Ghosts haunt two San Antonio hotels

San Antonio holds a double spot on a national list of spooky places to stay.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation released its annual list of the 25 most haunted hotels in the United States. The Gunter Hotel and the Emily Morgan Hotel were the only two properties from Texas to make the cut. The Emily Morgan returned to the list after missing the previous year's ranking. The Gunter joined the group for the first time in this cycle.

Both buildings are downtown landmarks with long histories of reported paranormal activity. The Emily Morgan is a 102-year-old structure that originally served as a medical building. The trust describes it as one of North America's most active paranormal sites. The facade features carved grotesques that visitors say writhe from tooth pain and stomachaches. Inside, the hotel claims spectral nurses still provide care to guests.

Historic Hotels of America noted that guests on the fourteenth floor report a hospital-like smell. They also report visions of hospital scenes when opening their doors. On the twelfth floor, guests describe bathroom doors opening and closing on their own. Lights flash, and apparitions of nurses push gurneys down corridors before vanishing.

The Gunter Hotel was built in 1909 and carries a heavier reputation. Room 636 is the site of a famous murder from 1965. A housekeeper found ex-con Walter Emerick standing beside a blood-soaked bed that morning. Police found empty wine bottles, bloody footprints, strands of blonde hair, and women's clothing. They never found the body. Emerick later checked into the St. Anthony's Hotel in room 536, where he shot himself before arrest.

Guests at the Gunter report unexplained cold spots, flickering lights, and faint whispers or footsteps. Some claim to see a shadowy figure near doorways. Others catch the scent of cigar smoke despite the hotel's no-smoking policy. The hotel recently received the Best City Center Historic Hotel award from Historic Hotels. The honor recognizes properties that best celebrate their history in the guest experience and provide exceptional service.

The hotels have leaned into their reputations in different ways. The Emily Morgan lists its mysterious occurrences on its website. The Gunter mentions the remodeled state of room 636 but keeps some grisly details off its official page.