Uncovering the Ghostly Legends of The Driskill Lodge in Austin

The ghost tales in regards to the cigar smoking cowboy, the 2 suicide brides in addition to the playful ghost of somewhat lady has haunted the pristine rumor of The Driskill Lodge in Austin, Texas. However how a lot of the tales are true, and what number of ghosts are nonetheless checked into the resort?

Downtown in Austin, Texas, stands a grand resort with a darkish and mysterious previous. The Driskill Lodge, in-built 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill has been a staple of the town’s skyline for over a century and is the oldest working resort within the metropolis. However behind its spectacular structure and opulent facilities lies a darker aspect. 

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Through the years, the Driskill has gained a fame as some of the haunted inns within the nation, with numerous ghostly sightings and eerie occurrences reported by friends and employees alike. From the ghost of a younger lady who fell to her loss of life down the resort’s grand staircase to the spirit of a cowboy who met his premature demise in one of many visitor rooms, Driskill’s historical past is steeped in supernatural lore. 

Historical past of The Driskill Lodge

The Driskill Lodge was in-built 1886 by Jesse Driskill, a rich cattle baron who wished to create an expensive resort that may be the jewel of Austin’s social scene. The resort was designed by Jasper N. Preston, some of the distinguished architects of the time, and its grand exterior and opulent inside made it an prompt icon after its grand opening near Christmas that yr. The Driskill rapidly turned the middle of Austin’s social and political life, internet hosting occasions and galas that drew the town’s elite.

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However the resort’s fortunes took a flip when Jesse Driskill misplaced his fortune in a high-stakes poker sport. He was pressured to promote the resort, and it modified arms a number of occasions through the years. By the Twenties, the Driskill had fallen into disrepair and was at risk of being demolished. That’s when a bunch of Austin residents banded collectively to save lots of the resort and restore it to its former glory.

At this time, The Driskill Lodge is a beloved landmark in Austin, identified for its wealthy historical past and opulent facilities. However the resort’s previous will not be all glamour and magnificence – it’s additionally steeped in ghostly legends and spooky tales.

Ghostly legends of The Driskill Lodge

The Driskill Lodge is not any stranger to supernatural exercise. Through the years, numerous friends and employees members have reported eerie encounters and ghostly sightings. Disembodied voices, apparitions, unusual noises, mysterious leaks and chilly sensations are solely a few of the rumors individuals staying and dealing on the Driskill have skilled. 

The quantity of knowledge that has been handed down by the years have created many various variations and at occasions conflicting ghost tales. Listed below are only a few of essentially the most chilling legends related to the resort.

The Ghost of Colonel Driskill

Jesse Driskill, the resort’s founder, is alleged to hang-out the halls of the Driskill to this present day. Proper after the resort opened, he fell beneath monetary stress as he had spent all of it on alcohol, girls and playing in addition to inns. Apart from the cruel winter and drought the next yr after opening killed his cattle. Due to this, he needed to give the Driskill up virtually as quickly because it opened and offered it to his brother in regulation. He had misplaced his fortune and constructed it up once more many occasions, however this time, he wouldn’t get well financially. He died in Might, 1890 of a stroke.

Legend has it that his stressed spirit wanders the resort, checking on the friends and employees and ensuring every part is operating easily. Some friends have reported listening to footsteps and the sound of a cane tapping on the ground, as if Colonel Driskill himself continues to be in residence.  Driskill’s portrait hangs within the resort’s grand foyer and a few declare that that is the person they interacted with. 

It’s particularly the room that was his favourite, overlooking sixth Avenue & Brazos that’s haunted in accordance with the tales. He has been seen by guests, smoking a cigar as he seems to be out the window. 

The odor of cigar is most linked along with his haunting, the odor lingering within the foyer he used to greet friends. Safety guards additionally declare to have heard his voice, asking for a match behind them, though nothing was there besides the odor. 

