TEXAS — Cemeteries, ghost sightings and paranormal activity. The three elements of what make a location haunted, according to a 2023 article from BonusFinder. The website ranked all 50 states, and Texas took the spooky crown this year as the most haunted state in the U.S.

What You Need To Know

  • Texas ranks No. 1 when it comes to the most haunted states in the U.S.

  • The Lone Star State has 13,710 cemeteries, 7,517 ghost sightings, 525 haunted locations and 158 paranormal investigators

  • Some haunted spots include the Driskill Hotel in Austin, The Marfa Lights in Marfa, Bragg Road in Saratoga and many more

The state scored a 9.8 out of 10 as the most haunted state based on the amount of cemeteries, ghost sightings, haunted locations and paranormal investigators in the state.

Texas has 13,710 cemeteries, 7,517 ghost sightings, 525 haunted locations and 158 paranormal investigators. So if you're a fan of the paranormal, there's lots to explore in the the Lone Star State. 

In total, the state has 247.7 ghost sightings per 100,000 people. That's a lot of ghouls! This may be because of the state's old towns and historic battlefields. It boasts several haunted cities, including San Antonio, where the Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, and where hundreds of troops died.

The Lone Star State takes first place when it comes to paranormal activity; the state is home to 30.5 haunted places per 100,000 people.

Texas does fall a bit short in the amount of cemeteries per 100,000 people. West Virginia has us beat with 462.1 cemeteries per 100,000 while Texas has 451.8.

Overall, Texas is a great place to be during the Halloween season, as it stays spooky all year long.

Here are a few well-known spots for paranormal activity you can visit in Texas if you enjoy a good scare:

  • The Driskill Hotel, Austin
  • Hotel Galvez, Galveston
  • The Alamo, San Antonio
  • The White Sanitarium, Wichita Falls
  • The Marfa Lights, Marfa
  • Bragg Road, Saratoga
  • Yorktown Memorial Hospital, Yorktown