Texas may be known for its BBQ, football, and Friday night lights — but come October, those lights flicker just a little longer. The Lone Star State’s wide-open plains, rolling hills, and dusty backroads hold more than tumbleweeds and cattle. They’re home to some of the creepiest, most hair-raising legends that have spooked generations.

So grab your blanket, light your favorite fall candle, and settle in for a little Texas terror.

The Donkey Lady of San Antonio

San Antonio might be known for the River Walk and tacos, but it’s also home to one of Texas’s strangest tales — the Donkey Lady. Legend says a woman was horribly burned in a fire set by a cruel husband, leaving her face disfigured and her hands fused into hoof-like stumps. Locals swear her ghost haunts the Donkey Lady Bridge, her donkey-like wails echoing through the night if you dare call her name.

El Muerto – The Headless Horseman of South Texas

Down in the brush country near Ben Bolt, folks have whispered about El Muerto for over a century. This headless horseman rides under the moonlight — a decapitated bandit whose head was nailed to a saddle horn by Texas Rangers after his death. They say his ghost still gallops across the plains, searching for his missing head.

The Ghosts of the Alamo

The Alamo’s story is written in blood and bravery, but many say the battle never truly ended. Visitors and guards have reported seeing spectral soldiers standing watch at night, still protecting the mission’s hallowed ground. Even in death, those defenders haven’t left their post.

La Llorona – The Weeping Woman

No Texas ghost story list is complete without La Llorona. Her tale stretches across generations and cultures — a mother who drowned her children in a fit of grief and madness, only to be condemned to wander the rivers forever, weeping for them. Many claim to hear her cries near creeks and waterways throughout South Texas.

The Lake Worth Monster

Back in 1969, Fort Worth locals were terrified by reports of a half-man, half-goat creature roaming the Lake Worth area. Witnesses said it had scales and fur, glowing eyes, and a stench that could knock you flat. Whether it was a prank gone wrong or a genuine cryptid, the Lake Worth Monster remains a Texas legend that refuses to die.

The Emily Morgan Hotel – San Antonio’s Most Haunted Stay

Right across from the Alamo sits the beautiful, eerie Emily Morgan Hotel. Once a medical building with a morgue in the basement, guests today report strange noises, ghostly figures, and phones that ring with no one on the line. Some say it’s the most haunted hotel in Texas — and it’s easy to believe when the air gets cold in those old hallways.

The Menger Hotel

Another San Antonio haunt, the Menger has seen its share of famous guests — including Teddy Roosevelt himself. But he’s not the only one said to linger. Patrons have reported seeing spirits in 19th-century attire, including a ghostly chambermaid who still tends to her duties in the afterlife.

The Ozark Howler

Up in the wooded hills near the Texas-Arkansas border lurks a beast folks call the Ozark Howler — a large, black creature with glowing red eyes and a scream that sounds like a mix between a wolf’s howl and a woman’s shriek. Hunters swear it’s real, though most won’t stick around long enough to find out.

The Wampus Cat

A shapeshifting creature from Cherokee legend, the Wampus Cat prowls the woods of East Texas. Described as half-woman, half-mountain lion, she’s said to stalk those who wander too deep into her territory. Her glowing eyes are the last thing unlucky travelers ever see.

The White Lady of Rio Frio

The quiet beauty of the Rio Frio hides a heartbreaking tale. The White Lady is said to be the ghost of a young woman named Maria who died of a broken heart after her lover married another. Her spirit still roams the Frio River, especially on moonlit nights, watching over children as they sleep.

The Black-Eyed Children of Abilene

If you ever hear a knock at your door late at night, don’t answer — not if it’s the Black-Eyed Children. These pale, expressionless kids reportedly appear in pairs, asking to be let in. Their pitch-black eyes and unsettling calmness send most folks running. Legend says bad luck — or worse — follows anyone who invites them inside.

La Lechuza – The Owl Witch

In South Texas, folks fear La Lechuza — a witch who can transform into a giant owl. She’s said to swoop down on those who cross her, her cries mimicking a baby’s wail to lure victims outside. Some folks hang crosses or keep salt by the door to keep her away.

Bonus Texas Legends to Watch Out For

• The Goatman’s Bridge (Denton): A vengeful half-goat spirit said to haunt a bridge where unspeakable acts once occurred.
• The Catfish of White Rock Lake: An enormous catfish big enough to swallow a man whole.
• The Saratoga Light: A glowing orb that floats along the Ghost Road in Hardin County — maybe a railroad worker searching for his lost headlight… or his lost life.

Final Reflections

Texas may be proud and bold, but it’s also haunted and restless. From ghostly soldiers to headless riders, from crying women to shape-shifting witches — these stories have lingered for generations, whispered around campfires and down dirt roads.

So next time the wind rustles through the mesquite and you hear something move out by the fence line — well, don’t look too hard. Some legends are best left alone.

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.