The Suicide Brides of The Driskill

A number of the extra well-known ghost tales from the Driskill are in regards to the brides supposedly haunting it. The employees have reported a couple of lady crying on the ground when it’s empty. Even the singer Annie Lennox claimed that one of many ghost brides had helped her select a gown when she put two on the mattress earlier than having a shower. When she got here again, considered one of them was again within the closet. 

Some say that maybe within the Nineteen Fifties, a bride stayed in room 525 when the fiance referred to as the marriage off the day earlier than. In line with the lore, she hanged herself within the room. 

The identical factor occurred a number of years later in the identical room twenty years afterward the identical day. Or was it actually the identical room? Was it even a suicide the primary time? Some declare that each brides killed themselves in room 525, however one of many tales can be stated to have taken half in Room 329, and no less than one supply claiming it was in room 427 or 29.

One story goes like this: A bride checked into her room within the early Nineties. Or was it within the early Eighties? 1989 as some declare it was? This was by the way in which throughout a time when room 525 was shut off earlier than it reopened for friends in 1998. 

In line with the legend, she was a socialite who had simply been left by her fiance. She booked a 5 day keep on the Driskill. She had one ultimate day the place she went looking for round 10 to 40k the second day she stayed there, all on her fiance’s bank card. 

On her third day, she put up a “don’t disturb” signal on her door. She lined up all of her new stuff by her mattress earlier than capturing herself within the head with a pillow muffling the sound. Some say they discovered her within the bathtub after they broke into the room after they suspected one thing was improper. 

The True Story of the Ghost Brides

How true this story is, is unsure. There are numerous dates, room numbers and little detailing of the incidents, particularly the primary. In line with the Austin Ghost Tour, this model was written by an worker in India for a corporation in New York that has by no means been to Austin. So what’s the true story then?

Police reviews speak about Tara, and he or she was not a socialite. She was stated to have purchased alcohol, cigarettes and a individuals journal, as an alternative of buying items. It’s stated that she would have died of alcohol poisoning if she hadn’t shot herself. 

In line with friends staying there, they declare to generally see the ghost of the girl dragging her many baggage from her buying day up and down within the halls of the resort. There may be additionally stated to be a ghostly wailing coming from the rooms the brides died in. 

The Little one Ghost Enjoying on the The Driskill Lodge

On the fifth flooring of the resort is a mysterious portrait that’s stated to have brought about supernatural occurrences. The portrait is unnamed, however based mostly on a portray by Charles Trevor Garland (1855-1906) often called “Love Letter” by or for a Richard King. 

It depicts somewhat lady with flowers in a single hand and a letter within the different. Some declare it’s haunted by the 4 yr previous daughter named Samantha Houson, of the US Senator Temple Lea Houston, who died in a horrible accident on the resort. 

The lady typically referred to as Samantha was taking part in within the Grand Staircase of the Mezzanine in 1887. That is earlier than the portray was created although, or maybe round this time. That Might the resort additionally closed its doorways, so it needed to have been earlier than this.

Driskill hosted a operate that yr for a Legislative Session that yr. US Senator Temple Lea Houston had seven kids. Solely 4 of their kids survived childhood and considered one of them who didn’t was stated to have been Samantha. The Senator had given his daughter a ball to play with. Skipping within the staircase she reached for her ball to bounce, however she fell and died of a damaged neck. 

Folks declare to have heard the sound of the ball bouncing from the partitions in addition to listening to the giggles of somewhat baby. Company have reported seeing apparitions of kids taking part in within the hallways. When kids come again from taking part in, they typically declare to have performed with somewhat lady referred to as Samantha. 

It’s particularly heard across the stairs, however as talked about, the portrait on the fifth flooring can be stated to have unusual issues like dizziness and unusual sensations round it that folks typically declare is linked to the lady. It’s stated that the painted lady seems to be eerily much like Samantha. Maybe the wildest story is how the lady’s expression within the portray appears to alter when wanting away. 

