My mom and I stayed here for 2 nights back in 2015. 10th floor. The moment the elevator door opened, I got an overwhelming feeling of uncomfort. The first night, I could not sleep. I kept feeling like someone was hovering over me, watching me. I was scared all night. The next day I looked up the history. Really eerie. The 2nd night wasn't bad though. At least I knew the history then.

I have a picture backstage when I was working there one night that it looks like there's a waitress up in the rafters in a white shirt and a tie with no head

Wonderful article. Had to search to find this detailed history of the Majestic. Moved to Dallas in 1955 and this was the "date'" place. It was probably the Majestic (also went to the other theaters) where the place was so crowded that had to sit on the first row at The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit. Was at the last showing of Live and Let Die July 16, 1973 and will never forget all of the great movies and memories.

I worked at Thistle Hill in the summer of 1997. We often heard footsteps and music that was unexplained, all of us busily working in the office, with no tours on the grounds. Many times, while crossing the main stair landing to turn off lights, it felt as though there was a spot of air conditioning. However, there were no vents on or near the main landing. Many days lights would be turned off that we had turned on, doors would be shut, that were opened, and small items would be moved across rooms where noone had gone. Out of the norm experience were common in the house and we all had a habit of greeting Electra upon entering the house each morning.

Holy Crap! Just found out this place is Haunted and we're in the room where the creepy stuff happens!!! Yikes!!

My great aunt Alma Cramer lived in the hotel for at least 20 years up until it closed in the 70, s.She worked the elevator. It was one of those elevators where you closed the metal grid and then the door shut. She lived in room 811. My sister and I stayed with her every weekend. It was such a cool lobby. We ate our dinners in the coffee shop. I read the post about the elevator stopping on the 8th floor. Just say hello to Aunt Alma.

Hi, I'm Steve and I visited the Bishop's Palace and absolutely nothing interferd with me. All I saw was wonderfully preserved piece of History. I had a good time. Thank you.

I did not know the history. Grandkids and husband, stayed a weekend. Several times i would push button to go down to lobby from the fifth floor and elevator would go straight to tenth floor. Took elevator from lobby to fifth and it went to tenth floor. Lights were not lit up, like some one called the elevator. Grandsons said same happened to them, but it kept taking them to the basement. Course they never got off the elevator. They said it was weird. Then got home and read history, then i made sense. I'm not afraid of spirits, but it was interesting.

I think that your city of Gonzales and the surrounding area is really great, for all the history that has taken place in the past. I am a history lover from my state of Oregon, but our history is not as rich as here in TX.

Born in Texas. Been to Galveston several times and never visited this castle...now planning a trip just to see the castle. Can't wait.

My grandfather died of a heart attack in the Majestic back in 1941. I believe I have read stories of a man seen in the balcony. Anyone else read about this?

Stayed a few days at the Lawrence, on floor 10, while attending a conventon in Dallas.. Felt like I was being watched, even while bathing. Notices extremely cold spots often, even though the outside temp was in the 80's and the AC seemed to work, set at 70, i still froze when walking in certain areas. The creepiest thing though was as I was descending in the elevator to the first floor, it stopped at the 3rd floor and a door opened and I looked up and saw a man there. I moved to the side of the elevator and waited for him to walk in. Looked back up from my phone and no one was there. Peeked my head around the corner of the elevator door and there was no one in the hall, either. I know I saw a younger blonde gentleman in his 20''s or 30''s standing there. Still remember his looks... but sure as hell, *snap* he disappeared, just like that! Moved to a different hotel the next day, lol:)

My mother Dorthy Fay Butler lived in the Winfield Scott Mansion during the 1940s, when it was housing underprivileged girls. Girls Service League. I remember visiting "The League", (as my mother called it) as a child during the holidays. There would be a Christmas party and we would attend. I recently took my daughters to Fort Worth and we toured "The League". It was fun to see where my mother had lived during her high school years.

Booked a room here in December 2016. Was in the elevator by myself and felt like I was being watch/followed. There was just a general sense of doom/gloom/creepiness. Thought something was a little off so I googled the hotel - and found out then it was haunted. We couldn't leave that place fast enough!

