El Muerto – The Headless One of South Texas

El Muerto, also known as the Headless Horseman of South Texas, is a legendary figure said to haunt the area around the Rio Grande. The story goes that El Muerto was a Mexican outlaw who was beheaded by Texas Rangers in the 1850s. His body was then tied to his horse and left to wander the area as a warning to other outlaws.

The legend of El Muerto is said to have originated in the town of El Paso, Texas. In 1850, a group of Texas Rangers were tracking a Mexican outlaw named Vidal. Vidal was a notorious cattle rustler who had been terrorizing the area. The Rangers finally caught up to Vidal near the Rio Grande.

A fierce battle ensued, and Vidal was eventually killed. However, the Rangers were unable to find Vidal's head. They decided to tie his body to his horse and leave it as a warning to other outlaws.

The next day, a group of travelers reported seeing a headless horseman riding through the area. The horseman was said to be carrying Vidal's head in his hands. The travelers were so frightened that they fled the area.

The legend of El Muerto soon spread throughout the region. People began to report seeing the headless horseman all over the place. Some people said that the horseman was a ghost, while others said that he was a living man who had been cursed.

The legend of El Muerto is still popular today. People still report seeing the headless horseman in the area around the Rio Grande. Some people believe that the legend is just a story, while others believe that it is based on a real event.

Whether or not El Muerto is real, he is a fascinating part of the local folklore. His story is a reminder of the dangers of the Wild West, and it is a reminder of the people who lived and died in that era.

Here are some of the other details about the legend of El Muerto:

The headless horseman is said to ride a black horse.

The horseman is said to carry Vidal's head in his hands.

The horseman is said to be seen most often at night.

The horseman is said to be a harbinger of death.

If you ever happen to be in the area around the Rio Grande, be sure to keep an eye out for the headless horseman. You never know when you might see him.

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Patterson Road Bridge - Houston, Texas

At this bridge on Patterson Road, which runs between Highway 6 and Eldridge, visitors have experienced some strange events. It is said that if you park your car on it at night, you will hear tapping all over it. The spirits doing it are reported to be ghostly soldiers who linger from a Civil War battle said to have occurred near the site.

Address:
14350 Patterson Road
Houston, TX
United States

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Ghost Children upon San Antonio’s Railroad Tracks

Just south of San Antonio, Texas, is the site of Texas’ most famous ghost story. Not far from the San Juan Mission is an intersection of the roadway that is crossed by railroad tracks. Whether this is an urban legend or truly a ghostly tale has long been forgotten in history. Reportedly, this is the site of a fatal accident in which a train collided with a school bus full of children in the 1930s or 1940s.

According to the legend, it was a rainy Texas morning as the train moved swiftly down the tracks when the engineer spied a school bus stalled along his path. Frantically pulling his break and tugging on the train whistle, the hulking engine quickly advanced toward the school bus, unable to stop in time. Ten children reportedly lost their lives that day and continue to haunt the area, protecting others from a similar fate.

As the story goes, if you park your car directly over the tracks and shift into neutral, the ghosts of the children will push it uphill, out of the way of an oncoming train. And if you have the foresight to cover your bumper with baby powder or flour, you can reportedly see the children’s fingerprints upon your car.

This story has been featured on the popular television shows of Sightings, Unsolved Mysteries, as well as numerous Texas Magazines and newspapers.

Despite the much-publicized story, its truth has been hotly debated in San Antonio and both area residents and local law enforcement are weary of the legend. Numerous accounts have been reported that cars do in fact inexplicably move on their own and mysterious prints are seen on vehicles. Others allege they have heard the voices and laughter of children while at the site.

However, in support of the San Antonio residents, there are no records of any such accident having ever occurred in the newspaper archives anywhere in Texas. It seems to us that an accident of such magnitude would have been reported somewhere.

Furthermore, official investigations into the events have determined that despite an illusionary appearance of a level, or even slightly inclined road, the street surface is actually at a two degree declination. This would result in the natural rolling of a car parked in neutral. As to the fingerprints, these could easily be those that were already there. Even after washing, forensic studies have concluded that fingerprints can still occur.

As the curious from all over the country come to witness the paranormal phenomena, law enforcement are constantly forced to deal with traffic problems at the site, especially around Halloween. Area residents have grown extremely weary of the congestion and the drugs and alcohol that seemingly accompany many of the visitors. Unfortunately, a criminal element has also entered upon the scene as reports of car-jackings, purse snatchings and worse, are perpetrated on the many curious and unsuspecting ghost hunters.

San Antonio is reportedly the most haunted city in the State of Texas with dozens of ghostly sites that are not debated. Perhaps it is time to give this legend a rest, along with local law enforcement and area residents.