The Presidential Ghost

One of many extra well-known ghosts stated to hang-out the resort is Girl Chook and Lyndon B. Johnson, sometimes called LBJ. The couple first met within the Driskill Eating room in 1934 and returned yearly for particular events. It’s stated that the resort was Lyndon B. Johnson’s favourite place within the metropolis. It was even right here he waited for the outcomes of his 1948’s Senate run, his 1960’s Vice President run and within the presidential election in 1964. 

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In line with these visiting the ballroom, they often declare to see the late president along with his spouse within the mirrors as they cross by.

The Ghost of a Mrs. Bridge Minding the Entrance Desk

One of many former workers of the resort stated to hang-out it, is Mrs. Bridge. She labored on the resort for a few years within the early 1900s and it’s stated she is usually nonetheless working. At night time, individuals declare to have seen a lady in a Victorian gown, fussing over flower preparations within the foyer. It’s stated that her apparitions are sometimes accompanied by the odor of roses as she beloved flowers when she was alive. She has additionally been seen strolling from the vault to the foyer the place the previous entrance desk was. 

The Ghost of Peter Lawless

One of many ghosts haunting the resort is alleged to have a extra poltergeist presence than the opposite. Peter Lawless labored as a ticket agent for the Nice Northern Railroad within the early twentieth century. Peter Lawless was born July 23, 1851 and died in Austin on June 29, 1931. After his spouse handed, he moved into the Driskill. 

From 1886 to 1916, he lived and labored from the fifth flooring the place he arrange store. Years it’s stated he lived there fluctuate. Ever since his loss of life individuals declare to have seen Lawless popping out from the elevators, wanting on the time and his railroad watch and greeting the employees on the entrance desk earlier than vanishing into skinny air. 

Housekeeping claims he’s watching them as they’re cleansing and there have even been these claiming to have seen him stepping in entrance of a bus outdoors the resort. His ghost is alleged to have darkish hair and pants with a white shirt and a pocket watch.

The Royal Haunting within the Mirrors

The Driskill Lodge can be stated to be the place of a sure royal haunting.This haunting legend tied to Empress Carlotta of Mexico. She was born Charlotte and was a princess of Belgium. Within the 1850s, Carlotta and her husband, Emperor Maximilian, dominated Mexico, seen as a puppet regime, however their reign led to tragedy when Maximilian was executed, and Carlotta descended into insanity. Heartbroken she survived with the assist from European courts, struggling paranoid delusions.

After their fall, eight ornate gold-framed mirrors, initially meant as a belated marriage ceremony reward for Carlotta, made their method to the Driskill in 1930. It’s not identified if Empress Carlotta knew in regards to the marriage ceremony reward in any respect, however some say that she is now haunting the mirrors. Adorned with a coloration palette of gold and white, the Maximilian Room options distinctive accents corresponding to eight lavish gold leaf mirrors, initially found within the Nineteen Thirties. This charming area has since been transformed into an space for premium eating occasions, with 1,500 sq. toes of area and room for 20 to 150 attendees.

Since their set up within the resort’s “Maximilian Room,” friends and employees have reported eerie experiences, together with sightings of Carlotta’s ghost. One photographer claimed to see a lady in a white robe seem within the mirrors however vanish when he circled, leaving solely her reflection. Many consider Carlotta’s spirit haunts the mirrors, watching during the last remnants of her misplaced empire.

Why did the Lodge Turn into Haunted?

The Driskill has had many religions coming by its doorways all through the years, however might it’s another excuse for it being haunted? One thing older maybe? One of many many causes the resort was constructed on this actual spot was due to the artesian water proper by it. Driskoll thought that this may provide the resort with water for years to return. 

This artisan water was hole floor for the native Individuals although. Each the Apache, Tonkawas in addition to the Comanche used to consider that the water from the spring had the ability to carry spirits. Many consider that is the muse that began the haunting. 

Many paranormal investigators have spent quite a few nights within the resort looking for ghosts. May the resort actually be haunted? May it’s that the ghost of Driskill continues to be smoking within the foyer, or might it truly be from the tobacco store that was within the foyer nonetheless lingering? May there be one thing lurking inside the mirrors and work in addition to the rooms not of this world?

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