio Tours SA is one of the most haunted cities in the US of A. With its main 1,738-seat performance hall, an intimate studio theater, and an awesome outdoor performance plaza, the Tobin has been ranked as one of the top 100 theaters in the world of its size. In 1893, he tapped architect, A midcentury Alamo Heights home recently listed for $2.1 million was once home to one of San Antonio's most-distinguished military leaders, according, An 8,800-square-food Terrell Hills mansion built for now-retired AT&T Senior Executive Vice President Richard G. Lindner and his wife has hit the, Members of San Antonio's Ukrainian community gathered with elected officials and others Thursday in front of City Hall for a candlelight vigil, What good is it to live in Mad Men-style home without a chance to engage in some serious leisure? . The Haunted Railroad Tracks are one that many San Antonians have heard of. He adds We are now down to a sinking lifeboat. Its also the place to go for many fun events and celebrations. Between San Antonio and Seguin on I-10, near Exit 591 (Seen here flowing over FM 1518) Some have linked the creek's unusual name to the legend of La Llorona, the ghost who weeps for her lost. Founded in 1717, it's . Yet, another death that got mentioned in newspaper headlines was that of a 75-year-old man who was beaten, starved and dehydrated so severely, he lost an astonishing 30 pounds in only 15 days. Dr. Bremont elaborated by saying that Raul's mental illness condition would not have caused his death. But the land was already populated by the Coahuiltecan people, and so the Spanish soldiers made them intoreducidos(indentured servant). Originally built up by German immigrants in the 1860s, the King William Historic District is 25 blocks of style clearly influenced by its European founders. If that weren't scary enough, San Antonio has three species of scorpion: Striped Bark Scorpions, Giant Hairy Scorpions and Stripetail Scorpions. Step one foot inside of San Antonio's hauntingly historic Empire Theatre, and you'll discover what all the supernatural fuss is about, this is one place where you are assured to get a thrill, if not from the live performance itself, then perhaps, just maybe, by one of the ghostly fans who still haunt the stunning theatre. Lanier High School holds the world record for the most tamales ever made. Subsequently, construction of five new buildings commenced on the property and were eventually completed by the year of 1939. Flash forward and its easy to see why the city has kept this bold nickname: With 133,000 people hitting town each year to attend the graduation of students from military training, the USAF Airman Heritage Museum being right here, Fort Sam Houston being one of the Armys oldest posts, and over 300 years of military history, this is one city you really dont want to mess with. The Emily Morgan Hotel receives AIA San Antonio's Twenty-Five Year Distinguished Building Award. But while you're due to come across some interesting artifacts, many of them also happened to be haunted. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the 21-story building was opened in Jan. 1928. The four abandoned buildings near the site of the hospital actually belonged to the Bexar County Juvenile Home for Boys. 6. After spending over a decade in the asylum, William Browne, was once again free to live his life. Nevertheless my turn came: One day some of the attendants tried to force me to mop up the floor. 10 Fun Facts About San Antonio - OnlyInYourState 2010. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) is a museum and library located in the Texas Pavilion at HemisFair Park in Downtown San Antonio, Texas. scary facts about san antonioeast chicago housing authority waitlist 7. This post is proudly produced in partnership with, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, 9 San Antonio Airbnbs Within Walking Distance of the Riverwalk and Downtown, 7 Idyllic Destinations for a Family-Friendly Thanksgiving Vacation ThisNovember, 11 Things You Didn't Know About San Antonio, 12 Things You'll Only Understand if You've Visited San Antonio, 11 Ways a Trip To San Antonio Will Surprise You. Book Now. No doubt all have resulted in heightened paranormal activity in San Antonio, but there's also the fact that San Antonio's history is rich. Only the very brave trek down to East Ashley Road to see how very lucky they are--but the questions remains, are you just as lucky? 51 Things About New Mexico You Probably Didn't Know - Movoto Real Estate O'Brien was arrested by the police for murdering his parents, William and Mary, who were reportedly stabbed so many times that they looked like they had each been blasted with a shotgun. 8. The San Antonio State Hospital (SASH) is still in operation today at the same location of its conception at 6711 S New Braunfels Avenue. . If you are a lover of nature and appreciate the gifts mother nature . Since that harrowing day, locals and visitors alike have attempted to reconnect with the lost souls who died in the crash, for that crossing at Shane and Villamain is said to be one of the most haunted locations in all of San Antonio. He should have never been out on the streets. The building which houses the institute a striking example of Brutalist architecture. When he returned to Brownsville, he tried to be admitted to the Veteran's Hospital, but the government had yet to make necessary provisions for veterans of WWII. . 