Creepy Myths and Urban Legends of Texas

Whether you grew up in Texas or became a Texan by choice, you’re probably familiar with some of the local urban legends and ghostly tales that crop up this time of year. Even so, there are many you may have never heard of. With Halloween around the corner, these creepy myths and legends of Texas are worth retelling. View Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth new inventory today, or If you have any questions give us a call at (817) 663-7404. 

The White Lady of Rio Frio

Image by D()MENICK via Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0

Situated about an hour and 40 minutes west of San Antonio near the community of Rio Frio, the Frio River harbors a ghostly tale of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. Witnesses have described a wisp of translucent fog that moves like a woman dressed in white, hence the legend’s name “The White Lady of Rio Frio.”

As the story goes, Maria Juarez lived in the early 1900s and had an older sister who was married to a man named Gregorio. Although Maria was several years younger than her sister, Gregorio noticed her beauty. Around the same time, Maria also caught the eye of a young man named Anselmo Tobar, and the two began courting. Gregorio took Maria aside and admitted his love for her, but Maria was appalled that her brother-in-law would betray her beloved sister, and she rejected him. Gregorio flew into a rage.

Fearing for her life, Maria fled to a location where Anselmo had agreed to meet her. Under the haunting glow of moonlight, Maria heard someone approach and she ran to greet Anselmo, only to find Gregorio with a pistol pointed at her heart. With one shot, Gregorio killed Maria and then hid behind the hay in a nearby barn.

When the community came to investigate, no one had any reason to suspect Gregorio, but the dogs they brought to the crime scene picked up the scent leading to the barn. Gregorio came out with his hands up and confessed, all the while swearing his love for Maria.

Over the years, many people in the community have seen a woman in white roaming the canyon. Even local children have seen her sitting on their beds at night. And so, the tragic story of Maria Juarez lives on in Rio Frio’s ghostly tale.

Lake Worth Monster

Texan folklore also has its share of legendary creatures, with the Lake Worth Monster (a.k.a. Goatman) coming in at the top of the list. Often described as part-man, part-goat, with long, clawed fingers and scales, the Lake Worth Monster is so notorious that the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge (where the creature is said to live) has held a Lake Worth Monster Bash each October since 2009.

Initial sightings occurred at Lake Worth in July 1969. At the time, newspapers published alleged sightings, including one in which the monster threw a car tire at a group of people. Another incident involved the creature jumping out of a tree and landing on a man’s car.

Newspapers also published a photograph taken by Allen Plaster of the purported creature. Plaster described the monster in his photo as a man-sized “white furball,” however, which contradicted other descriptions. He later said the sighting was likely a prank. In fact, over the years, numerous incidents involving high school students have been reported as suspected pranks. Regardless, the Lake Worth Monster has remained a prominent figure in cryptozoology and local popular culture.

The Lady of White Rock Lake

One of the Dallas area’s most well-known legends is the Lady of White Rock Lake. According to legend, a young woman wearing a sopping wet dress circa the 1930s haunts the lake and flags down drivers to ask if they can bring her home. When drivers do give her a ride, she suddenly disappears and leaves the seat wet.

In 1943, Anne Clark wrote an account called “The Ghost of White Rock” for the Texas Folklore Society. In Clark’s account, a young couple was parked on the shore of White Rock Lake and saw the woman coming toward them. She was dressed in a sheer, white, wet dress and climbed into the couple’s rumble seat, giving them an address in the Oak Cliff neighborhood. When they turned around to ask for directions, the rumble seat was empty and wet.

The couple continued on to the address the lady had given them, and a sad man answered the door. He said they were the third couple to show up with that story, and that his daughter had drowned three weeks prior while sailing on White Rock Lake.

Snuffer’s Ghost

One of the more surprising haunted locations in Texas is Snuffer’s Restaurant & Bar in the Lower Greenville area of Dallas. Everyone who works at Snuffer’s knows the place is haunted, but the origin of Snuffer’s Ghost is a bit murky.

Supposedly, a man was murdered in the original pool hall building before it was demolished in 2013 to create the existing restaurant. There’s also a story that the site was constructed on an old children’s cemetery. Apparently, the man who became Snuffer’s Ghost was murdered a few decades ago and fell down the stairs. His lifeless body blocked the men’s restroom door, resulting in the current bathroom door creaking.

Most employees have experienced unnerving encounters with Snuffer’s Ghost, from hearing footsteps late at night to hearing their names called out when nobody is there. One customer snapped a picture with a mirror in the frame, and upon reviewing the photos, saw a ghostly face in the mirror. The ghost was described as skeleton-like and wearing what appeared to be a coat.

Another general manager’s account occurred at closing. He saw a black silhouette over the secondary bar area and assumed it was a bartender cleaning up after an event, but when he went to check if they were finished, he realized he was alone. Many employees come to work at Snuffer’s as skeptics only to leave as believers.

Urban Legends & Scary Myths In Fort Worth, TX

With so many haunting tales and urban legends permeating Texas folklore, consider visiting one of these locations this spooky season. Who knows, you may experience your own close encounter and have a personal story to tell. Have you already had a ghostly encounter? Let us know in the comments!