These Spooky Buildings Have Haunted the Big Country for Years

Fort Phantom Hill The Ghosts of the Past

Many are familiar with the eerie tales of Fort Phantom Hill, a site near Abilene haunted by Native American soldiers who once guarded the Clear Fork of the Brazos. Though I’m not one to believe in ghosts, the stories have persisted, and the area's spooky atmosphere leaves many visitors on edge. Mind you, I grew up listening to my mothers side of the family talking about ghosts and something called "El Cucuy" a "monster" of sorts that will come to the house of disobedient children at night and take them away, nuff said.

One landmark not often mentioned in Abilene’s haunted roster is the downtown Hilton Hotel, also known as The Windsor. It’s where our radio station first began in the penthouse on the 11th floor, and I’ve experienced enough paranormal encounters there to last a lifetime. The building’s atmosphere leaves a life-long lasting chill on anyone who visits it.

The Historic Weather Bureau: A Stormy Night’s Mystery
Built in 1909, Abilene’s Weather Bureau once occupied this historic building before relocating its services to the local airport. The building is allegedly haunted by the former chief meteorologist, who tragically fell down the staircase on a stormy night while retrieving a weather chart from the basement. Current employees of the firm now operating in the building report hearing the sound of someone falling down the stairs. Yet, when investigated, no one is ever found. Local lore claims that paranormal activity spikes during severe weather events, adding an eerie twist to the city's meteorological history.

The Swenson House: A Haunted Holiday
Constructed in 1910 by William Gray Swenson and his wife Shirley, the Swenson House remains a historical treasure. Visitors have reported seeing Shirley Swenson herself, dressed in a long gray gown, seemingly continuing her tradition of hosting grand holiday parties from the beyond.

The Paramount Theatre: Three Ghosts in the Aisles
Part of the H.O. Wooten empire, the Paramount Theatre, built in 1930, boasts not just one but three resident ghosts. An elderly gentleman smoking a cigar, a former usher, and a mysterious woman in white have all been spotted within its walls. Their presence only adds to the theater’s legendary allure.

The Hotel Wooten: A Ghostly Guest
Built in 1931, the Hotel Wooten once reigned as the tallest building between El Paso and Fort Worth. After its closure in 1960 and reopening as Abilene Towers Apartments three years later, residents began reporting strange occurrences. Some claim to see a woman dressed in 1930s attire wandering the halls, while others hear whispers in the corridors. The legend of a ghostly bellhop greeting late-night guests only deepens the mystery.

The Minter Mansion: A Worker’s Nightmare
Erected in the early 1900s, the Minter Mansion gained notoriety in the 1970s when renovation workers reported seeing a ghostly woman on the second floor. The apparition was so terrifying that several fled the building mid-renovation, leaving the house’s reputation forever marked by its haunted past.

The Grace Hotel: Ghosts in the Museum
Now known as the Grace Museum, this 1909 building has a reputation for ghostly activity. Visitors report hearing doors opening and closing by themselves, along with footsteps echoing through the halls—rumored to be those of former guests who have never truly checked out.

Personal Encounters: Witness to the Paranormal
While I remain skeptical of ghosts and hauntings, I’ve had a few encounters that made me question my stance. I’ve personally seen the ghostly theater usher near the basement stairs of the Paramount Theatre and once glimpsed a well-dressed elderly woman at the top of the stairs at the Wooten.