When I started Austin Ghost tours, it was because I really loved history. I had just moved from Baltimore, MD to Austin, TX And the history was so interesting to me. back then Austin was still a small town. I. was walking on the trail. around Lady Bird Lake and found an arrowhead. that just blew my mind. Every aspect of its Native American Heritage had completely been destroyed years ago. So to find that Arrowhead was here. for me, and it began my research into the history of Austin and Texas and the indigenous people. back then. one had to go to a library to get books to read about history. I went to the library and took out the maximum number of books that you could and read the story of Texas from every perspective.
When ghost stories came up as a topic when I was investigating old historic buildings in Austin, I took it with a grain of salt. I had never experienced a ghost. I didn’t think about ghosts. I didn’t have an opinion about ghosts. And then I had my first ghost encounter related to Austin Ghost Tours.
When Austin Ghost Tours first began, I gave all the tours myself. The tours were only on Friday and Saturday nights because that was when my young children didn’t have school. When I prepared to head out for a tour, I always had an armful of things to take with me. A water cup, a clip. with names. a money bag to put the money in. It was cash only in those days. I had my car keys a jacket, and I would. balance all of these things so that I could lock the door and get out to my car and open it all in one fell swoop.
I would leave for the tour when it was daylight, but I would return when it was dark.
And in my life, I always like to have a light on when I return home, if it’s dark. on one particular tour day, I. forgot to turn the light on in the front room as I was making my way out the front door. I didn’t want to put everything down to turn the light on. It just seemed like too much work, so Iloc ked the front door and left. I returned home from the tour. And the first thing I noticed was that the light in the front room was open And as I opened the door and saw that the light was on my first thought was “thank you”. I knew in that moment that that was my first ghost story.
