Haunted Houses in Austin: The Neill-Cochran House

The Neill-Cochran House, located on San Gabriel Street in the University of Texas' West Campus neighborhood, is a really creepy place.  I used to live right near it when I was at UT but never really noticed it.  They say Colonel Neill on horseback has been seen in the courtyard and Robert E. Lee has been seen on the front porch and second floor balcony.

When I was taking pictures of this place, I smelled this really sweet rose scent by the courtyard.  It was very strange.  There were no flowers or anything that I could see, and it was very strong.  If you've ever been to West Campus, you know the whole neighborhood pretty much smells like a dumpster.  So yeah, it was weird.

Colonel Andrew Neill

The Central Texas Paranormal Conference completed a paranormal investigation here last week.  I wonder what they found...

Haunted Houses in Austin: The Inn at Pearl Street

The Inn at Pearl Street, located at MLK and Pearl Street in the Judge's Hill Neighborhood, is supposedly haunted by Stella Snider.  Stella Snider lived here at the turn of the 20th century.  Two of her children died young and they say her ghost is seen carrying an ill child and rocking a child in a rocking chair.

The backyard

Haunted Houses in Austin: Carrington's Bluff

Carington's Bluff Bed and Breakfast, located on David Street at the western edge of the West Campus neighborhood, supposedly has two ghosts.   They say an unidentified female ghost haunted the main house and an unidentified male ghost haunts the cottage.  Click here to read more about what staff and guests have reported.

Haunted Houses in Austin: The Raymond-Morley House

The Raymond-Morley House, located on Baylor Street in the Old West Austin and Clarksville Neighborhoods, is supposedly haunted by a Civil-War era woman waiting for a Union soldier.  This is not a commonly reported haunting, it's just mentioned in one book.  

Haunted Houses in Austin: The Confederate Woman's Home

The old Confederate Woman's Home, located in Hyde Park, is well known for being haunted by its former residents.  There have been numerous paranormal investigations.  It's now used by the Austin Groups for the Elderly and houses several other nonprofits. 

It looked so much better before they "restored" it.  Never paint limestone!

Haunted Houses in Austin: Austin State Hospital

Building 501, now the Administration Building.  It used to be the whole hospital.

Ok, so this isn't really a house but it is a temporary (used to be permanent) home for people with psychiatric disabilities.  Formerly known by names that are now offensive (Texas State Lunatic Asylum, Texas State Insane Asylum, etc.), Austin State Hospital has a reputation of being haunted but since its still in use as a treatment facility, no investigations have been done.  And the state keeps its secrets well.

There was, however, a somewhat famous incident that occurred on the front steps of the building above. On December 29, 1891, a former patient shot and killed the superintendent of the facility at the time on those steps.  The perpetrator was readmitted as a patient afterwards.

And some old postcards:

Wouldn't that be cool if the red building, the old women's ward, still existed?  It's just a field now.


A good book about the history of the facility: Life at the Texas State Lunatic Asylum, 1857-1997

Haunted Houses in Austin: The Littlefield House

The Littlefield House, located at 24th Street and Whitis Ave on the UT campus, is supposedly haunted by Alice Littlefield, the wife of the famous cattle baron George Littlefield.  He supposedly locked her in the attic to keep her safe from marauding Yankees during the Civil War, but unbeknownst to him, the war was already over.  They say she haunts the upper floors and can be seen peering out the windows.

Alice Littlefield

Haunted Houses in Austin: The North-Evans Chateau

The North-Evans Chateau aka the Bellevue Chateau, located on the Bremond Block at 710 San Antonio Street, is supposedly haunted by Athalie North, the daughter of Harvey and Catherine.  She was a pianist but died young coming back from a music school in Europe.  They say she plays at various pianos throughout the house at all hours and her apparition has been seen.  

The North Family. 

I also found this old photo of what the house originally looked like (view from Nueces Street)

And today:

Haunted Houses in Austin: The Pierre Bremond House

I decided to do a series on real haunted historic homes in Austin for Halloween.  This is the first in the series:

The Pierre Bremond House is located on the Bremond Block, on W. 7th Street between Guadalupe and San Antonio.  Supposedly, Pierre's wife Nina haunts the home and can be seen floating around on the second floor porch.  This home used to be on the Austin Ghost Tours, but they no longer stop here.

Only in McLennan County Texas

Located in Bellmead, TX, McLennan County (home of Baylor University and the site of the former Branch Davidian compound)