No matter what you may think of the world of the supernatural, there are a lot of places in the Hill Country that have carried a reputation of unusual sights, sounds, and just plain shivery feelings for over 150 years in the region. Let’s take a brief tour of places known for the paranormal here.
One of the most popular haunted spots in the Hill Country would be the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area north of Fredericksburg. The tales here focus on the granite dome in the park, with reports of dancing blue lights of unknown origin and eerie moans emanating from the vicinity of the great rock. From a scientific perspective, geologists note the granite crystals tend to grind during temperature or humidity fluctuations, creating the groaning sounds, and faint flashes of light can be created by rupturing crystals. All the same, there are folks who won’t visit the park after dark!
From here let’s head into Fredericksburg itself, a town rich in history and, yes, ghost stories. In fact, a group called Haunted Fredericksburg offers ghost walks every weekend. Their knowledgeable guides will regale you with spooky stories during a one-hour, one-mile stroll through downtown. You also have the option to tour the old town jail after the main Ghost Walk. Their website is hauntedfredericksburg.com, and their phone number is (830) 998-7674.
In another article, we featured the Devil’s Backbone, a winding limestone ridge between Blanco and Wimberley. That article touched upon the region’s haunted history, and we’d like to focus on a place that embraces its haunted reputation.
The Devil’s Backbone Tavern is in Fischer, roughly halfway between Wimberley and Blanco. Their web page at devilsbackbonetavern.com has an entire section devoted to the strange happenings here since it opened as a dance hall in the 1930s. There are regulars and staff at the tavern who often share their ghost stories!
Some other public haunted places in the Hill Country are:
* The Kerr County Courthouse lawn in Kerrville is supposedly haunted by the specter of a man who killed his girlfriend, and then hanged himself from a courthouse tree. Folks have seen him dangling from the tree, and she’s been seen crying bitterly nearby.
* The Frio River in Uvalde County is home to the gentle but forlorn spirit of Maria, the center of a story of unrequited love and murder. Her moans and quiet crying can be heard over the Frio’s waters, but she’s harmless enough; in fact, she has a reputation for watching over children. (We told Maria’s story in more detail in our “White Lady of the Frio” article.)
* Baby Head Cemetery lies 10 miles north of Llano. Late in the 19th century, the story goes, an infant was killed in a Native American raid, and its decapitated remains were among the first buried here. The baby’s cries can allegedly be heard at night.
We’ve kept our list to public places and businesses that welcome those interested in the paranormal. While you should feel free to investigate, we strongly suggest you consider other patrons and visitors before using recording equipment or the like.
Hill Country history, haunted or otherwise, is just one fascinating aspect of our amazing region. For your next visit, we offer our Texas Hill Country Travel App, a free download that features over 2,300 business and attraction listings in 40 towns. It’s a powerful tool that makes the most of your travels!
Have you had any encounters with the unusual here in the Hill Country? Please feel free to share your stories here!
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