Civil War conflict and unhinged outlaws swept through Jefferson, leaving a trail of tragedy and angered spirits seeking revenge for their gruesome ends.
Book NowJoin Jefferson Ghosts to discover the city’s historic buildings and the restless souls that inhabit them. Stand at the edge of reality and glimpse into Jefferson’s darkness, where the horrors of the past stalk the land of the living.
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There’s a reason the Historic Kahn is known for being one of Jefferson’s most haunted locations. Even today, the bloody trail of an unsolved murder leads patrons out onto the street, where a young woman is said to have been slain by an unknown assailant.
Hotels are hotspots for the paranormal, and Jefferson’s namesake accommodation is no different. As the “Oldest Building of All the Hotels in Texas,” this historic hotel has had time to accumulate a spectral energy fueled by an anguished bride and an angered spirit who refuses to share a room.
Witness the birthplace of one of Hollywood’s most iconic ghost stories at this historic haunt, where missing appendages, shrouded specters, and the pained groans of a visitor from the afterlife are witnessed by guests.
An infamous murder and its energized trial. Scores of yellow fever deaths. A heartbroken bride with no hope for the future. Jefferson’s past is riddled with tragedy, its ground soaked with blood and its air chilled by the remnants of a long and deadly history.
Jefferson’s ghosts have many stories to tell, but the spectacle surrounding the murder of Diamond Bessie stands out among them. What looked to be a cute picnic between a loving couple turned into a deadly encounter after Bessie’s body was discovered in the woods, a single bullet wound in her head.
The cold and callous nature of Diamond Bessie’s death still impacts Jefferson today. You’ll want to journey with Jefferson Ghosts back to the courtroom when a “Not Guilty” verdict left poor Bessie’s soul in unrest. With no closure to the crime against her, Diamond Bessie became an eternal resident of the historic town.
From just outside the steps of the courthouse where justice was not served, find out where Bessie’s wandering spirit stakes her claim throughout Jefferson. Will you spot her at the iconic Excelsior Hotel? Or will she be a gussied-up apparition strolling along Jefferson’s streets?
Visit Jefferson’s Most Haunted Locations, Including:
Did Steven Spielberg find inspiration for 1982’s “Poltergeist” while staying in the Excelsior’s Room 215? Listen closely to the stories Jefferson Ghosts tells, and it may seem more and more likely that he did. What horrors await within the walls of the Excelsior, a local staple that’s seen many years of Jefferson’s growth fall into obscurity and eventual preservation?
Book a room if you’re brave enough, or venture with Jefferson Ghosts into the Excelsior’s past to try and uncover the many specters that keep the space active. Expect nightmares as the horrifying image of a headless cowboy and blood-soaked walls and carpets get embedded into your subconscious.
Floating spirits and restless souls are among the many ethereal residents refusing or unable to leave the Excelsior. As a familiar piece of Jefferson’s history, it’s no surprise that apparitions from days gone would congregate.
It’s difficult to deny the beauty of Jefferson Hotel. Almost as difficult as it is to deny that some sort of negative presence is trapped within. Explore the Historic Jefferson Hotel’s past with Jefferson Ghosts to learn which unfortunate souls roam the antique halls, giving fright to unsuspecting guests and weary travelers.
Echoes of the hotel’s days as a speakeasy still rings near the ballroom, but the guestrooms tend to see much of the action. From jilted brides to murdered prostitutes, Jefferson Hotel’s rogue’s gallery of apparitions and otherworldly oddities grows large.
A stern warning and misty figures terrorize guests unlucky enough to spend a night in the infamous Room 19. A room once permeated with the metallic scent of blood, more than one ill-fated Jefferson Hotel guest has met an untimely and gruesome demise amidst the creature comforts of an otherwise quiet stay.
Disease and famine racked much of the undeveloped world, even decimating the local native population by almost 90%. However, even as society evolved from living off the land to thriving off industry, some outbreaks proved just as deadly. Yellow fever touched the region surrounding Jefferson by 1839, eventually sneaking its way into the budding city.
At the Jefferson General Store, explore with Jefferson Ghosts from the safety of the 21st century the yellow fever epidemic that amassed graves and left families saying goodbye to young ones far too early. The spirits from beyond extend an invitation into the Scluter House, where tragedy struck when several children succumbed to yellow fever.
The laughter of children can be heard throughout the home, the young specters seemingly free of the pain and agony caused by yellow fever. Not all those who died during the epidemic are as carefree as the child spirits of the Schluter House, though, and darkness from the 19th-century outbreak is still felt over Jefferson.
Have you ever looked at a building and immediately felt some otherworldly pull as if something is beckoning you to cross the veil? Chances are you will when your eyes fall on the Jefferson Historical Museum. This haunting facility is filled with artifacts, but none draw out more than the remaining bell from the Mittie Stephens.
Travel with Jefferson Ghosts to the middle of Caddo Lake, where a paddle steamer caught fire. Many lives were lost that day, some to the fire, others by being pulled under by the steamboat’s wheels. The gruesome scene left many bodies in Caddo Lake, but it’s the surviving bell that seems to have absorbed their wandering spirits.
Activity within the historical museum is tied to the victims of the Mittie Stephens disaster. It’s clear that the spirits of that tragic day remain behind as the bell is a big focus for the phantoms of the old building.
Old towns like Jefferson attract curious-minded folk who want to explore that darker side of history. The “Gone With the Wind” museum captures the essence of the movie and overall story. Beneath the relics and memorabilia, though, waits tragic phantoms, former Civil War soldiers who may find some peace and familiarity in some of the museum’s displays.
Book your Jefferson ghost tour today with Jefferson Ghosts to uncover more of the town’s haunted past and become a part of the ever-expanding community of ghost-loving locals and travelers. You never know what friendships you’ll develop—living or dead.
* This is a walking tour and we do not enter privately-owned buildings or private property *
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to haunted hotels in Jefferson. Between then Kahn, Excelsior, and Jefferson hotels, each holding the secrets of the city’s past. Meet unique ghosts that have seen new people coming and going for decades after their own lives were met with a sudden and sometimes tragic end.
Jefferson was founded in the mid-1800s, but the land it sits on has seen so many more years of progress, conflict, bloodshed, and innovation. If you want to explore a town that helped build early Southwest America, it’s a fitting spot that really touches on the staples of early America: forcing natives from their land and building a world on the backs of others.
It’s unexpected for a quaint place like Jefferson, but there’s a touch of Hollywood hidden within the city’s history. “Gone With the Wind” is considered a classic movie, and if you’re a fan, you’ll love the connection you’ll learn about during your time hearing tales of ghostly whispers and seeking signs of the otherworldly.
There’s something about the white dress that gives ghost brides a spooky appearance. Jefferson is believed to be home to one of the most heartbroken brides, left to roam the Jefferson Hotel after the groom’s actions drove her to suicide. It’s a grizzly tale with a terrible ending—one guests get to experience if they stay in the right room.
When you do a quick search online or go on a general historical tour of a city, you tend to get a sanitized version of what the people of a city have experienced over the years. You may hear of conflict and periods of depression, but you miss out on the real, raw stories offered by a ghost tour. Jefferson Ghosts introduces you to real people who lived, died, and still reside in the old-timey buildings left over from the city’s start.
