Abandoned buildings are hauntingly beautiful. Whether fully intact or withering away from the elements, their remains tell stories of the thriving businesses that once existed inside the now empty walls. These five hotels in Texas closed their doors long ago, but they still stand as tall and proud as ever – maybe due to some paranormal presences keeping them alive.
- The Baker Hotel (Mineral Wells)
Flickr/davehensley The most famous abandoned hotel in Texas, this foreboding building closed its doors in 1972 after thriving during the ’20s and ’30s. It allegedly has a large paranormal presence, notably that of a lady in white who was said to be Mr. Baker’s mistress. Tours used to let visitors see the inside, but now they only cover the grounds.
- Bender Hotel (Laredo)
Flickr/jremigio Laredo’s first hotel, the Bender was built in 1913 and was the talk of the town with its impressive 50 rooms and grandiose balcony. It was built in 1926 and abandoned in the later years of the century. In 2011, a paranormal TV crew visited the hotel and reported unexplained knocking and thumping - even in the daytime hours.
- Royal Palms Hotel (Catarina)
Flickr/matthigh Catarina was a thriving boomtown in the 1920s, but all good things must come to an end. When the artesian wells dried up, residents fled to greener pastures, leaving only a few dozen people inhabiting the town. This hotel was built in 1926 and is one of the few remaining buildings there today.
- Hotel Ozona (Ozona)
Flickr/fat_tony This once-beautiful hotel was abandoned in the ’40s or ’50s, but nobody knows exactly why. The windows are boarded shut, the walls are decaying, but one sign of the life that once existed inside still remains - a sign reading “air conditioning” propped up in a window.
- Hotel Viggo (Hebbronville)
Flickr/auvet Built in 1915 as a stop for business travelers, Hotel Viggo soon became an important part of Texas history after it was used as a fortress to protect against Pancho Villa’s army. Although abandoned, it remains intact, sitting in the historic Jim Hogg County Courthouse square, where it will remain until the elements wither it away to nothing.
Have you heard of any of these hotels? Are there any other abandoned hotels in Texas that are still completely intact?
Flickr/davehensley
The most famous abandoned hotel in Texas, this foreboding building closed its doors in 1972 after thriving during the ’20s and ’30s. It allegedly has a large paranormal presence, notably that of a lady in white who was said to be Mr. Baker’s mistress. Tours used to let visitors see the inside, but now they only cover the grounds.
Flickr/jremigio
Laredo’s first hotel, the Bender was built in 1913 and was the talk of the town with its impressive 50 rooms and grandiose balcony. It was built in 1926 and abandoned in the later years of the century. In 2011, a paranormal TV crew visited the hotel and reported unexplained knocking and thumping - even in the daytime hours.
Flickr/matthigh
Catarina was a thriving boomtown in the 1920s, but all good things must come to an end. When the artesian wells dried up, residents fled to greener pastures, leaving only a few dozen people inhabiting the town. This hotel was built in 1926 and is one of the few remaining buildings there today.
Flickr/fat_tony
This once-beautiful hotel was abandoned in the ’40s or ’50s, but nobody knows exactly why. The windows are boarded shut, the walls are decaying, but one sign of the life that once existed inside still remains - a sign reading “air conditioning” propped up in a window.
Flickr/auvet
Built in 1915 as a stop for business travelers, Hotel Viggo soon became an important part of Texas history after it was used as a fortress to protect against Pancho Villa’s army. Although abandoned, it remains intact, sitting in the historic Jim Hogg County Courthouse square, where it will remain until the elements wither it away to nothing.
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