Plus on top of everything, me and my boyfriend actually caught some pictures on our phones with some sketchy stuff in them! It gives you awesome locations to visit. For an added bonus, keep an eye on the radar brought along by the concierge. During the 1 hour tour, staff guides participants through the ghostly past of the hotel which is followed by three-course dinner in the Galvez Bar & Grill. Galveston is rich in history. The sidewalks are level except for a few spots. A Texas native, she graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a bachelor of applied science in legal studies. Hotel Galvez weathered the great hurricane of 1915 that slammed into Galveston, killing 275 people and may actually have hosted one of the first recorded hurricane parties ever. Get a unique insight into the darker side of modern Galveston, Texas. Jackie Hasan, the senior concierge of the Hotel Galvez, alleges that her spirit is locked inside the hotel she never crossed over. In one of the more unknown and rarely publicized facts is that the hotel is actually constructed on top of the former ruins of St. Marys Orphanage. The sound of nail guns penetrate the usual peaceful and special ambience. The hotel received a major renovation in 1965 six years before it was purchased by Harvey O. McCarthey and Dr. Leon Bromberg. The Hotel Galvez reached prominence once gambling became particularly popular on the island, leading to Galveston's moniker, the Vegas of the South. As the story goes, Audra was a 25-year-old bride-to-be who stayed in room 501 of the hotel and she was engaged to a mariner who sailed in and out of the Port of Galveston, according to a recounting of the event listed on the hotel website. Local legend claims some wealthy guests at the hotel at that time closed themselves in the building and partied until the storm cleared. After surviving the hurricane, the hotel went on to host a speak-easy in the bar area during Prohibition. Dubbed the "Queen of the Gulf," this iconic hotel overlooking the Great Seawall and Gulf of Mexico, hoped to. Do let us know if you encounter any paranormal activity, of course. Touring around the fifth floor, you might stop by the unsettling room of The Ghost Bride and learn about the haunted going-ons that turn some guests into believers. Grand Galvez has pleased guests worldwide for more than 100 years. Built in 1911, the hotel has stood the test of time and still stands today with no shortage of stories, with a few tales focusing on the paranormal side of affairs. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. Privacy Policy - Terms of Use - Copyright Policy. 2024 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550, USA, Top 10 Real Haunted Houses That Inspired Movies, The Most Haunted Hotel in Texas The Menger Hotel. The historic hotel has 226 rooms and opened to the public in 1911 as the Hotel Galvez. Traces of the most renown tragedy dot the seawall, where youll find memorials of the catastrophic hurricane of 1900 that claimed several thousand lives. Tickets are $95, and the event is open to the public. Get more stories delivered right to your email. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing. The staff sightings and stories are the most consistently reported paranormal occurrences according to my research on Hotel Galvez. During the 1 hour tour, staff guides participants through the ghostly past of the hotel which is followed by three-course dinner in the Galvez Bar & Grill. The lower level featured the spa, health club, business office, and laundry, making it an exceptionally destructive loss. Tours run year-round, but reservations are required. Robin Bradshaw is a digital reporter. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie. For an even closer look at the Hotel Galvez's transformation into the Grand Galvez, click thru the photo gallery below: . Ghost is currently touring across 11 countries and has 50 upcoming concerts. Bike rental is available. That's where the tour will begin.. The Hotel Grand Galvez is considered one of the most haunted hotels in Texas and now the Galveston Island stay is honoring one of its most famous paranormal guests just in time for Halloween. Truth is stranger than fiction! Still attached to one another, their remains were found along the beach of the Hotel Galvez. Peoria, IL, US. With over a century of history, it's more surprising that there aren't other ghosts gallivanting about. No reservation required( with a limit of 100 people per tour). Housekeeping has further mentioned such disturbances and also commented that the electronic key card doesnt work to the room, despite operating normally on others. We loved the story of the adventurous and sometimes crazy Betty Ashton the best. When people attempt to photograph the painting of the Viscount, their photographs turn out distorted, with skeletal images emerging instead of the image of Galvez himself. . Some claim to feel the sudden chill of her specter, while others hear the inexplicable slamming of doors. The Hotel Galvez now features 226 rooms and suites, and reflects Galveston's gilded age. Book Direct Benefits Best Rate Guarantee Complimentary Wi-Fi Seasonal Swim-Up Bar Audra's reception will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., with guests asked to dress in costume or cocktail attire. These ropes were then attached to the waists of the sisters, who hoped to withstand the storm's belligerent winds. The price for both tours is $15 for adults, $10 for children 10 years old and younger. I did another tour like this in a different city and loved it. Would you take this ghost tour of one of the most haunted hotels in Texas? Get exclusive access to haunted news, spooky contests, and more! In an almost Shakespearean surprise twist, her lover DID return from his travels only to find his beloved dead by her own hand. Meet Audra, the hotel's most infamous inhabitant. Inconsolable and overcome with despair, Audra hung herself in the west turret of the hotel. When you