The Ghosts of the Driskill Hotel: Austin’s Most Haunted Landmark



In the heart of downtown Austin, Texas, stands the grand and historic Driskill Hotel, a stunning Romanesque Revival building that has welcomed presidents, celebrities, and curious travelers since its opening in 1886. But beyond its opulent chandeliers, stained-glass dome, and luxurious suites lies something far more chilling: the Driskill is widely considered one of the most haunted places in Texas.

Over the decades, this stately hotel has been the site of unexplained deaths, tragic accidents, and lingering sorrow ingredients that, according to many, have brewed a perfect storm of paranormal activity. Guests and staff alike have reported eerie encounters with the spirits that refuse to check out.

The Ghost of Colonel Jesse Driskill

The hotel’s founder, Colonel Jesse Driskill, is said to be the first and most enduring ghost within its walls. A wealthy cattle baron who spared no expense when building the hotel, Driskill lost his fortune shortly after its opening and died a broken man just a few years later.

His spirit, it seems, never left.

• Guests claim to smell cigar smoke near the hotel’s elevators, especially late at night.
• Phantom footsteps and the sound of a man clearing his throat are often heard in the lobby.
• A shadowy male figure, believed to be Driskill himself, has been spotted surveying his beloved hotel from the mezzanine level.

Some say Colonel Driskill is more of a watchful presence than a malevolent one, a former owner still tending to his prized possession.

The Tragedy of the Little Girl

One of the most heartbreaking and frequently reported ghost stories involves a young girl who died in the hotel during the late 1880s. According to legend, she was the daughter of a U.S. Senator who was staying at the Driskill. While playing with a ball near the grand staircase, she tragically fell to her death.

Today, guests have reported:

• The sound of a ball bouncing in empty hallways late at night
• Laughter and giggling echoing from nowhere
• Sudden cold spots and tugging on clothing, as though a small child is trying to get their attention

Some guests have even said that they saw a little girl in Victorian clothing who vanished before their eyes.

Room 525: A Room of Sorrow

Room 525 is one of the most infamous locations in the hotel. Legend has it that two different brides, decades apart, took their own lives in that room on their honeymoon, under eerily similar circumstances.

Since then, the room has reportedly been the epicenter of:

• Sudden drops in temperature
• Lights flickering or turning on by themselves
• Mirrors fogging inexplicably even without humidity
• Disembodied weeping or voices whispering when no one is there

Though the room is available for booking, many who’ve stayed there have checked out early reporting intense unease or even nightmares.

The Ghost of the Suicide Bride

Separate from Room 525’s lore is another well-known spirit: a jilted bride, said to have taken her own life in the hotel in the 1990s. After her fiancé called off the wedding, she allegedly returned to her room, hung her wedding dress in the closet, and never left.

Guests have reported seeing:

• A woman in a wedding gown standing silently at the end of their bed
• The closet door opening and closing on its own
• An overwhelming feeling of grief and loss in certain rooms on the fourth floor

Some even say that her reflection occasionally appears in mirrors, weeping silently, only to vanish when noticed.

Paranormal Hotspot: The Fifth Floor

While ghosts are said to roam the entire building, the fifth floor is widely considered the most active. Staff and visitors frequently report:

• Elevators that stop on the fifth floor with no one inside
• Whispers and footsteps when the hallways are empty
• Sudden waves of dizziness or nausea, especially in corners near Room 525

Paranormal investigators who have spent time at the Driskill often record high EMF levels, unexplained sounds, and even shadow figures darting through the halls.

Celebrity Encounters and Lasting Legends

Over the years, the Driskill has hosted many notable figures including Lyndon B. Johnson, who reportedly watched election results from a suite here, and musicians, actors, and artists drawn to the hotel's old-world charm. Some of them have experienced paranormal phenomena firsthand, lending further credibility to the legends.

Despite its ghost stories, the Driskill remains a beloved Austin institution, a place where history, luxury, and mystery intertwine. For many guests, it’s precisely the mix of beauty and the supernatural that makes a night at the Driskill unforgettable.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, there’s no denying the strange energy that hangs in the air at the Driskill Hotel. Its stories of love, loss, and lingering spirits are etched into the very walls. So if you ever find yourself in Austin, and the elevator opens to the fifth floor without you pressing a button, don’t be alarmed. It might just be Colonel Driskill… inviting you to stay a little longer.