Texas backroads carry more than just dust, mesquite trees, and endless miles of blacktop. For generations, travelers have whispered about strange sights, chilling sounds, and eerie figures that appear when the sun goes down. These legends aren’t just ghost stories; they’re part of the folklore that gives Texas its haunting character. If you’ve ever taken a late-night drive through rural Texas, you know the feeling—like something is watching from the shadows. Here are some of the scariest legends from Texas backroads.
The Woman in White of La Llorona Creek
One of the most famous tales in Texas is the legend of La Llorona, or the Weeping Woman. According to lore, she drowned her children in a moment of despair and has been cursed to wander near creeks and rivers searching for them. Along backroads near San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley, drivers claim to hear her cries echoing through the night. Some even report seeing a ghostly woman dressed in white standing near the water. Locals warn that if you hear her weeping, it’s already too late—La Llorona is close.
The Donkey Lady Bridge in San Antonio
The Donkey Lady Bridge is one of San Antonio’s creepiest urban legends. As the story goes, a woman was horribly disfigured in a fire and left with twisted hands, a haunting scream, and a face said to resemble a donkey. If you stop on the bridge late at night, people say she will appear, slamming her hands against your car or chasing you back onto the road. Many visitors claim they’ve seen glowing eyes in the darkness and heard screams that don’t belong to any living creature.
El Muerto, the Headless Horseman of South Texas
Down in South Texas, riders still whisper about El Muerto, a ghostly outlaw who roams the brush country. In the 1800s, Texas Rangers caught and executed a bandit by decapitating him, then strapped his body to a horse as a warning. But instead of scaring others, it gave birth to a legend. Travelers report seeing a headless horseman riding through ranch land, sometimes carrying a lantern, sometimes just a dark figure against the moonlight. The ghost of El Muerto remains one of the most feared apparitions on lonely country roads.
The Marfa Lights
Out in the wide-open desert near Marfa, Texas, strange glowing orbs appear in the night sky. These “Marfa Lights” have been spotted for more than a century, baffling scientists and delighting ghost hunters. Some say they’re spirits of long-lost travelers; others believe they’re something extraterrestrial. No matter the explanation, watching glowing lights dance across the desert horizon is both beautiful and unsettling. If you ever find yourself driving Highway 90 at night, you might just catch a glimpse.
The Lake Worth Monster
In the 1960s, people near Fort Worth reported seeing a terrifying creature around Lake Worth—a half-man, half-goat beast with glowing eyes. Newspapers called it the Lake Worth Monster, and stories of attacks, car chases, and nighttime sightings spread fast. Skeptics called it a hoax, but the legend stuck. To this day, some drivers claim to see a tall, horned figure lurking around the woods near the lake, reminding us that Texas has its own monster stories.
Bonus Legends from Texas Backroads
Texas has no shortage of eerie encounters. The Screaming Bridge in Arlington is said to echo with the cries of teens who died in a car accident. In Abilene, people talk about the Black-Eyed Children—strange kids with pitch-black eyes who knock on doors and ask for help, leaving dread in their wake. Near Houston, phantom hitchhikers are reported along dark highways, vanishing once you stop to offer a ride. Each story makes you think twice before pulling over on a lonely road.
Conclusion
From headless riders to glowing lights, the backroads of Texas are filled with stories that make even the bravest traveler uneasy. These legends are more than ghost tales—they’re part of the state’s cultural fabric, passed down from generation to generation. Next time you find yourself driving down a deserted Texas highway at night, keep your eyes on the road and your ears open. You never know what might be waiting in the shadows.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.