National Trust Names Two San Antonio Hotels Among 25 Most Haunted in U.S.

The Gunter Hotel and the Emily Morgan Hotel in San Antonio have been named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of the 25 most haunted hotels in the United States. The two properties are the only entries from Texas on the 2026 roster. This annual recognition is part of the Historic Hotels of America program, which uses supernatural lore to draw attention to the preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods.

The Emily Morgan Hotel, which opened in 1924, returns to the list after being absent last year. The trust describes the 102-year-old structure as one of North America’s most active paranormal sites. This reputation stems from its original function as a medical facility. Carved grotesques on the building’s facade are said to writhe from pain, while spectral nurses are reported to still provide care within the halls.

Guests on the fourteenth floor have reported a hospital-like smell and visions of a hospital scene upon opening their doors. Reports from the twelfth floor include bathroom doors opening and closing spontaneously, flashing lights, and apparitions of nurses pushing gurneys down corridors before disappearing.

The Gunter Hotel, built in 1909, holds a darker history centered on Room 636. In 1965, housekeeper staff found Walter Emerick, an ex-convict, standing beside a blood-soaked bed in that room. Police discovered empty wine bottles, bloody footprints, blonde hair, and women’s clothing, but the victim’s body was never located. Emerick later took his own life in Room 536 at the St. Anthony Hotel before his arrest.

Since the 1960s, occupants of the Gunter have reported unexplained cold spots, flickering lights, and faint whispers or footsteps in empty rooms. Some guests claim to have seen a shadowy figure near doorways or smelled cigar smoke, despite the hotel’s no-smoking policy. The trust notes that the Gunter recently also received the award for Best City Center Historic Hotel for its hospitality and service.

Both hotels have integrated their eerie reputations into their marketing. The Emily Morgan promotes its mysterious occurrences on its website. The Gunter acknowledges the history of Room 636 but notes that the room has been remodeled, glossing over the grisler details of the 1965 murder.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation released the list to invite heritage travelers to discover properties where legends create memorable stays. The organization aims to preserve diverse historic buildings whether visitors believe in the supernatural or not.