get to 24th and Sealy Avenue look for the pavilion in the parking lot. Meeting point. With its history of war, natural disaster, visiting dignitaries and celebrities, suicide, haunted paintings the Hotel Galvez is a true treasure trove for the ghost geek. This tour meets at the entrance gate of the Old City Cemetery on 43rd and Broadway Street on Sat. Book now, tickets won't last! Tour Duration: 1hr. With all the sea traffic, Galveston emerged as also a popular tourist spot for those descending from the nearby Houston area as well as those arriving by sea. Grand Galvez 2024 Seawall Blvd., Galveston, TX ( Directions) | Phone: (409)765-7721 About D ating back more than a century, Grand Galvez brings Spanish Colonial sophistication to Galveston's shores. The #1 ghost tour in the state of Texas and the #2 most popular ghost tour in America! Fun Fact: although Galvez began as a 275-room hotel, it was later reduced to 226. The iconic Hotel Galvez lets you do just that with a monthly ghost tour and three-course dinner. Although civic leaders decided to build the hotel as early as 1898, their progress was lackadaisical. Serving as a gateway to greater commerce in both Texas and the American Southwest, historically speaking Galveston is second to only New Orleans in terms of ship travel. Dont forget to bring a camera you just might capture something from beyond when you snap a photo! Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? Our AAA 4-Diamond property is the only historic beachfront hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast and renowned as one of the finest Galveston hotels on the beach. Activity ranges all over the hotel, from the laundry and administrative areas to the guest rooms and grounds. Accompanying your tour stops, the host will share strange and sometimes unnerving images sent in by former guests and employees that capture odd occurrences from around the hotel premises. In the spirit of the season, Hotel Galvez & Spa invites you to a ghost tour and dinner along with a stay in our haunted hotel. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for. If you want to take the ghost tour but dont have a room reservation, no problem. Stay closeto Galvestons top attractions, the citys historic Strand District, and breathtaking panoramic views of the endless Gulf of Mexico. Grand Galvez: Grand Galvez Ghost Tours - See 5,384 traveller reviews, 1,614 candid photos, and great deals for Grand Galvez at Tripadvisor. In her anguish, she climbed back into the turret one last time and took her own life. Groupon $6 group walked past us with attentive guide and small group and would have been the way to go. however the rooms leave something to be desired. Yet the urgency for the hotel accelerated after the Hurricane of 1900: Galveston thought the hotel would galvanize the island, bolstering tourism. The orphanage was leveled during this time and nearly 100 children and nuns were killed in its path. I highly recommend taking this tour if you are in the area and want to learn about the great island of Galveston. The tour is open to non-guests, as well. Lee Roane. Go on a spooky paranormal Hotel Galvez Ghost Tour. Curiously, the Hotel Galvez derives its name from Bernardo de Galvez, a hero of the American Revolutionary War. Our tour guide Andrew was very informative and entertaining. The story goes that a beautiful young woman who was in love with a sailor would go up to room 501 and then look out at the sea from a hatch in the hotel roof, waiting for her lovers return. Peoria Civic Center. Hotel Galvez Ghost Tour in Galveston Location: 2024 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77550 Reservations: Call 409-765-7721 for availability or click here for upcoming dates at Hotel Galvez. As you might expect along with that history comes tales of haunted places, one of which is the Grand Galvez Resort and Spa. Galveston Small-Group Walking Ghost Tour 2023 Book online or call: +1 (702) 648-5873 Home Things to do in USA Things to do in Texas Things to do in Galveston Galveston Tours Art & Culture Pop Culture Ghost Tours Are you interested in? In an attempt to save as many as possible, the sisters cut cloth into rope, which they then tied to the children. The articles for the actual hotel and spa state that the ghost tours are free for guests staying at the hotel and can be purchased for around $10-$15 for folks coming in just for the tour. $10,000 Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? Although it encountered a boom in business, it then changed hands throughout the seventies and eighties undergoing various refurbishing and rebrandings. A post shared by Video Photos Web Design (@dmccreativesolutions) on Dec 3, 2018 at 4:38pm PST. The Hotel Galvez depreciated in the mid-1950s once gambling was outlawed. Cocktails in hand, the hotels concierge takes you and your group through the hotel, stopping at various landmarks that carry a ghostly past. We left ASAP. Oh sorry. San Antonio's Sheraton Gunter Hotel offers Ghost Tours from October 27-31, for $40 per person. Been to all haunted sites in San Antonio TX even the ones your not supposed to. Night Tours 3 Tours & Activities Art & Culture 33 Tours & Activities Pop Culture 25 Tours & Activities Galveston's Haunted Cemetery Walking Tour, Replica 1908 Model-T Electric Golf Cart Rental in Galveston, The Shadows of Revelry Walking Ghost Tour. Luckily, the Hotel Galvez was again purchased in 1995 though this time by George P. Mitchell, a Galveston native. During the month of October, a more in-depth tour is held four times a week, however, abbreviated tours are held at intermittent times and information is available with the front desk. more, #27 of 103 Tours & Activities in Galveston, City Tours Walking Tours Sightseeing Tours Private Tours. #1 Rated Ghost Tour In New York - NY Ghosts Ghost Tour Meeting Location: Washington Square Park at the Arch, located at Washington Square North, New York, NY. Cost is $56 per person (includes tax and dinner gratuity).