Menger Hotel
Built in 1859 and situated mere steps from the Alamo, the Menger Hotel has witnessed over 160 years of Texas history, tragedy, and triumph, creating an atmospheric cocktail that seemingly traps spirits within its elegant confines. The hotel’s supernatural reputation began shortly after its construction and has only grown stronger with each passing decade.
Among its most famous ethereal residents is Sallie White, a former chambermaid who met a tragic end in 1876 when her husband brutally attacked her in a jealous rage. Hotel guests regularly report encounters with Sallie, who appears in her full Victorian maid’s uniform, carrying fresh towels and asking if visitors need turndown service. She’s known to be particularly active on the third floor, where she was murdered, and many guests have awakened to find their clothes mysteriously unpacked and neatly arranged in their rooms.
The hotel’s Colonial Restaurant plays host to another frequent apparition – Captain Richard King, founder of the King Ranch. Having spent his final days in his suite at the Menger in 1876, King’s spirit is often seen sitting at his favorite table in the restaurant, drinking a glass of whiskey before fading away. Some guests report feeling a cold breeze and smelling cigar smoke when passing his former suite.
Perhaps the most impressive spectral visitor is Theodore Roosevelt himself. The future president recruited many of his Rough Riders at the Menger’s bar in 1898, and staff members report seeing his uniformed figure sitting at the bar or ascending the grand staircase. The hotel’s bar area seems to be a particular hotspot for paranormal activity, with numerous sightings of Confederate soldiers gathering for ethereal drinks.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories involves the spirit of Ernestine Edmunds, a young chambermaid who worked at the hotel in the 1880s. Legend says she was seduced by a traveling salesman who promised marriage but abandoned her. Devastated, she took her own life at the hotel, and now her ghost is said to roam the halls, softly humming to herself while carrying fresh linens.
Modern-day guests report a variety of unexplained phenomena: doors opening and closing on their own, objects moving mysteriously, and televisions turning on and off without explanation. The hotel’s third floor appears to be the epicenter of supernatural activity, with guests reporting everything from mysterious footsteps to full-bodied apparitions.
The Menger Hotel embraces its haunted history while maintaining its status as a luxury establishment. The hotel offers ghost tours that detail its spiritual residents’ stories, and its walls are adorned with historical photographs and newspaper clippings documenting its paranormal legacy. Many rooms where significant haunting events have occurred are available for brave guests to book.
Despite – or perhaps because of – its ghostly reputation, the Menger Hotel remains one of San Antonio’s most popular destinations, combining luxury accommodations with the thrill of possibly encountering one of its many supernatural residents. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, staying at the Menger offers a unique opportunity to experience a piece of haunted American history firsthand.