Visit these 'haunted' Galveston places The island has a wealth of scary stories

Ashton Villa Located on 2328 Broadway and built in 1859, the museum was once the home of railroad and banking tycoon J.M. Brown. It survived the Hurricane of 1900 and has had reports of apparitions. Ashton Villa Located on 2328 Broadway and built in 1859, the museum was once the home of railroad and banking tycoon J.M. Brown. It survived the Hurricane of 1900 and has had reports of apparitions. Photo: Michael Paulsen, Houston Chronicle Photo: Michael Paulsen, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 60 Caption Close Visit these 'haunted' Galveston places 1 / 60 Back to Gallery

Galveston has a rich and dramatic history that has produced countless ghost stories.

The island went from being Texas' central place of trade and commerce to being ravaged by the Hurricane of 1900 — also known as the 1900 Storm and the Great Galveston Hurricane, among other monikers. The tragedy resulted in thousands — some reports indicate tens of thousands — of fatalities and vast infrastructure damage. A large percentage of buildings in Galveston were completely wiped out by the powerful storm surge.

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Some tales involving Galveston's still-thriving medical industry, have amplified the island's flair for haunted sites. Wars, pirates, widespread illnesses and more are at the center of some of Galveston's legends.

Now, scary-story fanatics are monetizing the tales with tours of "haunted Galveston" in various forms. These are some of the most popular annual events:

The "Ghost Bride" of the Hotel Galvez

One of the island's most popular Halloween destinations is the Seawall's Hotel Galvez. The 108-year-old hotel, which has survived hurricanes and fires alike, now capitalizes on its spooky fame.

Those who want to experience the "haunted" site in person without an overnight stay can book a dinner tour at hotelgalvez.com. The year-round attraction provides hour-long tours every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It includes a walk-through complete with the hotel's folklore, as well as a multi-course meal at the Galvez's dining room.

To give you some backstory on one of the hotel's main stories, here's the tale of Audra, a 1950s Hotel Galvez guest. She's said to have been engaged to a mariner who sailed out of The Port of Galveston.

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Audra would reportedly frequent the west turret where she could get a better view of the Gulf of Mexico. That's where it's said that she would look out for her fiance.

When a storm hit the Gulf Coast, the mariner was lost at sea. Audra continued to visit the turret with the hopes that he'd return. Grief-stricken, she eventually hung herself from the turret.

Since then, guests have reported seeing the ghost of Audra, the "Ghost Bride," on the fifth floor and in room 501, where she stayed.

Other ghosts, including children of historical figures and Victorian-era society, have also been reported by Hotel Galvez guests.

Galveston Historical Foundation's Victorian house tours

Galveston's historic Victorian-style properties are often tourist destinations, no matter what time of year.

Around Halloween, however, these places play up their histories with special events tailored to the holiday. Instead of merely walking around the 1892 Bishop's palace, venture inside at night on the "Lanternlight Tour," for $30 per person. Or, also priced at $30 per person, say hi to Miss Bettie Brown's 1859 house, Ahston Villa, with a "Ghost Tours of Ashton Villa" adventure.

"Many, many people have lived and died by these waters, and perhaps some of the dead still reside here," Dwayne Jones, executive director of the Galveston Historical Foundation, told the Galveston Island CVB. "We invite our guests to listen to the stories and decide for themselves. But you don't have to believe in ghosts to know that the dead are a presence on this island."

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