10 of the Creepiest Places in Houston, Texas

As a native Houstonian and lover of all things strange and unusual, this is where I began my dark travel journey – looking for off-the-beaten-path ideas near me. While I could easily write a whole book about some of the more obscure places in town, I instead decided to give you the 7 creepiest places in Houston, Texas so that if you ever chanced to visit my hometown you would find some of my usual haunts.

Here's a list of all the spooky, kooky, and creepy places in Houston:

Patterson Road

The ghostly bridge on Patterson Road, specifically located near Bear Creek Park, is infamous for its creepy encounters. It’s a heavily wooded area that is prone to flooding, so this likely intensifies the creep factor. When parking on the bridge at night, visitors frequently report hearing weird tapping noises on their car windows. Others claim they’ve seen spectral entities hiding in the darkness.

I’ve been to this place plenty of times and while I’ve only told people about the creepy stuff I’ve experienced; I haven’t actually seen anything here. You are more likely to be attacked by mosquitoes than ghosts. However, I did leave an Ouija board somewhere in the woods circa 2016 or 2016 (no I’m not kidding). I used it as leverage to get my Ford Fiesta out of the mud. So, if you find it, there will be a cash reward, with proof of course.

Glenwood Cemetery

Glenwood Cemetery is one of the oldest and most picturesque graveyards in the city. It is breathtakingly gorgeous, and I often come here when I am dealing with writer’s block. It offers a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city where you can contemplate your life and perhaps the inevitability of death.

Naturally, with all cemeteries, there are reports of ghost sightings and strange apparitions. Since the cemetery is not open at night, you can take this with a grain of salt. Walking tours are available if you want to learn about some of the more famous residents, but I think self-exploration will still yield inspiration for your next spooky work.

National Museum of Funeral History

There is no way I could make a list like this and not mention the National Museum of Funeral History. True to its namesake, the National Museum of Funeral History offers guests a look into the science, history, and art of the funeral industry. You will find a hall of Presidents, information on embalming, a collection of African fantasy coffins, a wide range of hearses, and more. Tickets are sold right in the gift shop, leading into the main exhibit hall, but considering the cool amount of death merchandise, with countless morbid puns, this is one time where I feel that is beyond acceptable.

Right next to the Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, which is a private not-for-profit campus that offers Funeral Service degrees. However, if you expect the staff of the Museum to be grim, think again. The NMFH goes all out in their rotating exhibits, markets, special events, and of course, for Halloween. It’s a great spot to check out when you are in town.

Haunted Houston Universities

There are so many ghost stories and tells of macabre events at most of Houston’s main universities that it is really hard to pick just one, so I’ve lumped them all together. For example, Lovett Hall at Rice University is said to be haunted by the ghostly apparition of William Marsh Rice, the university’s founder. The University of Houston is known for having haunted Agnes Arnold Hall and many other haunted spots that are usually said to be haunted by previous murder or suicide victims. With the new Shahzia Sikander statue, these rumors are likely to grow.

Perhaps the scariest unifying feature of all these universities is their prices. $800 for a garage pass alone must come from a hell dimension.  

The Orange Show

The Orange Show is another place that I love taking out-of-towners to. It is hard to describe, but it is like if someone tried to build a theme park while sleepwalking. In a way, that’s really what it is because it was built between 1956 and 1979 by one man – the late Jefferson Davis McKissack.

The Orange Show is an homage to McKissack’s love of the tropical fruit and is a strange labyrinth of metal compromising of a stage, a museum, a pond, a gift shop, and several viewing decks. You absolutely can injure yourself and you had better get updated on your tetanus shots before coming, but that’s all part of the fun. 

Buffalo Bayou Cistern

This is one of the more underground (pun intended) locations on this list as it is often overlooked. The Buffalo Bayou Cistern is an 87,500-square-foot underground reservoir. It is supported by 221 concrete pillars that are 25 feet high. So, in other words, it’s pretty freaking massive.

While the cistern is not in operation as a reservoir, you can still visit and book a docent-led tour. I believe there are also self-guided tours, but since getting stuck in something like this is a personal fear of mine, I can’t vouch for the fun that would be.

The Downtown Houston Tunnels

While the next creepy place on the list is devoid of any hauntings, or ghosties – at least that I know of, it is still scary because you can get lost in Houston’s underground tunnel system. Many people are not even aware that these tunnels exist.

With entry points covering 95 city blocks, it is easy to look at this Houston attraction because the tunnels themselves are 20 feet underground. Down there, in the dark depths, you will find shops, food vendors, and even medical clinics. It’s a great way to spend your day – assuming you can make it back out before night falls.  

Honorable Mention – Jefferson Davis Hospital  

Rather than end the list here I decided to add some places that constantly make their way into this type of list but are no longer around. First up, The Jefferson Davis Hospital. Built originally as a cemetery in the 1840s, the Houston City Council built Jefferson Davis Hospital over it. So, yeah, that place was totally haunted.

However, the hospital has long since been torn down and eventually became the Elder Street Artist Lofts. I’m sure residents of the new lofts might attest to the creepiness of the history, but I can’t say for certain if the place is still haunted. Regardless, you can still attend loft events if you are looking for new Houston artwork.

Honorable Mention – The Spaghetti Warehouse

The Spaghetti Warehouse is another place that always makes an appearance, and while it is still technically in operation, it is no longer housed at the original facility on Commerce. The story goes that, back when the building was originally a pharmacy, a young pharmacist died after falling into the elevator shaft. Less than a year later, his grief-stricken wife died.

Back when I was a teen, I remember the stories and dares to go up to the second floor (where the sightings occurred) alone to catch a ghost. The only thing I ever caught was a stomachache from all the breadsticks and pasta. You can still have a great time going to the newer location because there are still interesting memorabilia to see, even if you can’t see a spirit.

Honorable Mention – The Wilde Collection

This is by far my favorite place on the list that is no longer available. The Wilde Collection was a Houston oddity shop that had a wide range of curiosities – from taxidermized animals to a collection of haunted dolls. Unfortunately, there was an arson attack that not only burned the building but also killed living animals that were kept on the premises. This is all far more horrifying than anything featured at the store.

Several of my pieces were purchased from The Wilde Collection and I always found inspiration for my next horror story there. Since the owners were also artists it wasn’t uncommon to find fantastical creatures and artwork on display, especially on holidays. For example, like this freaky Easter bunny, I’m hanging out with.

RIP Wilde Collection.

Haunted Houston Vibes

Houston is a vibrant city that I’m proud to call home, but it is also a place where the line between the living and dead often blur. After all, the place was built on a swamp. These ten places provide a peek into the city's paranormal past, whether you're an experienced ghost hunter or just seeking a spooky encounter.

Just be careful – you know what might be lurking around in the shadows.

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