As I walked in the entrance of the basement I immidiately smelled this sent and it wasn't horrible but it smelled wired like an old perfume. I proceeded to walk in and the air was thick and heavy. I walked around and mind you I have never visited before nor did I know any history of the house. I walked towards the back of the basement and a gentalman was standing behind a little both that had T-shirts. I started to chat with him and immidiately I felt hot around my ears, goosebumps,and tingling feeling all through my face. I told him that this place is very haunted and that the activity is very active up on the top floors. He smiled and he said "yes it is". I told him that since I was a child I could hear, feel, and see spirits. He too had the same experiences and understood what I was experiencing. I paid for the tour and before walking up the stairs I felt this pressure like a headache and a little nauseous. I just grounded myself and took a deep breath and proceeded to go up the stairs to the first floor. The air became lighter and the weird smell of old perfume left. The funny thing is.. some of the areas of the house the smell was strong. It was a nice visit..but my two year old and husband didn't join me because my two year old son said that he saw a monster in the basement area and started crying and didn't want to walk any further. Oh and yes...there was a family with a little toddler around a 1year old. The poor toddler would not stop crying. I will return to visit and get to see the 3rd floor because it was closed off.

Stayed there in July of 2014. Checked in and was given a key to my room. Went to room and key worked, but was locked from the inside. Knocked on the door and no one answered. Went down stairs to tell clerk that I thought they gave me the wrong room. She only said "Oh yeah I gave you that room. Sorry." Later that night, in my new room, I went to sleep with curtains open, and during the night the curtains closed. My wife swears that she didn't close them.

I was there with my two grand grandchildren this weekend, we thought it was beautiful and peaceful. When I was a child we went as a family to a wake a Bishop was lying in state, and as we passed to view the body we kissed the Bishop's ring an event I will hold in my heart forever.

I had never heard of the Hotel Lawrence until today. My cousin was visiting from Seattle, we took the train from Richardson to the West End to go visit the 6th Floor Museum. On the walk back to the train station, I got a bit turned around looking for the Kennedy Memorial...and every time I looked up I saw the Hotel Lawrence. I told my cousin I had never heard of that hotel and when I got back home, I was going to GOOGLE it....boy am I glad I did....I WANT TO STAY THERE! I am intrigued! Too bad I've already gotten my birthday presents, because I'd sure ask for a weekend stay at this hotel!

I'm one of the few people that have an intimate relationship with it. Your facts are almost right. The place is way bigger than 7k. Also, it is not said that it's haunted. There had only been one death in the house. That of Bishop Byrne. His sister's lived there with him during that. His wake was held there in the grand reception room. And no slaves were there. Slaves were freed by the time the house was constructed. He was to prominent to go around killing local black workers. It would have ruined his lustrous career. But one thing you do have right. The stairs make people ill. We think its cause of the temperature. No A/C. But people see those stairs and freak.

I loved visiting this place. I felt the calm easy spirits of the family that first owned the house and seen them sitting in the sun room. It was the best historical place I have ever visited in my life. I wanted to see ALL of it.

My uncle and I ran phone and internet cabling when it was still the Lawrence. This was in 2001 and the hotel was being completely renovated. We did work on every floor and the tenth was the absolute worst. Ive never gotten more chills in my life than working on the 8th to 10th floor. It seemed like it got worse the higher you went up. The constant feeling someone was watching you. Moving up and down the halls. The last two rooms to the left on the tenth floor. Especially the last one i didnt enjoy being in. I can tell you this, i didnt know it was haunted at the time. But Im glad there are more stories, to atleast make me feel a little less crazy about that whole experience.

I stayed there on my birthday, October 30, 1999 and it was terrifying. My mom and I were there for a Stars game and we had a room on the corner of the tenth floor. I had never been to Dallas but when I looked out the window I told my mom that the building I was looking at was so familiar to me and then asked her if she was sure I had never been to Dallas with her as a child. She said no. I just couldn't shake the feeling that I remembered that view or that I had been to that building. It turns out I was looking at the book depository. A lot of creepy things happened that night including the elevator stopping between the 9th and 10th floor when we initially went up there. Then when we were about to go to sleep it sounded like the building was actually moving. We also saw a big black spot on the ceiling that we couldn't identify. It was all very creepy, especially since the lobby was decorated for Halloween. The next day some crazy things happened when we actually went over to the area where Kennedy was shot. It was a very bizarre trip. Kind of intriguing, but scary. I am not sure I would go back and stay the night again. I did move to Dallas a few months later though.

I always pass in front this castle and I always thought that this was one of my dream castles my mom also said that one day she would like to buy this caste for me.now that I read this I think that it's creepy just to pass in front some place that's haunted and I never knew it.oh well,I still like this place it's pretty but now it's preety and scary at the same time.weird thing is that my mom still wants to buy it.she also said that she would like to do some research.