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River Legacy Park / Screaming Bridge - Arlington,Texas

One night after a high school football game a carload of kids were driving fast on a country road just outside of the park. Coming to a narrow bridge
over the Trinity River they met their fate when they did not see
another car coming hitting it head on. Both cars erupted into flames
and plummeted into the river below. All involved were killed and since
then the road has been closed and can only be walked to through the
park. Legend has it that if you find the bridge you will see the dates
of the occurrence and the names of the deceased glowing as tombstones
in the water and if after that you still dare you can sit in the middle
of the bridge on the night that it happened and at midnight you will
witness a heavy fog coming up from the river as you see headlights
approaching from either side of the bridge.

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Harris Park - Austin,Texas

The family began to see objects moving above them at night, heard loud thumps in their attic, and every time the husband would come near his wife he'd feel an odd force pushing him away. They went around looking for old historical facts and information about their house. They found out that's in 1985 a little girl named Doan was abused by her uncle and was raped by her cousin. She was later murdered by her uncle for telling her mother about it so now the family believes that she hovers around protecting any girl that is touched by a male.

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Goat Man's Bridge - Burkburnett,Texas

Gilbert's Creek has a bridge out past the golf course between Burk and Sheppard Air Force Base. We use to party down there all the time. It was nicknamed Goat Man's Bridge. There was a man who was man from head to waist and goat from waist down. People say if it's really quite you can hear him. And if you park your car in the middle of the bridge it will not start.They say you can hear children screaming. A friend of mine said he was out there alone one night and he saw someone standing by a tree. He threw his pocketknife at the man and it went right though him and stuck in the tree. I have also heard that a few miles back behind the bridge is a church. Not just any church but, a satanic church. A lot of strange things happened out at that bridge. If you're from Burk and want to go out there ask anyone from Burk they can tell you right where it is. But, don't go alone!

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West Texas A&M University / Lobby - Canyon,Texas

The lobby is know to be haunted a girl got murdered there a while back. It
is haunted by a young lady who walks in the dorms and in the halls of
the dorms. She has also been seen on the elevator. Also to be said
there is one dorm room that has they say like an underground thing that
leads all over the dorms. At midnight if you park your car at the
Wal-Mart parking lot you will see a light go on and the girl will be
standing there looking out the window. Also if you live in the dorms
you will smell popcorn popping at 12:30.

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Heritage Park Museum - Corpus Christi,Texas

There are four houses that are haunted. In one (Sidbury House) a Child
supposedly haunts the children's room by playing with the dolls and
moving stuff and knocking things down. In another (The Galvan House) a
ghost is said to tap unexpected people on the shoulder a on the second
floor and someone once heard footsteps leading up to the attic. In
another house(A restaurant named The Christian House Bistro there have
been reports that at night a lady with a long old fashioned dress and a
big hat and shoes is seen walking into the front door and disappearing.
People have only seen the backside of her. Then in another house ( The
MacCambell House) a ghost named Mary, who died of pneumonia, is said to
not let tour guides in the house or to cause noises or if you go on the
patio on the second floor she has locked tour guides out on the porch
by slamming the door shut then locking it so all you have to hope for
if you get locked out is that you can wave somebody down and they'll
come help you.

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Wilson Tower - Corpus Christi,Texas

The Wilson Plaza historical development started in 1927. In 1951 Mr. Wilson
built a 17-story office tower with a four-story penthouse. The
penthouse was Wilson's pride and joy. The 20th floor was finished out
as a game room with a private bar constructed on a grand scale of
mahogany and trimmed in tufted leather and brass. The view from the
penthouse was described as rivaling that of the Top of the Mark
Restaurant in San Francisco. It was the scene of many "invitation only"
parties attended by Corpus' elite, where Wilson negotiated many of his
major business deals. Most of the talk centered on "Sam's" parties and
card games. The 21st floor contained guest rooms for "out-of-town"
clients. After Mr. Wilson's death in 1957, Mrs. Wilson hosted society,
civic, bridge and debutante functions in the penthouse. Today the Tower
is said to still be inhabited by Mrs. Wilson, overseeing what goes on
in the building. Many Tenants have witnessed shadows and sounds while
alone in their offices, especially in the early mornings or late
nights. Elevators also have unusual happenings. Stopping on different
floors that are not lighted up, with an eerie feeling of someone else
catching a ride with you.

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Shine Your Lantern Three Times - Anson, Texas

Local legend says that one December night more than a hundred years ago, a mother sent her son into the woods to retrieve a Christmas tree for the family. Reportedly, the mother told her son to flash his lantern three times if he got into any trouble. When the boy did not return, his mother searched for him until she herself died. Near the woman’s burial site, there is a crossroads. It is said that if one parks his car and flashes the headlights three times, a mysterious light will rise and traverse across the road. One will then hear a voice yelling, “Mommy they got me. I’m over here.” The light then turns red and flies toward the voice.

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Driscol Hotel - Austin, Texas

There are many legends surrounding this hotel. In one, a young girl fell down the stairs to hear death. It is said that occasionally, children�s laughter may be heard coming from the bottom of the stairs. In another story, a woman became depressed when her fiancee called off the wedding and thus hanged herself. The woman has allegedly been spotted wearing a wedding dress in several areas of the hotel. In the final story, it is said that a man spent many years of his life living in the hotel. He can now be seen smoking cigars throughout the building.

