Hotel Galvez (Grand Galvez)

Named the most haunted hotel in Texas, the Hotel Galvez opened in 1911 as a symbol of Galveston's recovery from the devastating 1900 hurricane that killed approximately 8,000 people. The hotel stands near where Sister Katherine and orphan children were washed out to sea during the storm. A portrait of the hotel's namesake, Bernardo de Galvez, hangs on the second floor with eyes that allegedly follow guests.

The Hotel Galvez, known as the "Queen of the Gulf," opened in 1911 and has stood watch over Galveston Island for more than a century. But beneath its elegant facade lies a legacy of tragedy that begins with the Great Storm of 1900—the deadliest natural disaster in American history.

Room 501 is the hotel's most haunted chamber, eternally occupied by the spirit known as Audra the Ghost Bride. In the mid-1950s, 25-year-old Audra was engaged to a mariner who often sailed from the Port of Galveston. She would rent Room 501 during his voyages, climbing the ladder to the red-tiled rooftop each day to watch for his ship. When word reached her that his vessel had been lost with all hands, she waited several more days before hanging herself from one of the turrets in despair. Tragically, her fiancé arrived in Galveston just days later—he had survived the disaster, only to discover his bride had been recently buried.

Today, visitors to Room 501 report lights and water faucets turning on and off at random, doors slamming without cause, and televisions flickering inexplicably. Front desk staff have persistent problems making electronic key cards for the room, as if an unseen force interferes with the equipment. One housekeeper reported strange light emanating from the vacant room. During a paranormal investigation, activity was so intense that investigators fled unexpectedly. Senior concierge Jackie Hasan states simply: "Her spirit is locked inside the hotel—she never crossed over." The room is so sought-after that guests must book a year in advance for October stays. In 2023, the hotel threw a "Ghost Bride Ball" in Audra's honor.

But Audra is not alone. The hotel may stand above a mass grave from the 1900 Hurricane, when ninety orphaned children and ten Sisters of Charity perished. Their rope-bound remains were discovered along the hotel's beach and buried on-site. Guests now hear phantom children running, laughing, and playing piano throughout the hotel. A ghostly girl in 19th-century clothing has been seen bouncing a ball near the lobby and staircase. Construction workers have witnessed her apparition during renovations.