Miss Molly’s Hotel
One of the most haunted places near Fort Worth also happens to be one of its most welcoming. Miss Molly’s Hotel stands ready to embrace overnight guests in the Stockyards of Fort Worth, but that hospitality may come at a price. The locals widely consider the building haunted. That’s no wonder given its colorful history! The building opened in 1910 as a boarding house for children and later transitioned into a speakeasy during Prohibition. It finally became a brothel in the 1940s but couldn’t sustain business due to controversy surrounding the profession. That was when it gained its current moniker. The owners have attempted to retain its unique history in the vintage design of the rooms. History isn’t all that hangs on at Miss Molly’s Hotel. Reports of ghosts and strange happenings plague the building. Perhaps most famous is Jake the Cowboy, who frequents the Cowboy Room and appears to guests as a full-bodied apparition. The ghost of a former madam, Josie King, reportedly watches guests from the foot of the bed while they sleep. The “Tipping Ghost” leaves spare change. And there are purportedly ghosts of other people roaming the establishment, including those of working girls, their clients, and even a child. For those who wish to explore Fort Worth’s haunted history in person, the Ghosts of Fort Worth Tour begins at Miss Molly’s Hotel. Guests are welcome at Miss Molly’s Hotel. Visit it in person at 109 W. Exchange Avenue or call 817-626-1522 for reservations. Alternatively, you can visit their website here.
The Stockyards Hotel
Another supernatural hotspot in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards is the Stockyards Hotel. It first opened its doors in 1907 and has since served a colorful array of guests including Chuck Norris and the infamous Bonnie and Clyde. Strangely enough, many people say that some spirits liked the hotel so much that they never moved on. Room 305, Bonnie and Clyde’s temporary lodgings, is the most notorious. Guests have reported the bathroom faucets turning on and off by themselves. In other rooms, women say they have experienced the sensation of someone crawling into bed with them. TVs and radios occasionally turn on and off by themselves. Prank calls from within the building are common. The hotel has been the site of several suicides and at least one attempted murder, further contributing to its spooky reputation. To hear more about the Stockyards Hotel and other Stockyards hauntings, sign up for the Stockyards Ghost Tours. Visit the Stockyards Hotel in person at 109 E Exchange Avenue or call 1-800-423-8471 for reservations. You can also check out their website here.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
When people come to Texas, they expect delicious food and hearty servings. The Double Eagle Steakhouse certainly rises to the occasion, but there’s a lot more to the location than just great fare. Located in Hell’s Half Acre, this upscale restaurant was once a bathhouse for itinerant cowboys. The building opened in the late 1800s and eventually became a popular stop in a district filled with gambling halls, brothels, and saloons. Supernatural enthusiasts claim that a murder in the old bathhouse left behind an angry spirit. A man supposedly won a large amount of money and retired to the baths. Another man, wanting the money for himself, followed him in and shot him in the head. Modern patrons report seeing the spectre of the murdered man, hearing his footsteps, and seeing objects move by themselves. The Ghosts and Gore of Cowtown Tour, an adults-only walking tour, begins in front of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse. You can visit the location at 812 Main Street or call 817-877-3999. Check out their website here for more information.
The Jett Building
One of the most haunted places near Fort Worth is the Jett Building, also known as the Chisholm Trail Mural Building. This three-story structure currently houses two radio stations as well as Jamba Juice, though in the past it was home to the Northern Texas Traction Company. At one point, there was allegedly a brothel on the top floor. Now the Jett Building is most famous for two things: the mural painted on its side and the ghosts supposedly haunting its halls. Many businesses have tried and failed to succeed in the building. Some blame their failure on the supernatural happenings within its walls. Tenants and visitors have caught sight of phantom women in mirrors, a pale cowboy dressed in black, and even a child playing with a ball. Reports of odd lights, sounds, and displaced objects are also common. You’ll find the Jett Building at 400 Main Street in Sundance Square. For more information on the building, check out this website.
The Fort Worth Zoo
Normally, the zoo is a place of joy and excitement. But the Fort Worth Zoo has more to offer than just wildlife. Many claim it is the home of at least two ghosts who refuse the leave the premises. Observers describe one of these ghosts as a woman in white carrying a parasol. She evidently paces in front of the zoo café. Some speculate that this is the spirit of Alice Imhoff, the former park gardener’s wife. She had a special way with animals, taming even the most truculent and venturing into their cages without fear. The second ghost is reputed to be that of Michael Bell, an elephant trainer who met his end in 1987 at the hands of his charge, Sam. Visitors and staff most frequently spot this ghost near the elephant and zebra pens. The Fort Worth Zoo is located at 1989 Colonial Parkway. You can call them at 817-759-7555 or visit their website for more information.
The Castle of Heron Bay
The history of this doomed castle began in the 1860s when a young man gifted a small stone farmhouse to his new bride. Tragically, he discovered her dead in nearby Lake Worth on their wedding day. Records don’t tell us if it was an accident, a murder, or a suicide. In any case, the man ended up marrying the dead woman’s sister a month later. Some people claim to have seen the spectre of a young woman in white running from the castle toward the lake, disappearing from sight at the water’s edge. Supposedly, this is the ghost of the hapless bride. She isn’t the only one apparently haunting the castle. The estate changed hands until a man named Samuel Whiting acquired it in a poker game. He helped build it up to the massive size it is today. However, his good luck would end with his big win. Not only did the castle fall victim to a devastating fire in 1939, but Whiting’s young son would also commit suicide within its walls. Legend says the young man’s ghost still haunts the castle alongside the phantom of the unlucky bride. The castle is currently in a state of disrepair and closed to visitors, but you can catch a glimpse of it through the fence around the property. It is located at 9115 Heron Drive by Lake Worth. Find out more about the Castle of Heron Bay and other Texas castles here. There’s no doubt about it: there are a plethora of creepy experiences for the curious in Fort Worth! To find out more about the most haunted places near Fort Worth, check out this collection of eerie tales. For haunted walking tours, visit Ghost City Tours.
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