Two San Antonio hotels make list of 25 most haunted in U.S.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Gunter and the Emily Morgan as the only Texas properties on its annual list of ghost stories.
By Noor Phillips ·
The Gunter Hotel and the Emily Morgan in San Antonio were named among the 25 most haunted hotels in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The two downtown properties are the only hotels from Texas on the list. The nonprofit organization releases the list annually as part of its Historic Hotels of America program.
The trust described the list as a way to encourage heritage travelers to visit buildings where local legends persist. A release from the organization stated that the hotels preserve stories of guests who never left and staff who continue to help. The program recognizes iconic properties regardless of whether visitors believe in the supernatural.
The Emily Morgan, a 102-year-old building, was previously used as a medical facility. The trust described the site as one of the most active paranormal locations in North America. Guests on the fourteenth floor have reported a hospital-like smell. On rare occasions, they have seen a hospital scene instead of their guestroom when opening the door from the hallway.
Reports from the twelfth floor include bathroom doors opening and closing without contact. Lights in that area have been seen flashing. Guests have also described seeing apparitions of nurses pushing gurneys down the corridor before the figures disappear.
The Gunter Hotel was built in 1909 and has a more violent history. Room 636 is associated with a famous murder in San Antonio. In 1965, a housekeeper found ex-con Walter Emerick standing next to a blood-soaked bed. Police discovered empty wine bottles, bloody footprints, blonde hair, and women's clothing, but the victim's body was never found.
Emerick checked into Room 536 at the St. Anthony Hotel after the murder. He reportedly asked to stay in Room 636 again before dying before his arrest. Since the 1960s, guests and staff at the Gunter have reported cold spots, flickering lights, and faint whispers or footsteps when no one is present.
Some visitors claim to have seen a shadowy figure near doorways. Others have caught the scent of cigar smoke despite the hotel's no-smoking policy. The Emily Morgan returned to the list after one year without a mention. The Gunter Hotel also received a separate award this year.
Historic Hotels named the Gunter the Best City Center Historic Hotel. The award goes to a property that best celebrates its history in the guest experience while providing exceptional service. Both hotels have addressed their reputations in different ways.
The Emily Morgan lists its mysterious occurrences on its website. The Gunter provides fewer details about Room 636 on its own page. It notes that the room has since been remodeled.
