The Spirits of the Waco Hippodrome Theater

Posted: 01.15.2025 | Updated: 03.12.2025

Since 1993, Waco, Texas, has forever been tied to the tragedy of the “Waco Siege,” where almost 80 people lost their lives after a 50-day standoff between officials and the leaders and followers of the Branch Davidians cult. This event, along with other disasters, has led to the small city of Waco being full of ghostly activity. Perhaps the greatest example of this is right downtown, within the Waco Hippodrome Theater. 

Over a century old, the Waco Hippodrome Theater is home to all kinds of regular spirits, many resulting from a deadly fire in the 1920s. Yet, it is only one of several haunted theaters across Central Texas.

Book an Austin Ghost tour soon to catch a glimpse of one of the most haunted places in all of Texas!

Who Haunts the Waco Hippodrome Theater?

Several ghosts are said to call the Waco Hippodrome home. From a little girl who likes to prank guests to a man dressed in full cowboy gear, there is no shortage of characters in this still-active theater. 

Throughout its 100-year history, the theater has hosted its fair share of notable guests along with ordinary Waco residents. Who are the ones who have chosen to stay? Or perhaps the better question is: are they unable to leave?

The History of the Waco Hippodrome Theater 

The Waco Hippodrome was built to be the town’s crown jewel in the downtown area. Opening in February of 1914, the theater welcomed patrons to watch orchestras, magic shows, and live musical groups for the ripe price of 10 cents a ticket. 

While the theater hosted many vaudeville troupes throughout the 20s, they transitioned to silent films once Hollywood broke onto the scene. Before long, the theater had even installed technology to watch the new “talkies.” 

During this period, lots of famous faces caught a flick at the Hippodrome, including Duke Ellington, Fanny Brice, and even Elvis Presley while he was stationed at the nearby Fort Hood. 

But it wasn’t all success for the theater. In the 70s, as people started moving out to the suburbs, fewer customers wanted to drive downtown to watch a movie in the Hippodrome. The theater shuttered for several periods throughout the next few decades until finally being bought by the current owners in 2014. 

Since converting the upstairs space into a theater and the lobby into a bar, the theater has seen a resurgence in interest and popularity in recent years. Of course, part of this rise could be due to people wanting to spot the theater’s spookier patrons for themselves. 

Ghosts of the Waco Hippodrome

There are many stories from customers and staff about the spirits that live within the Waco Hippodrome Theater. Some apparitions have even been caught on camera — showing they’re not too shy at all to make their presence known. 

The Victims of the 1920s Fire

Many of the spirits are attributed to a deadly fire that happened in 1928. A fire started in the projection room (not surprising, as nitrate film is highly flammable) and quickly spread, destroying the entire front of the theater. 

While the death toll isn’t known, multiple people were said to have been trampled in the stampede to leave the burning theater. People believe audience members and staff may have perished based on the spirits that are still in the building.

For example, a faint applause can often be heard in the theater when there is no one in the room. Also, the clattering of dishes can be heard in strange places away from the kitchen. Could this be a lost employee, continuing to work a century after their death?

The Little Girl

A journalist went on a ghost tour of the theater in 2023 to see if she experienced any unusual activity. Just as the tour guide was telling the group about the 1928 fire, the journalist felt someone touch her shoulder. “It felt firm, and slightly electric, like someone had laid a hand on me and lightly shocked me.”

As no one was standing near the journalist, she shrugged it off. But then, she felt something falling down the back of her shirt. “I feel something light, almost like a piece of popcorn, fall down my shirt. I reach to grab it, feel it in my hand, then drop it on the ground. But when I looked down to see what it was, nothing was there.”

The journalist told her guide, who said it was likely the little girl ghost who likes to pick on customers and moviegoers. Since they were standing next to the concession stand, he figured the little girl — or one of the other child spirits who lived in the theater — was likely throwing popcorn at her.

The Singing Ghost

One spirit really likes the limelight, apparently. “The Singing Ghost,” as she was referred to, would pop up in the green room where performers were getting ready. She would sing for a little bit and then disappear into thin air. One can only guess what that experience did to the performers right before a show. 

The Cowboy Dressed in Black

One of the most unexplainable instances came when an employee was closing up for the night. When he approached one of the outside doors, he noticed how it was much cooler in that spot, like someone had just opened the door. He also smelled cigarette smoke. 

After re-locking the door, the employee walked away to try and hunt down whoever had snuck in. However, after searching the premises, he couldn’t find anyone. Then, he went to the security footage. 

Here, the employee was in for a shock. Just after the employee rounds a corner out of shot of the camera, a black figure appears on-screen. The silhouette follows the worker for a bit before turning into a wall and disappearing. 

Others have said this ghost is a man who dresses in all-black cowboy gear, complete with spurs on his boots. 

Other Odd Instances Caught on Camera

In addition to the black shadowy figure, a bartender noticed a strange incident one night while reviewing security footage. The bartender had walked away from the bar for a moment. You can see there is no one near the bar on the tape. Yet, inexplicably, a glass moves off the counter and falls to the floor — shattering upon impact. 

The bartender didn’t even notice the broken object at first until they stepped on the glass. 

Haunted Austin

While Waco has plenty of ghost stories it can boast about, the capital city of Austin has even more creepy and scary tales from its long history as a hub for the South.

One of the most well-known haunted sites in Austin is the Capitol Building. Several ghosts roam its halls, including a former government worker who was murdered in cold blood in his office.

Not far from the State Capitol building are two other spectral-heavy locations: the Paramount Theater and The Driskill Hotel. While both are stunning architecturally, they each have their own ghosts who will surprise guests and theatergoers as they try to enjoy a fun night out. 

To see haunted Austin for yourself, book a ghost tour with Austin Ghosts tonight. 

Want to learn about other haunted theaters and sites around the United States? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To read about other haunted locations in Austin, Waco, and Texas as a whole, check out our blog.

Sources: 

• https://www.britannica.com/event/Waco-siege
• https://wacohistory.org/items/show/54
• https://www.bfi.org.uk/features/all-about-nitrate-film
• https://blogs.baylor.edu/texascollection/2015/05/19/texas-over-time-waco-hippodrome-theatre/
• https://www.kwbu.org/news/2023-10-31/wacos-haunted-heritage-pt-4
• https://www.wacoan.com/the-grackle/stranger-than-fiction/
• https://www.kxxv.com/story/36732439/spooky-hippodrome-staff-talk-about-possible-ghost-sightings
• https://www.kwtx.com/2023/10/24/ghost-sightings-mysterious-encounters-linger-downtown-waco/
• https://www.kxxv.com/story/36170001/spooky-video-shows-glass-mysteriously-fall-off-counter-at-hippodrome