Genuine Hauntings in East Texas

East Texas is said to be one of the most haunted areas in the United States of America. From ghosts and spirits of the Civil War that haunt historical cities and towns in Houston to the Ghost of Bouton Lake. Ghosts have become just as much of a part of East Texas as the pine forests and roads that they haunt.

If you live in East Texas, or are planning a trip, here are a few haunted areas to look up if you're brave enough.

1. Diamond Bessie- Jefferson Texas

Diamond Bessie was a nickname given to Bessie Moore. She was a prostitute who was murdered in the woods outside of Jefferson, Texas. She was killed by a single gun shot to the head, allegedly by Abraham Rothschild, her husband.

For years, there have been reports of Diamond Bessie's ghost haunting around the Excelsior House Hotel in Jefferson Texas. It's said when she isn't at the hotel, she can be found wandering around the Oakwood Cemetery.

Room 215 is said to be the most active room at the hotel and they keep a journal in there for guests to document any experiences they may have.

Stories vary from Diamond Bessie doing things to people she may dislike or not trust. Women have reported being slapped across the face and men have reported Bessie climbing into their beds for some real hands on ghost intimacy.

2. Ghost of Old Bascom Road- Whitehouse Texas

Sometimes ghosts don't just stay in graveyards and hotels. A lot of roads in Texas are said to be very haunted. Old Bascom Road in Whitehouse Texas is no exception.

Stories say that late at night you can sometimes see a woman wearing white crossing the street holding a large butcher knife. People say that she stabbed her husband before stabbing herself. She died. He didn't. So the story goes that she is out looking for him to finish the job.

A group of teenagers who were camping claimed to have seen this ghost during their trip. One of them said that she lunged at him with a knife, disappearing all together before making actual contact.

3. Tyler Texas- Wise Auditorium at Tyler Junior College.

People claim that TJC Wise Auditorium is haunted by a ghost they call George. According to the locals, George is the ghost of a person who fell to his death from the light grid and haunted the auditorium for years. People have said that a little boy screams as you leave Wise Auditorium at night.

George hasn't been seen much since the renovation of the auditorium. Most of the productions were moved to the Jean Browne Theatre in the Cultural Arts Center. Some believe that George also made that move.

4. Monkey Bridge- Athens Texas

The bridge is named after a tragedy that took place in the 60's. The circus was said to be coming to town but the train carrying the animals and performers derailed. The monkeys escaped from their cages and then killed the circus owners.

Locals say that at night you can hear the screams of monkeys and of men. They also say that on the last night of each month, you can see the ghosts of the animals walking over Monkey Bridge and that looking into any one of those animals eyes will cause your heart to stop.

5. Bragg Road- Saratoga Texas

Legend has it that if you visit Bragg Road in Saratoga Texas, you can see the dim light of a conductors lantern as he looks for his head, which was never found.

The conductor was said to have been beheaded in a tragic derailing accident. On your drive, several signs document the history of the road and have information on what you can possibly encounter by driving down it.

6. Devil's Backbone- East Texas Hill Country

Said to be one of the most haunted areas of East Texas, the Devil's Backbone draws visitors from all over Texas.

This area has seen it's share of violence over the years for Native Americans and settlers as well as in more recent years. This winding road is partial to a number of violent and fatal car crashes. It seems that many ghosts have hung around.

One man claims to have been awoken by the sounds of horses running near his cabin. He says the horses hooves were loud enough to shake his cabin. When he went outside, he claims he saw at least 20 men on horseback. He says that they appeared to be ghosts of Confederate soldiers.

Others claim that while driving down Purgatory Road, apparitions have materialized on top of their cars. Many ghost hunters frequent this area and have claimed to see shadow people and collected many samples of EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon).

7. Marshall Highway 2792- Carthage Texas

There is an old broken down home down HWY 2792. It's overgrown by weeds and bushes. This house was once occupied by a woman, her husband, and their small child.

It is said that this woman was shot by her brother when he came by to get money for drugs and she told him no. He got violent and was said to have shot her, stabbed her, and then drowned her in the tub. He was later found wandering the streets covered in her blood.

People claim that when they drive down this highway, they have trouble breathing. They also claim to see lights turning off and on at the house as well as a white figure in the attic and sometimes a woman's face in the hallway.

8. Stagecoach Road- Marshall Texas

This road is said to have been cursed since the 1800's. To this day, it draws in ghost hunters and curious travelers multiple times a month.

People have reported different things such as a "goat man" who haunts the road to sightings of ghost children.

One couple said they went there to debunk the rumors and started getting readings on an EMF (Electro-Magnetic Field) detector. The husband jumped out of the car and began taking pictures. One of the pictures showed a girl in a white dress standing about 20 feet away from their car. They also claim to have gotten a photo that they believe is a mother and her two children.

There is a story of a mother who lived there and drowned her two kids in the marsh. The story goes, she was going to kill her children and then take her own life. However, she couldn't do it. She killed the kids and left. When the townspeople found out what she had done, they killed her. Legend has it, she wanders Stagecoach Road looking for her children.

Another woman and her friends drove her jeep down the road and documented their ride. She claims to have washed her car before hand and in the video goes on to say that video doesn't do justice to how dusty the road actually is. The next morning, she went outside to find a child's hand print on the side of her jeep. She claims that at no time whatsoever were there any children on, in, or around her vehicle.

9. Cherokee Trace- Gilmer Texas

People say that when driving this road at night, they are sometimes confronted with a thick fog that covers the road entirely. This fog causes you to slow down and be very cautious of your surroundings. It's said that when this happens, a woman and several small children can be seen crossing the road.

10. Old Caddo Indian Museum- Longview Texas.

This museum has been closed down for several years. It used to be home to many artifacts found on East Texas burial sites. There have been many reports of a small Indian girl who stands on the road outside of the museum. People also claim to hear strange noises inside the museum as well as when driving directly in front of it. This ghost is allegedly a small girl who died of a head injury and who's skeleton was on display inside of the museum.

I haven't even touched the tip of the ice burg on the hauntings that are said to be in East Texas. Let alone, Texas itself. These were a few that caught my interest though. What do you think? Do you believe in ghosts?