If you think the Dallas-Fort Worth area is all cowboy hats and barbecue, think again—because things get seriously spooky after the sun goes down.
This part of Texas is packed with haunted hotels, eerie old theaters, and abandoned bridges where people swear they’ve seen things that can’t be explained.
Some of these places have dark pasts filled with tragedy, while others are wrapped in legends so creepy they’ll make your skin crawl.
Whether you’re a hardcore ghost hunter or just love a good scary story, these haunted spots will have you sleeping with the lights on.
1. Lake Worth Castle
Lake Worth Castle, also called the “Castle at Heron Bay,” is a creepy, ivy-covered stone mansion sitting on the edge of Lake Worth, just west of Fort Worth.
Built in the 1920s, it was originally meant to be a fancy lakeside home, but over the years, it’s become famous for its ghostly legends.
Some claim to have seen the apparition of a woman in white, while others report unexplained lights flickering on and off inside the abandoned mansion.
Though the interior is now closed to the public, you can still experience the castle’s ghostly presence from the outside.
2. W. E. Scott Theatre
If you’d rather search for ghosts indoors, the W. E. Scott Theatre is the perfect (and seriously spooky) spot.
This 1966 performing arts theater is known for more than just its plays—actors and staff have reported unexplained footsteps and cold spots.
Some believe the presence is tied to the theater’s long history, possibly even to William Edrington Scott, the Fort Worth philanthropist whose legacy lives on in its walls.
Whether you’re catching a show or just peeking around, don’t be surprised if you hear a whisper when no one’s there.
3. Thistle Hill Mansion
If old-school mansions give you the creeps, Thistle Hill Mansion might just send chills down your spine.
Built between 1903 and 1904 for Electra Waggoner Wharton, this red-brick estate is packed with elegant woodwork, antique chandeliers, and maybe some lingering spirits.
Some visitors claim to have seen a woman in white standing on the grand staircase, while others report glimpses of a mustached man in tennis attire wandering the halls.
With over a century of history filled with wealth and mystery, Thistle Hill is truly a beautifully preserved piece of the past.
4. Oakwood Cemetery
If wandering through historic cemeteries at night sounds like your kind of thrill, Oakwood Cemetery is the ultimate ghost-hunting spot.
Dating back to the 1800s, this vast graveyard is the final resting place for cowboys, outlaws, and some of the city’s earliest settlers.
Visitors have reported hearing whispers in the wind, seeing orbs floating between the headstones, and even spotting shadowy figures near the old mausoleums.
Whether it’s the spirits of long-lost pioneers or something even more unexplainable, Oakwood Cemetery is proof that some pieces of history refuse to stay buried.
5. Miss Molly’s Hotel
If spending the night in a haunted hotel sounds like your idea of fun, Miss Molly’s Hotel in Fort Worth’s Stockyards is the place to test your nerves.
Originally a boarding house in the early 1900s—and later a Prohibition-era speakeasy and a brothel—this tiny inn has a past as wild as the Old West itself.
Guests have reported unexplained cold spots, doors locking on their own, and some have even woken up to find a ghostly figure standing at the foot of their bed (yikes).
With its creaky floors, antique décor, and resident spirits who never checked out, Miss Molly’s is for those brave enough to book a room.
6. Old Alton Bridge
If urban legends are more your style, Old Alton Bridge—better known as “Goatman’s Bridge”—might be the creepiest spot in the state.
This rusty, abandoned bridge near Denton was built in 1884, but it’s not the history that draws thrill-seekers.
It’s the terrifying legend of the Goatman—a horned, shadowy figure said to appear if you knock on the bridge three times.
Some say the spirit belongs to a goat farmer who was lynched by a hate group in the 1930s, while others claim it’s tied to rituals and paranormal energy in the area.
Whether you believe these stories or not, visitors have reported mysterious growls and an overwhelming sense of dread—so cross at your own risk.
7. Reindeer Manor
If haunted houses are more your thing, Reindeer Manor in Red Oak is the kind of place that blurs the line between staged scares and real paranormal activity.
Rebuilt in the 1920s, this huge estate has been a family home to an alleged crime scene, with rumors of murder and unexplained paranormal activity.
Today, it operates as a haunted attraction, but visitors and staff swear that some scary encounters—like shadowy figures and sudden cold blasts—aren’t just part of the show.
Whether you come for the jump scares or the real ghosts, Reindeer Manor is where you never know if that chill down your spine is from the actors… or something else.
8. The Adolphus
If you prefer your hauntings with a bit of luxury, The Adolphus in downtown Dallas is the perfect mix of elegance and eerie.
This grand, 1912 hotel has hosted celebrities, presidents, and, if the stories are true, a few spirits—including a ghostly bride said to haunt the 19th floor.
Legend has it she was left at the altar and took her own life in the hotel, and guests have reported hearing soft sobbing and unexplained footsteps.
Whether you’re staying the night or just grabbing a drink at the bar, keep an eye out—because you might see a woman in a wedding dress who vanishes into thin air.
9. Majestic Theater
If ghostly performers and phantom applause sound like your kind of thing, the Majestic Theater in downtown Dallas is the place to be.
Opened in 1921 as a grand vaudeville house, the place has seen everything from silent films to Broadway shows—and, according to staff and visitors, a few spectral guests.
Some visitors and staff have reported unexplained footsteps, flickering lights, and a ghostly presence felt in the balcony.
Whether it’s the spirits of past entertainers or just the theater refusing to fade into history, the Majestic proves that the show must go on—even in the afterlife.
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