The Driskill Hotel

The Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, Texas, has been considered haunted since shortly after it opened in 1886. The grand Romanesque building has accumulated ghosts ranging from its flamboyant original owner to tragic suicide victims and a little girl who died on its stairs.

Colonel Driskill

Colonel Jesse Driskill built the hotel and lost it to bankruptcy shortly thereafter. He died in 1890, but his spirit never left. Guests report smelling his cigar smoke in the hallways and feeling his presence, particularly in the original lobby.

The Houston Brides

Two Houston women, unrelated to each other, committed suicide in the same room decades apart. Both had come to Austin for bridal shopping. Guests in that room report feeling overwhelming depression and seeing a ghostly woman in period dress.

Samantha

In the 1880s, a young girl named Samantha was playing on the grand staircase when she bounced her ball down the stairs, chased after it, and fell to her death. Guests report seeing a little girl playing near the stairs and hearing the sound of a bouncing ball late at night.

Investigation

The Driskill embraces its haunted reputation, offering ghost tours and encouraging guests to report experiences. Staff members have their own encounters to share, and the hotel’s paranormal activity has been featured in numerous publications.

Assessment

The Driskill Hotel combines the grandeur of a 19th-century property with authentic tragedy and consistent paranormal reports. For visitors to Austin seeking a ghostly experience, it remains the premier destination.