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Metz Elementary School - Austin, Texas

When this school was demolished in 1990 there were numerous reports of strange occurrences. It is said the bulldozers would stop working just as they reached the century old building. Constantly, workers fell from ladders and tools disappeared. Workers also began reporting children’s writings on the blackboards and ghosts in the restrooms. Things got so bad that an exorcism was performed. Shortly afterwards, a wall inexplicably fell and killed a worker. Today there are still reports of restless child-ghosts at the site.

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Belle Plains Cemetery - Belle Plains, Texas

This cemetery seems to be shrouded in mystery. One legend says that young man and woman were madly in love. The girl’s father, however, did not wish for the two to be together and swore that he would kill the boy if he ever saw the couple together again. Needless to say, the boy was killed. So bereaved was the girl that she went to her lover’s grave and hanged herself. It is said that if one happens to go to the cemetery during the late night, a young boy who vanishes within himself may be seen. The loud shrill cry of a girl is also allegedly heard. There have also been reports of creatures comparable to Bigfoot in this cemetery. It is said that in the rear portion of the cemetery is an Indian burial ground and these beasts are its guardians. They are reported to be around eight feet tall, and the size of two athletically built men. It is also rumored that they are white with green glowing eyes. Like coyotes, but many octaves deeper, the beasts are said to be heard howling at the moon during the hours of the early morning.

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Mobile Home - Ben Wheeler, Texas

This mobile home is said to be haunted by the ghost of a child named Buddy. Buddy was tragically killed after being run over with a tractor by his father. Buddy has been seen and heard by children who visit the residence. It is said that his likeness appears in the grain of a door located at the north end of the home. Buddy has also been reported to do mischievous deeds such as turning the television on and off-after unplugging it.

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3602 Hawks St. - Bryan, Texas

The ghost responsible for abusing residence of this home has been described as having searing red eyes. Some residents of the home have been pulled off of their beds, body slammed, locked in the bathroom and even thrown under the bed. Lights in the house are said to turn on and off, objects move, and many have seen ghostly images.

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Crider Road House - Colony, Texas

This three story mansion, which burned down at the beginning of 1999, was without ownership for ninety-nine years. Allegedly, a serial killer murdered over 10,000 men and women in this home. Many reported hearing screams and seeing flashing lights and ghosts when driving down Crider Road. The house was so scary that it was never searched; it never will be.

The Crider Road House is a historic building located in The Colony, Texas, that dates back to the early 1900s. It was once the home of a wealthy farmer named Jeremiah Brody, who was rumored to have a dark secret. According to local legend, Brody kidnapped and tortured people on his secluded farm, and buried their bodies in the nearby lake. Some say he even experimented with dark magic and summoned evil spirits to haunt his land.

The house has been abandoned for decades, but many people claim to have seen and heard strange things there. Some report seeing lights flicker on and off, hearing screams and laughter, feeling cold spots and touches, and smelling rotten flesh. Others say they have encountered ghostly figures, moving objects, and demonic voices. The house is considered one of the most haunted places in Texas, and only the bravest dare to enter it.

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Cemetery - Coppell, Texas

In this cemetery, one particularly devilish worshipper of Satan is buried. His headstone, located is the corner of the cemetery is said to be haunted. People attempting to take pictures of it have reported their film being distorted upon development. If one attempts to take pictures anywhere else in the cemetery, however, the pictures come out perfectly.

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USS Lexington - Corpus Christi, Texas

The retired US Naval vessel USS Lexington is most famous for the ghost of the engine room operator who was killed in battle. He has never harmed anyone and only makes his presence known when tourists enter the engine room; he gives guided tours of the room. Sometimes he becomes impatient, however, and slams doors and turns off lights.

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University of Texas Medical Branch - Galveston, Texas

It is said that the property on which the University of Texas Medical Branch was once owned by a fisherman. The university wanted the property, but the man would not budge. Finally after he died, the school acquired the property. It is said that on the back of the wall facing Galveston Bay, one can see the face of the man. The walls have been sand-blown and painted. The building has been torn down and rebuilt. Street lights have been moved. Still, the face continues to appear.

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Adobe House - Shafter, Texas

Locals say that long ago a young woman and her daughter lived in the house. After marrying a soldier in Pancho Villa�s Army, the woman and her daughter were frequently abused. On particular night, the inebriated man began to beat the woman to death. As she was knocking at death�s door, her daughter came into the room. The soldier, then grabbed the child and threw her into a wall, breaking her back. Enraged, the young woman gathered enough strength to shoot the man in his face. As he fell, an oil lamp collapsed, setting the woman ablaze. Engulfed in flames, the woman went into the next room and held her daughter until they both died. It is said that if one goes to the house on cloudy nights, lays face down, and says “Mama” three times, the smell of burning flesh will arrive. Burned footprints will also appear in the floor.

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