DID YOU KNOW Spirits are Known to Haunt the Rio Grande Valley?

By Dr. Kimberly Selber

As the goldenhues of autumn cast their spell and the crispness of October evenings begins to chill, the allure of Halloween takes hold. And while children prepare their spookiest costumes, legends of lingering souls and paranormal encounters become the talk of the town. In the rich tapestry of the Rio Grande Valley’s history, a few places stand out for their haunted tales - the Port Isabel Lighthouse, the old Hidalgo County jail, and McAllen’s Casa de Palmas Hotel.

PORT ISABEL LIGHTHOUSE: BEACON FOR THE LOST

Perched majestically on the coast, the Port Isabel Lighthouse has withstood the ravages of time, hurricanes, and even wars. But beyond its historical importance, this lighthouse has been a hub of ghostly sightings and eerie sounds.

Visitors often recount seeing the spectral image of a Civil War soldier, pacing the lighthouse’s top gallery, or looking out to sea. Legend has it that he’s still on the lookout for his fallen comrades. Others speak of shadowy figures and ghostly footsteps echoing within the lighthouse’s walls. Some even claim to have heard hushed conversations in Spanish, harkening back to a time when Spanish ships sailed these waters.

OLD HIDALGO COUNTY JAIL: ECHOES OF DESPAIR

A relic of the past, the old Hidalgo County Jail in Edinburg stands as a testament to the grim realities of frontier justice. While it no longer houses inmates, its cold stone walls hold memories of those who once called it ‘home.’

There’s the tale of the only man ever executed at the jail, Abram Ortiz. In 1913, Ortiz was publicly hung from the jail’s second-story gallows. Jail guards from years gone by have reported hearing the sound of shackles dragging across the floor in the dead of night or cell doors creaking open, only to find the cells empty upon inspection. Those who dare to visit have sometimes felt a cold chill or heard his chuckles when no one else is around.

MCALLEN CASA DE PALMAS: GENTEEL GHOSTS

The Casa de Palmas in McAllen, built in 1918 as a sixty-room resort in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. But amidst its lush gardens and elegant decor lie tales of the supernatural.

Guests have reported seeing ghostly figures in different parts of the hotel. Some have seen an elderly lady in the basement searching for something she lost. Others claim to have seen a veiled woman roaming the halls. One poltergeist is known to the hotel staff as Miss Roxy, a former hotel employee who can be seen on the third floor near her former office. Once, a hotel manager called the McAllen police, thinking someone had broken into the roof, only to have the police encounter an angry spirit.

The Rio Grande Valley, with its rich history, is a treasure trove of tales that span generations. As Halloween draws near, it’s the perfect time to explore these haunted locales but perhaps it’s wise to do so in the company of others, lest you come face-to-face with the spirits that call these places home. After all, in the words of Shakespeare, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”