Me and a co- worker stayed here for a conference well, actually we didn't stay the night, we started to stay but ended up leaving in the middle of the night, just when we got ready for bed I was taking a shower and while I was showering, my friend googled the history of the hotel and was dressed packed and ready to go! Lol! She was beating on the door saying " girl let's get the hell out of here!" I said why? She said " this place is haunted!" It was too funny! But I will say this as I was taking my shower the water would keep going cold but I figured it was just bad plumming do to the "old" condition of the hotel my friends swears it was "ghost" the room did feel Berry cold so I turned the heater on before I went to shower, I did notice after I took my shower a bar if soap was laying on the floor outside the tub but I don't remember seeing it before I begin my shower, I figured it was just the nastyness of the hotel housekepping but I did ask my friend if she had opened any of the bars of soap, she said yes but only the bar that was on the sink to wash her hands I was like, well it 3 bars open the one o opened and the one on the sink that she opened and another on the floor (???) Wasn't sure if it was ghost related or just bad houskeeping but she NIR I remember seeing a bar of soap on the floor when we went into the bath room at first. Needless to stay my friend was way to freaked out about what she read when she googled so we got the hell outaavther and booked at the Crown Plazza around the way. And the Attendant didn't seem to be bothered about us leaving he enev call the Crown Plazza for us! Hmm? Lol!

Im staying in the room right now with wife and son...nothing so far

Ok we'll I stayed in the room 1015 without knowing it was a haunted hotel... when we first walked in me, my mom, my dad and my sister could all tell there was something up with the hotel (it reminded us of the tower of terror). My dad googled it late at night and didn't tell us until the next morning. By that time we checked out!! And FYI we did notice stuff like that... My little 8 year old sister was talking to my mom from the couch and then got up to tell her something and in the middle of her talking she was like oooo it's really cold over here! (The room was very hot) and when I was in the bathroom I was right infront of the mirror doing my hair and then I looked at the corner of the mirror in the shower (Nobody was showering) and I saw a girls face pressed against the glass and so I ran out of the bathroom! Never going there again!

i'm currently staying in room 1015 (the penthouse) right now.....everything inside the room seems normal....the hallway is a different story.....lol

On my table is a photo of my assistant's great grandfather with a Sunday hat holding a bouquet of flowers in front of his Galveston home, sometime in the early 20th century. It's fun to think that he probably knew Miss Bettie.

We had the pleasure of staying for one night this week. Had no idea of its history until my daughter googled it. She, her two other teen friends and the three parents stayed in rooms on the 5th and 8th floors. The night clerk was kind enough to let us "visit" room 1009. Sadly, we experienced no strange effects: no cold spots, no sounds, no nothing. But of course after that visit, and the subsequent conversations the rest of the night, my daughter slept almost on top of me for the night, and wouldn't be left alone in the room at all. lol

I am at the hotel right now 2014 I feel it's creep and things are very old but nothing weird just yet headed up to the 10th floor. I will repost if something happens but if not...maybe I am dead.

Stayed in Room 1009 last week, friends in 1012..Very interesting stay..None of us had ever stayed there and did not know of the history or hauntings, until a couple of days later, when I googled it! There was a very strong scent of cherry tobacco, which I believe was a pipe tobacco scent..nobody else in our group smelled it. A most comforting scent! A couple of things fell, but thought nothing of it...would love another few nights there!

We are staying in room 1009 this Valentine's Day. I will let y'all know if we have any unworldly experiences! I sure as hell hope so!!

Staying at the Lawrence Hotel for Fencing NAC in Dallas. Did not know the place was haunted. Did have some errie experiences.My room key did not work and it was because I was reported as checked out apparently despite that I was confirmed for another day. I guess some Ghost does not want me in my room Other than that. It was a good hotel. Have no complaints

Wow ... stayed a couple nights at the hotel just recently and didn't kno it was haunted till after we had got back home..I was n room 708 & I had to go to look for a maid becouse my toilet paper roll holder was missing.. went to the 10th flour and there was a eerie feeling...

We were this summer with several of my grand children.My daughter and myself had a few places that gave us the chills. Two of the grand kids ages 14 and 20 had several weird feeling. As we were leaving several of the kids started down the steps and I stepped on the landing and was hit with a really cold spot and anxiety.I had this feeling come over me of a black servant being pushed down the stairs. I would love to know if it really had happen. There was another family with a boy about the age of three or four.He cried the whole time he was there and kept wanting to leave.

