The Haunted Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas

Earlier this year, I was asked about doing a media event for travel professionals in Galveston, Texas. It didn’t pan out, but it still might at a later date.

The really cool thing was that they were going to put us all up in the Hotel Galvez, which was one of the sponsors of the event. The Visitor’s Bureau contact I was working with said she’d be sure to get me a ghost tour of the hotel while I was there.

But like I said, it didn’t all work out. (At least not for me. The event still took place.  I just couldn’t make it.)

Ever since then, however, I keep encountering Galveston and Hotel Galvez references. I took that as a sign maybe I needed to go ahead and write about it, even though I hadn’t been there yet.

BACKGROUND ON THE HOTEL GALVEZ

This beachfront hotel was built in 1911. It was named for Bernardo de Galvez, a Spanish Colonial governor. (Galveston the city itself is also named for him.)

Over its years, it has survived storms, various owners, and renovations. In 1980, it was listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. Today it stands as Galveston’s only historic beachfront hotel.

THE GHOSTS THAT HAUNT HOTEL GALVEZ

THE LOVELORN LADY

Rumor has it that Room 501 is haunted by the spirit of a woman who hung herself after she learned her fiance’s ship had sunk. She held out hope it was all a mistake, but a month later hung herself. A month after that, her fiance returned for her, only to learn of her death.

Some believe her spirit is now trapped at the hotel…and is the cause of things that go wrong in Room 501. Like when staff tries to make an electronic key card for that room but fail attempt after attempt. They believe the woman is interfering because she wants her solitude.

Also, workers reported seeing a mysterious light in one of the turrets during the renovation process. The woman used to spend a lot of time in the turrets waiting for her fiance to return from the sea. But when the light was seen was during renovations, the turrets weren’t lit.

THE HAUNTED LADIES ROOM IN THE DOWNSTAIRS LOBBY

No one’s exactly sure who -or what– haunts the downstairs lobby ladies room, but it doesn’t sound like this ghost believes in giving guests privacy. In fact, it sounds like a downright nasty ghost who deserves a swirly.

Toilets flush for no reason, stall doors have been violently rattled and shaken (when people are occupying them and trying to do their business), sinks run of their own free will, and voices have been heard. I think the Ghost Hunters with their plumbing background should definitely check this place out if they haven’t already and see if they can flush this ghost out.

HAUNTED HOTEL GALVEZ ON YOUTUBE

PHOTO CREDITS

“Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Texas 0702111732BW”  Photo by Patrick Feller aka flickr user accent on eclectic via Creative Commons

Courtney Mroch

Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.

Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.