By Shawna Mount
John Delgado, director of San Antonio Ghost Hunters, became interested in paranormal investigations after experiencing a haunting in his own home.
He said he and his family experienced several unexplainable happenings such as the appearance of black mist and shadow figures.
“One morning we found scratches on the back of my daughter’s leg,” Delgado said. “It looked like something clawed her several times.”
Delgado said one of the most alarming things he saw in his home was a shadow figure of a woman with abnormally long hair held back in a ponytail.
“She started spinning and that ponytail was spinning around with her,” Delgado said. “Then she moved to my bed and eventually disappeared.”
After his first purported experiences with the supernatural, he formed the ghost hunters organization, a group of 140 paranormal investigators who conduct home investigations along with investigations of historical sights near and within the San Antonio area.
“There is just a massive amount of history here,” Delgado said. “This has got to be one of the most haunted cities in the United States alone.”
Delgado has visited locations throughout the city that are rumored — and recommended — as the best places to go during the Halloween season.
Ghost Tracks, Shane Road
According to legend, a bus full of children stalled on the tracks and was hit by an oncoming train, killing all the passengers.
Many thrill seekers now visit the tracks to experience the claimed haunting grounds. Visitors are known to park their car on the tracks and it’s said that spirits of the children push the car to safety. It’s also said that if you dirty the bumper of the car, tiny handprints appear.
Delgado said that he has conducted an investigation at the site.
“There was no evidence of paranormal activity that we found at the tracks,” he said. “But the woods located to the left of Sunset Station does [have paranormal activity].”
“There was a shadow figure zooming around, but the camera was unable to focus on it,” he said.
Devil’s Bridge, 2902 Shane Road
In the evening, even with high beam headlights to light the way, a driver can see only a short distance. According to legend, if a rock is thrown across the bridge, no one will not hear it land.
“I held a dowsing rod session and in the video you can see the sparks of energy,” Delgado said. “There was a lot of spiritual energy there.”
“We also caught a lot of [electronic voice phenomenon],” Delgado said. “So many that we threw some out and just kept the more prominent ones.”
EVPs are recorded paranormal voices. Dowsing rods are used to detect supernatural presence by asking the spirit to move the rods in different directions.
Delgado explained that the bridge has so much activity that this is one of main places he takes new members of his group to for training.
“There is just a lot going on there,” Delgado said.
San Juan Missions, 9101 Graf Road
Built along the bank of the San Antonio River in 1731, Mission San Juan Capistrano offered a rich farm and pasture land which became a regional supplier of agricultural produce, supporting the missions, local settlements and presidio garrisons.
“We caught a lot of shadow figures and electronic voice recordings,” Delgado said. “There are no set hours, so the area is always open, so it makes it easier to go to for investigations.”
Spanish Governor’s Palace, 105 Plaza De Armas
The Spanish Governor’s Palace was Built in 1749, housing the Captain of Presidio, Ignacio Perez. Even after Mexico obtained its independence, he and his family stayed there for many years.
A young girl’s body was found on site when the city was renovating the building and it is claimed that other bodies are buried in the clay walls still left after the renovation. There are also claims that the girl’s body and the nanny’s body are still buried in the well.
“There is at least 15 to 20 spirits there,” Delgado said. “ We have visuals and EVPs.”
The building was also used for a saloon and a pawn shop until it was bought by the City of San Antonio. It was then restored and turned into a museum.
“We caught a lot of full body apparitions and a lot of black mist too,” Delgado said.
Delgado said there were spirits there that kept telling them to get out.
“Whatever it was did not want us there,” Delgado said. “I started feeling sick and knew that the spirit was effecting me.”
He said that they asked it one more time if it wanted them to leave and a prominent voice spoke “yes” and they packed up their gear and left.
“When a ghost starts effecting you like that, it’s time to get out of there,” Delgado said.
Hot Wells Hotel, Koehler Court
Hot Wells Hotel opened in 1892 as a spa resort after the discovery of a sulfur spring found on the land of the Southwestern Lunatic Asylum.
Several fires occurred over the years damaging the property.
According to legend, the fires all started in Room 13 of the Hot Wells Hotel which eventually caused the total destruction of the resort.
“The Hot Wells hotel is incredibly haunted,” Delgado said. “We caught several shadow figures and EVPs here.”
So if you’re looking to catch a ghost try one, all or go crazy and find more locations to launch your own paranormal investigation.
“Just be careful what you looking for because you just might find it,” Delgado said. “I have had several investigators turn in all their gear because something followed them home and is now inhabiting their homes.”
