The Haunting of Austin’s Inn at Pearl Street

Posted: 01.26.2020 | Updated: 02.26.2025

This quaint Austin landmark, Austin’s Inn at Pearl Street is a rather cute hotel that has slowly transformed into a curated spot for ghost hunting aficionados. The posh boutique hotel, with its vintage settings and delicate inlays, is one of Austin’s oldest homes. Quite possibly, also one it’s most haunted.

Some even say it’s one of the most haunted places in Texas. The rich haunted history found at Austin’s Inn at Pearl Street is parallel to what’s found throughout the Bat City. Buckle up, because you are in for a ride.

Discover it all on a Austin ghost tour with Austin ghosts.

History of Austin’s Inn at Pearl Street

The original building was commissioned by one of Austin’s most prominent members at the tail end of the 19th century, Judge Charles A. Wilcox.

It was finally constructed in the year 1896 with the first official record of it dating to 1914. The judge rapidly moved his family in and started to throw all types of decadent parties and boombastic affairs.

The house is landlocked in a section of Austin that was caught up in a swell of social growth and economic prosperity. It has since become a cultural icon of the era.

The waxing nature of Austin finally tilted inexorably towards the red when the Great Depression curtailed the nation’s progress.

Capitalism was dealt a blow in the 1920s and the Judge ended up selling/losing his home. He died and the home started down the path of desolation. After a couple of years, the derelict and abandoned structure was eventually bought up by the State and sold off to a housing development firm.

Until the late 1980s, the place was a den for the dregs of society, used up by a series of renters, brigands and finally as a housing co-op. By the early 1990s, the bills were starting to stack and the owners had no choice but to sell the property at a fraction of its cost.

In 1990, the purchase was made and with the transfer of the deed came a new avenue of progress for the grand old fame. The former derelict spot was granted a new lease on life and was fully renovated… now, it would try its hand as a vintage hotel.

Jill Beckford, the hotel’s current owner, brought the Judge’s old home back to its former glory.

Ghosts On Pearl Street

Since the early days of renovation, even before the hotel even opened its doors, Jill started noticing the tall-tell signs of a ghostly infestation. Brooms started to fall over every time she’d approach them. Lights began switching on and off randomly. Cold spots were a daily occurrence.

Considering the age of the building, and its history, people weren’t surprised when rumors started circulating and word of mouth spread on the hotel’s ghostly inhabitants.

Over the years, the hotel and its staff have been assailed by not only their own confrontation with otherworldly presences but by the guest’s stories of what the experienced and saw during their stays.

Guests at the Austin’s Inn at Pearl Street have described multiple apparitions that seem to haunt the area. One of the most iconic, and prevalent is that of a woman dressed in white sitting in a rocker with two babies. The woman in a state of tranquility looking out at nothing simply nursing her kids.

Other paranormal events seem to plague Austin’s Inn continually. Many hear random noises echoing from rooms that are empty.

The walls emit unsettling screeches, almost as if something is trapped within them, clawing to get out. Music suddenly blares from empty corners and abandoned rooms, filling the air with an inexplicable, presence.

The lights flicker on and off sporadically. Seemingly normal for an old house. Bu not while the electricity is shut off!

Beckford, meanwhile, has gotten used to the ghost. See has continuously declined offers from exorcists and the like to have her ectoplasmic mascots removed. She believes that she is dealing with friendly spirits and that they can live peacefully in the same building.

Haunted Austin

Austin’s Inn at Pearl Street is captivating. With its blend of history, luxury, and lingering spirits, it is a must-visit destination for ghost hunters and history buffs. Its storied past, from grandeur to decay and revival, has only added to the mystique surrounding its spectral inhabitants.

A stay at this historic hotel promises an unforgettable experience whether for the chilling encounters or the atmosphere. For those brave enough, an Austin ghost tours offers the perfect way to uncover the most haunted places in Austin.

Sources:

• http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=199534
• https://thedailytexan.com/2016/10/31/austins-inn-at-pearl-street-hosts-friendly-spirits
• https://www.bikeandbrewatx.com/news/2018/10/30/paranormal-activity-keep-austin-spooky