Haunted Driskill Hotel in Austin TX

The Driskill Hotel is a legendary, landmark hotel in Austin, Texas. The historic hotel is located in the business district and is convenient to the capitol building, convention center and the entertainment district of Austin.

The lobby of the grand hotel sets the tone of elegance, with three story columns framing a marble floor and stained glass dome ceiling. The elegant hotel is reported to be haunted by multiple ghosts.

Ghost Stories

There are people who believe that the Driskill is among the most haunted hotels in the United States. The ghost stories about the hotel include the story of a young girl playing with a ball, a jilted bride and the cigar smoking original owner.

The spirit of a young girl bouncing a ball is believed to haunt the first floor lobby, the second floor ladies' restroom and the staircase to the mezzanine. The girl is believed to be the spirit of the daughter of a Senator who fell to her death down the hotel's grand staircase while chasing a ball. Today guests report hearing the sound of laughter and a ball bouncing down the staircase.

According to Austin Ghost Tours, the original owner loved the hotel so much that his spirit remains on the property. The original owner was cattle baron Colonel Jesse Driskill, who built the hotel, but was forced to sell it two years after it opened. Driskill's presence in the hotel is said to be accompanied by cigar smoke. It is believed that the ghost turns bathroom lights on and off.

The ghost called the "Houston Bride" is the tragic tale of a young bride whose fiance called off the wedding. It was in the 1990s and the wedding was called off at the last minute, jilting the young bride. The woman, who stayed in room 29, helped herself to her fiance's credit cards and went on a shopping spree. She was last seen on the elevator of the fourth floor with arms full of packages. Three days later her body was discovered. She had committed suicide by shooting herself in the stomach.

Late one night, two women who wanted to see a ghost decided to stop on the fourth floor and look around. The fourth floor was undergoing restoration and the halls were lined with plastic. They decided it was not a good idea to wander around and returned to the elevator. A young woman stepped out of the elevator with her arms full of bags and packages. She walked past them without a word and headed to room 29. The women asked her if the restoration bothered her and she replied that it was not bothering her. The next morning the clerk showed them the room, which had been taken apart for the restoration.

History of The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas

The luxurious grand hotel was built in Austin by Colonel Jesse Driskill. Driskill was a wealthy cattle baron, businessman and civic leader. Driskill purchased the lot on the corner of Brazos and Pecan for $7,500. The hotel was opened in 1886.

Less than two weeks after the grand opening, the inaugural ball for new governor Sul Ross was hosted at the new hotel. In May of 1887 the key staff of the hotel was hired away by a competitor. Driskill reopened three months later, under new management. A nationwide drought and cold winter devastated the Driskill's cattle empire and the cattle baron was forced to sell the hotel.

In May, 1888, Doc Day became the new owner of the hotel. He was the first of a long series of owners, including Hollywood actors and British conglomerates. Major George W. Littlefield purchased the hotel in 1895. Littlefield was a cattle baron, banker and president of the Texas Rangers.Major Littlefield purchased the hotel for $106,000 in cash and vowed that the hotel would never close again. He sold the hotel in 1903.

The Driskill was home to many inaugural balls over the years. The hotel added a barbershop, woman's spa and another 60 rooms. In 1930 the Maximilian Room was built in the site of the former Men's Parlor and Smoking Room. The room was named for eight famous Austrian gold-leaf-framed mirrors that once belonged to Emperor Maximilian of Mexico.

In 1934 The Driskill was where aspiring politician Lyndon Baines Johnson met his future wife, the future Lady Bird Johnson. When LBJ was president ,the Driskill was used as a headquarters for the White House Press Corps when they were in Texas. A suite was permanently reserved for President Johnson. That suite is now called the Governor's Suite.

In June of 1969, the Driskill was closed for a complete remodeling and the addition of the 19 story tower. The plans for the tower fell through and the hotel faced demolition.

In 1970, a community effort, called the Save-the-Driskill, raised over $700,000 to restore the hotel. Three years later the hotel hosted a series of grand reopening galas. Over the next 30 years, the hotel had a series of owners, each pouring millions of dollars into the property, which is completely refurbished.

The Driskill Hotel is a luxurious historic hotel with contemporary amenities. The AAA Four Diamond hotel features 4 hour room service, concierge, executive business center, 24 hour fitness studio, cable television, and high speed Internet access. Fine dining at the hotel includes Driskill Grill and 1886 Cafe & Bakery. The Driskill Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America national Trust for Historic Preservation.

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