5. All in all, there are now some 20,000 works at the McNay. According to its former owners, the living are very protective of these energies. Adults. Not yet. The history of the San Antonio State Hospital (originally called the Southwestern Insane Asylum), is one that is especially hard to grasp. It's not uncommon to hear that New Orleans is haunted, or that Savannah is teeming with paranormal activity. Sometimes, it's simply that the ghost prefers the land of the living to anything else. Eurgh! Shaq played high school basketball at Cole High School and his team went 68-1 in two seasons and won the 1989 state championship. it really should be. Erica Hernandez is an Emmy award-winning journalist with15 years of experience in the broadcast news business. Shelly Duvall, best known for her Earth-shaking screams in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," lives in nearby Hill Country. More recently, Chinese and Vietnamese, as well as Hindi, displaced those. Today, still, those who died continue to haunt the property. Pope John Paul II visited San Antonio in 1987 and held a mass where more than 350,000 people showed up. Heck, Salem, Massachusetts is known for its infamous witch trials during the seventeenth century, and no one can visit Chicago without hearing about the gruesome mobs, whose equally gruesome deaths have spawned countless ghosts stories throughout the Windy City. It is among the many historic buildings as well as one of many haunted locations in San Antonio. He lunged at his wife and two daughters with a knife, slashing their throats and dragging their bodies to the second floor where he stashed them in a closet. It contains a whopping 67,000 square feet of retail sales space, which could house 22 7-Elevens or 2 Whole Foods stores. mobile app. More than 40 barges packed with musicians and sparkling decorations float down the San Antonio River with hundreds of thousands of people watching from the footpaths of the River Walk. The Alamo sits on an old cemetery active between 1724 and 1793, and there are almost 1,000 buried there. MY RESERVATION . The streets surrounding the tracks are named after the children who died, and people have reported their windows splintering and breaking from the outside-in by an unseen force, as though something or someone wanted to be noticed. 300 coffins found inside a convent attic. Once you've gotten some fudge and jerky at Buc-ee's, stop by Barney Smith's Toilet Seat Art Museum to gape and awe at this amazing collection of decorated toilet seats. Auto Ads . 3. At this haunted location, the living come second to the ghosts. Patrick O'Brien had been institutionalized at the San Antonio State Hospital for a total of eight times from 1966-1975. Theodore Roosevelt recruited Rough Riders at the Menger Hotel. William I. Browne was released from the Southwestern Insane Asylum (SASH), on orders by County Judge Phil Shook based on the illegal restraint of liberty. DICE Dental International Congress and Exhibition. Seek medical attention if the bite looks serious. . "We can be together now!" Aldridge, not willing to take that sort of verbal abuse, responded with similar language. 16. The stories from The San Antonio Missions represent divergent and significant points of view: 17th Century explorers - Native American groups of the Southwest - Early Texas history - Spanish colonization - Stone masons and builders of the Missions - Battles of opposing interest - There is also the point of view of the land and creeks and pecan The term Alamo" actually means cottonwood in Spanish, named for the cottonwood tree where Spanish monks planned and decided to build the Mission San Antonio de Valero, the original name for the Alamo. scary facts about san antonio Call us today! 210-223-4361. It's enough for them to throw the child into a restraining mechanical chair." She creates exclusive content for the KSAT-TV streaming app. It was only after Judge Phil Shook ordered Williams release from the asylum in 1910 that he realized that he should have accumulated a whole lot of money from the holdings and land ownership. . The CEO of the Center for Health Care Services, Leon Evans, said of the problem at SASH, Weve been underfunded in behavioral services in Texas so long, and we dont think outside the box. Evans goes on to say, Our funding is in silos, and weve got people taking up beds at the state hospital that dont belong there, people with Alzheimers and closed-head injuries, taking up civil beds. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! (Disclaimer: the San Antonio State Hospital does not treat its patients like this any longer). San Antonio loves creepy stuff. Twelve years prior, Browne, alleged to be a heavy-weight drinker, was consigned to the asylum based on the recommendation of one Dr. Miguel Braragon. According to its former owners, the living are very protective of these energies. It would be weird if there wasnt a single ghostly tale at the property. It's also reported that you can hear ghostly footsteps from the fallen soldiers and men crying. It also served as the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining and Doctor Sleep. No doubt the bus driver did everything he could, but there was nothing to be done. Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved. So much culture, history and fun can be had here. Persons per household, 2017-2021. Restless spirits are said to haunt the famed Alamo. It certainly seems to be the most haunted place in San Antonio. The story of La Llorona has been repeated many-a-time; within San Antonio, the urban legend of the ghost of the Donkey Lady takes inspiration from La Llorona (in one story they even fight). Now you can spend an evening here exploring local art, gawking at opulent mansions, and sipping a cold one at Blue Star Brewing on South Alamo. If you're local to San Antonio, Texas, you've probably spent a night or two driving out to Shane Road. Sadly, San Antonio had a very real angel of death in their midst at Bexar County Hospital, in the form of Genene Jones, who was convicted of poisoning somewhere between 11 and 50 infants. This city knows how to throw a party, and we decided to invite 30 countries to come celebrate with us during HemisFair 68. To prep for the bash, San Antonio built the 750-foot Tower of the Americas, which, at the time, was the tallest observation tower in the country (its taller than the Space Needle). Here's a list of facts you may not know about: 1. . Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. But though it has a fine reputation nowadays, patients who were once sent to the former Southwestern Insane Asylum were considered to be on "the March of Death." Built for the HemisFair in 1968, this museum offers exhibits about Big Foot as well as Texas' cultural past. Even if you repair it, its still a damn lifeboat.. The legend tells of a school bus that stalled on the railroad tracks at Villamarin and Shane in the 1940s, and was hit by an oncoming train (all occupants of the bus were killed instantly). Easterseals San Antonio Rehabilitation Center | Medical Rehabilitation If you select the Extended Tour route, enjoy an additional 30 minutes of blood-curdling stories to fuel . Things To Do Real Experiences. 21. And through the years, the hotel has hosted infamous. The Haunted Ghost Bus Tour in San Antonio 2023 - Viator The 2,311 seat theatre was designed in 1929 by architect John Eberson, and was home to San Antonio's Symphony from 1989 to 2014. Explore new recipes and memories with your neighbors! But who is pushing you over? With spiders that jump 25 feet, massive reptilian birds possibly flying overhead and a whole host of other strange and delightful things, San Antonio is a fun, adventurous place to live and work. Households with a computer, percent, 2017-2021. It is is the 7th most populous city in the United States and the second-most populous city in Texas (after Huston). 1.) Go on a ghost tour to learn about the city's haunted history and hear some spooky stories. San Antonio's Emily Morgan Hotel Listed Among World's Most Haunted Hotels. . The creepiest San Antonio ghost stories offer a chilling glimpse into the . 7 Awesome Day Trips To Take Around San Antonio The SASH is one of ten state mental health facilities operated by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). 2. Apparently communication hasn't gotten any better at the SASH over the years. 1. The population dwindled, and the foreignness of the disease affected the local tribes the most. Are you visiting San Antonio? The Superintendent of SASH recognized that the hospital was at its breaking point, and that it was in desperate need of additional facilities. Next time you stay at a Hilton, remember that Conrad Hilton, the founder of the hotel chain, was born in San Antonio, N.M. But what it has been known for in the last century is for being home to many of San Antonio's ghosts. The hospital was built on 640 acres, and had the capacity to hold up to 500 patients. Here's Why. Everything is bigger in Texas, and thus, you'll find large spiders in San Antonio called Jumping Spiders. Perhaps, hazing the new guy, or maybe the spirit is trying to scare off any non-union operators. He would have raving spells, following which he would become depressive. At the time Chino entered the hospital he was not physically ill, but a mere three days later he died. Tall spires reach for the sky and the architecture is beautiful no matter what time of day you strolled by. Though the blisters scabbed some ten days later, smallpox remained the biggest killer in San Antonio. Here's a different kind of Texas creepy: There's a place called The Tracks" where it's said if you put your car in neutral over the railroad tracks, ghost kids who died in a fatal bus crash in the 1930s or 1940s will push the car over for you.