Ah, dear reader, let’s take a journey through The Driskill Hotel—a masterpiece of Texas opulence and a living monument to ambition, tragedy, and mystery. From cattle barons to presidents, the hotel has hosted the influential and the ill-fated alike. But what makes The Driskill more than just a luxurious stay is the stories it keeps—stories woven with both historical intrigue and ghostly whispers that continue to echo through its ornate corridors.
A Legacy That Refuses to Fade
Built in 1886 by Colonel Jesse Driskill, a Texas cattle baron with dreams as grand as the hotel itself, The Driskill was intended to be the finest establishment west of the Mississippi. The Romanesque design, with its limestone arches and marble floors, exudes elegance to this day. But despite the hotel’s initial grandeur, Driskill’s dream unraveled quickly—he lost both the hotel and his fortune to financial woes, dying just four years later in 1890. Yet, if the tales are true, the Colonel never really left.
Guests and staff alike report catching whiffs of cigar smoke drifting through the halls, though the hotel has been smoke-free for over a decade. Many claim to have spotted Driskill’s apparition in full 19th-century cowboy attire, casually chatting with guests as if time were still on his side. One particularly unnerving encounter involved a security guard who quit after hearing a disembodied male voice ask, “Got a match?”—even though no one was there. And it doesn’t end with smells and voices; lights flicker without warning, and doors creak open as if welcoming invisible guests.
It seems The Driskill’s namesake remains its most loyal patron, ever-watchful and just mischievous enough to remind visitors that history isn’t ready to fade quietly into the night.
Samantha Houston: A Tragic Child’s Play
Not all of The Driskill’s spectral residents have such stately airs. The playful spirit of Samantha Houston, daughter of a Texas senator, is said to linger in the hotel to this day. Her tragic fall down the grand staircase in 1887 has left an indelible mark on the hotel. Guests still report hearing the soft thud of a bouncing ball and faint giggles near the stairs, as though the young girl’s game continues beyond the veil.
Adding to the eerie atmosphere, the fifth floor houses a portrait based on Charles Garland’s “Love Letter”—a painting believed to depict Samantha. Many guests describe an inexplicable unease when standing before it, as though the child in the painting is both aware of their presence and somehow watching them. Families with children sometimes report their little ones chatting about a “new friend” named Samantha, who invited them to play. But when they ask who Samantha is, they find only empty halls and silence.
Room 525: The Brides in Waiting
Of all the ghost stories tied to The Driskill, perhaps the most chilling ones center around Room 525. Known as the “Bride’s Room,” this suite holds the sorrowful stories of two women—both left heartbroken, both driven to the same tragic end nearly a century apart.
The first bride’s identity remains a mystery. All that is known is that her fiancé abandoned her, and in her despair, she ended her life within the room. Her Victorian-era figure is said to wander the halls, her white gown trailing behind her like a shadow of what might have been.
In a bizarre twist of history repeating itself, the second incident occurred in 1991, when a Houston socialite checked into Room 525 after being jilted at the altar. But this bride, defiant in her grief, embarked on a lavish shopping spree, maxing out her ex-fiancé’s credit cards. Unfortunately, her spree ended in tragedy when she took her life in the room’s bathtub. Since then, guests have reported encounters with a female apparition carrying shopping bags or clutching a pistol, only to watch her vanish into the room without opening the door.
The stories tied to Room 525 have made it one of the most requested—and feared—rooms in the hotel. Those who dare to stay report feeling a heavy, mournful presence, as though the room carries the weight of these lost dreams.
A Living Landmark
Though The Driskill has its share of ghosts, it remains very much alive. The hotel has hosted countless politicians, celebrities, and dreamers, including President Lyndon B. Johnson, who proposed to Lady Bird in the very dining room. Their love story is one of the many real-life romances that unfolded here—proof that the hotel holds as much joy as it does sorrow.
Even today, the hotel continues to draw visitors with its promise of history and elegance, offering luxury rooms and a timeless experience. Whether you come for the plush accommodations or the chance to glimpse something supernatural, The Driskill is a place where past and present coexist, waiting for those curious enough to listen.
Stay a While… If You Dare
So, dear reader, if you find yourself in Austin, consider making The Driskill your home away from home. Step through the grand revolving doors, let the echoes of history surround you, and explore the halls where presidents courted, children laughed, and jilted brides linger still.
And should you feel a chill along your spine, or catch a whiff of cigar smoke where none should be, tip your hat to Colonel Driskill. After all, the grand dame of Texas wouldn’t be complete without her most dedicated guests—living or otherwise.
But be warned: Should a voice ask, “Got a match?” you might want to think twice before answering. Some spirits, after all, prefer to keep their secrets—and their company—forever.
Image Credits: Bill Herndon, Alan Levine, Alan Levine
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