Two San Antonio hotels named among nation's most haunted

The Gunter and the Emily Morgan are the only hotels in Texas to appear on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2026 list of the 25 most haunted properties in the United States.

The nonprofit organization publishes the list annually as part of its Historic Hotels of America program. It aims to draw attention to historic buildings that hold local legends and ghost stories. The trust describes the list as a way to invite travelers to explore sites where lore and history intersect.

The Emily Morgan, a 102-year-old building, returned to the list after being absent for one year. The trust identifies it as one of the most active paranormal sites in North America due to its original function as a medical facility. The building's facade features carved grotesques that are said to writhe from pain. Inside, reports suggest that spectral nurses still perform their duties.

Historic Hotels detailed specific reports from guests staying on the fourteenth floor. These visitors described smelling a hospital-like odor and seeing hospital scenes instead of their rooms when opening their doors. On the twelfth floor, guests reported bathroom doors moving on their own, lights flashing, and apparitions of nurses pushing gurneys down the hall before disappearing.

The Gunter Hotel, built in 1909, holds a different kind of reputation. Its notoriety is tied to Room 636, the site of a famous 1965 murder. In that incident, a housekeeper discovered ex-con Walter Emerick next to a blood-soaked bed. Police found wine bottles, footprints, hair, and clothing but never located the victim's body.

Emerick later checked into the St. Anthony's room 536. He reportedly requested Room 636 again but was placed in the other room. He took his own life there before police could arrest him. The Gunter Hotel has maintained a connection to his memory since then.

Historic Hotels noted that guests and staff at the Gunter have reported cold spots, flickering lights, and whispers or footsteps when no one is present. Some visitors claim to have seen a shadowy figure near doorways or smelled cigar smoke despite the hotel's no-smoking policy.

The Gunter Hotel also received the designation of Best City Center Historic Hotel from the same program this year. This award recognizes properties that effectively integrate their history into the guest experience while maintaining high service standards.

Both hotels have adjusted their public presence to reflect their reputations. The Emily Morgan lists its mysterious occurrences on its website. The Gunter acknowledges the history of Room 636 but notes that the space has been remodeled, offering a more subdued presentation of the details.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation states that the list serves both believers and skeptics. It highlights how these unique hotels preserve stories of past guests and staff who remain part of the building's identity.