Opened in 1859, the Menger Hotel has earned the reputation of being the most haunted hotel in Texas, and for good reason. The hotel was founded by German immigrant William Menger following the Civil War. After numerous renovations, the Menger became the best-known hotel in the Southwest and remains a landmark to this day.
Before hospitals were common in the area, the Menger often served as a temporary refuge for the sick and pregnant women who could not reach medical care quickly enough. As a result, many people died within its walls, and it is said that their spirits still linger in the hotel.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt first visited the Menger in 1892 during javelina hunting trips. He returned in 1895 to recruit members for the Rough Riders, and again in 1905 for a banquet. He frequented the hotel so often that his ghost is reportedly seen in the bar area still searching for people to join the Rough Riders.
Sallie White
Sallie White was a beloved chambermaid at the Menger who truly loved her work. Tragically, her personal life was filled with suffering. She was married to a lawman who abused her, and she lived in constant fear. One night after a heated argument with her husband, she ran from him, only to be shot in the back. She lingered for two days before succumbing to her injuries.
After her death, the hotel paid for her headstone. An original receipt is still framed and displayed on the wall of the Menger. Sallie White is said to be the hotel’s most active ghost, continuing her duties in the halls she once cared for so passionately.
Richard King
Richard King was born into a poor Irish family and was sold at the age of nine as an apprentice to a Manhattan jeweler. In 1835, he ran away and was adopted by crew members on a ship who trained him in navigation. By age sixteen, he was a steamboat pilot. King later became a wealthy and influential land speculator in Brownsville, Texas, and invested in the riverboat industry.
He loved the Menger Hotel so much that he had his own suite, now known as the King Ranch Suite. In 1885, King died in this suite from stomach cancer. His funeral was held in the hotel lobby due to his prominence. Guests staying in the suite have reported seeing a glowing orb floating above the bed where he passed, suggesting that King’s spirit remains nearby.
Other Spirits
The Menger is also home to many lesser-known spirits, victims of the violence that often occurred around it. One such ghost is a little girl nicknamed “Sarah,” who was tragically run over by a horse-drawn buggy in front of the hotel. Staff report that her playful spirit enjoys tricking people around the kitchen and bar areas, and some guests have claimed to see a little girl in a white dress with long brown hair floating in the lobby.
Additionally, some believe that victims of the Alamo haunt the hotel, continuing their lives in spirit after being taken too soon.
For those brave enough to stay at the Menger Hotel, any supernatural sightings or experiences are encouraged to be reported to the front desk. You might catch a glimpse of history lingering just out of reach.
