Granbury is known as the place Where Texas History Lives, but we at the Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour prefer to say it’s Where Texas History Never Left. If you’re looking for ghosts and spooky stories, you need look no further than the historic downtown square.
You might encounter the infamous John Wilkes Booth, who is rumored to haunt the Granbury Opera House, a phenomenon that was explored with chilling results on The Discovery Channel’s “Ghost Lab.” You can also say hello to little Audrey Gordon, who passed away at the tender age of five, and who still resides at the Langdon Center just off the square. She might even pose for a picture; she just loves attention! Of course, don’t forget the historic Hood County Jail Museum, home to a myriad of restless spirits who just want a little company.
Then there’s the Faceless Girl at Market on the Square who likes to play with toys and once left behind an eerily haunting piece of evidence for the employees to find!
These locations and more are featured on the Granbury Ghosts and Legends Tour, which runs year-round every Friday and Saturday night at 7:00 and at 9:15. Join your tour guide in period attire for an hour-long walk around the square as you hear the ghost stories, legends and history of the various buildings. The tour meets in front of the Nutt House Hotel, our historic, and haunted, hotel on the square.
Because Granbury is so rife with ghostly activity, it has attracted ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts from across the state. It’s not uncommon to witness one of Texas’s many ghost hunting groups setting up at any of the locations on the square, getting ready for a full night of paranormal investigation. Our own group, Research and Investigation of the Paranormal, has investigated many spots on the square, each time returning with even more evidence of paranormal phenomena.
In response to the growing interest in Granbury’s otherworldly offerings, we formed the annual Granbury Paranormal Expo in 2011, bringing together ghost hunting groups, UFO experts, and other enthusiasts of weird and unexplained happenings. 2016 marks the Expo’s fifth year, and we plan for the event to be bigger and better than ever. For the first time, the Granbury Paranormal Expo will be taking place as an outdoor street festival directly in the middle of Granbury’s downtown square. Our vendors will also include sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and cosplay in addition to the paranormal exhibitors we have hosted in the past. Our special celebrity guest will be Alex Vincent, best known for his role as “Andy Barclay” in the hit Child’s Play films. This event will take place on October 1, 2016 from 10 AM to 5 PM, a perfect kick-off to the Halloween season!
To get a more in-depth look at Granbury’s ghostly tales, you can also pick up a copy of my book, Haunted Granbury, released by The History Press. In the book, I describe not only the known ghost stories from around the square with historical background, but I also recount personal stories from my ghost hunting experiences, as well as interviewing other paranormal investigators and eyewitnesses from among the square.
If you’re looking for Texas history with a side of weird and wonderful, Granbury is the place for you. As you peruse our fascinating shops, enjoy a bite to eat at our tantalizing restaurants, or explore our historic cemetery, don’t discount the sudden cold chill you may experience. It just may be one of our former residents wishing to welcome you to our town.
By Brandy Herr