Staying tonight, 1 night on the 6th floor. We had no idea that the hotel is haunted until we got back to our rm and looked it up on Google. When we first arrived to our rm we decided to go look around. We got on the elevator to go to the 10th floor, but the elevator stopped at floor 8 like someone had pushed the button, the doors opened, we looked out and no one was there. So we continued to the 10th and did not see or hear anything. Mind you, we had no idea this place was hunted until we returned to our room.:/. Now that I know, I'm going back out to chk things out:)

Stayed at the Lawrence with my son who is a soldier at Ft. Hood after hearing of the hauntings and specifically asked for the 10th floor. We were the only guests on the floor that evening and around 11pm we both heard soft crying from outside our room. Nothing seen but we stayed in the corridor for over an hour. Staff couldn't believe we stayed alone up there, would do it again in a heartbeat.

Yup, definitely haunted. I enjoyed the article.

very exciting and scary and interesting , hope I get to visit one day.

We're going there Wednesday night (July 31st)and we've requested Room 807. Is this the right room for Smiley? We really can't handle spending the night on the smoking floor, but we're hoping to see or hear something paranormal. Any advice for those of you who have been there?

I was the Controller for the Bradford Plaza in 1985-1986 under the Safdie ownership. They never told me these stories during those MOD weekend sleepovers! Not sure I ever stayed on the 10th floor however. Greetings to all former colleagues at the hotel!

Booked this hotel over a year ago for my recent stay. Didn't know at the time of booking it through Expedia that it was supposedly haunted. Once we found out we thought it would be a cool experience. First day we were there we were leaving our 9th floor room got on the elevator pushed floor 1 and the elevator doors closed. But before the elevator moved the doors opened like someone had pushed the down button from the outside of the elevator or open doors button from the inside. But these buttons if pushed were not pushed by a living human being. Nothing was there doors closed after we pushed the doors closed button. Second day we were there we had placed a flat iron hair CHI on a shelf and had left it there all day. We were gone about 6 hours returned back to our room turned on the tv and about thirty minutes later the CHI just fell to the floor. No one was near it or had been near it. Later that evening while trying to watch television, the channel changed and muted itself without being touched by the remote. The "mute" word even showed up on the tv screen. We tried to change the channel back and unmute the tv but it appeared the remote was no longer working or something not to be seen was blocking the sensor on the tv that the remote activates. After about 15 minutes the channel changed back to what we were originally watching and it unmuted itself. When we attempted to use the remote then it worked. I personally thought this was a very unique experience. Made me giggle.

It is a wonderful story. Especially the part of the ghost called smiley. It's creepy but interesting at the same time. Would like to go there sometime. I love places that are considered haunted or scary. I would also like to work there to see how it feels working at a haunted hotel.

I went to Galveston which i live in Texas. I had gone on a ghost tour just last night and they had brought us by the Haunted Castle of Galveston. It was really cool an she talked about how that they hear piano music in that one room with the clear windows and that people see two purple mist one of a man and one of a woman. Than when someone walks in that room to check it out the purple mist disappeer. The piano music stops which there really is not a piano in there. Thanks nice blog!!!!! <3 Myka

I just moved from Puerto Rico to Texas and started working for Skyline Staffing Services, and this was the first Hotel I visited. It wasn't until my third visit to the Hotel that I was told by a friend that it was haunted. The Hotel does feel old, but I didn't see any ghosts, even though I walked through room 806 (Yep, right next too 807) and had breakfast on the second floor (supposedly haunted too). I guess it would've been fun to see something or feel something weird or spooky.

My mother worked at this hotel when it was Lawrence hotel and coffee shop from 1965-1978 or 79. If anyone remember that time or place please post. My mother has gone on to glory and that is the only job I remember her working.

Very interesting site; I would love to visit Thistle Hill and hope to have an encounter with a ghost! The other Waggoner mansion, "El Castile" (in Wise County) is in somewhat of a state of disrepair but it must have been absolutely glorious in its hey day. I hope it will be restored to its former magnificence...would love to tour it too.

I stayed at this hotel several times years ago, I think it was called the Paramount, when I first stayed there. It was always strange to me, it was ridiculously affordable at that time, $70 a night, I think. One of the things that was odd to me is the first few times I stayed there, there were no other guest in the intire place, none I ever saw anyway. But I remember hearing old time music playing somewhere on my floor. Never could figure out where it came from. Before reading this, I had no idea that it was considered "haunted." I've been only a couple of times since it was renamed and remodeled, and seemed to always have plenty of guest, not to mention a much hirer price tags on the rooms.

I am a relative to Albert Buckman Wharton. I would love to see this place and research more on my family in Texas!

My mother was 'crazy' abt this Palace. We would visit there as often as possible. We spent hr upon hr at the local library & Houston library; while she researched the Palace. She spent yrs working on the book about the Palace; but it was never completed. She passed away in 1997. It wasn't considered 'haunted' while she was doing her research!