Spooky sites abound in Burnet, Llano counties
Contribute/Craig Weaver
This photo taken by a member of the Hill Country Paranormal Investigations team appears to show a uniformed, partially translucent figure in the window of the Old Llano County Red Top Jail. If you look carefully, you can make out a face in the center of the bottom right window pane.
by Alexandria Randolph
When it comes to spooky sites and eerie edifices, the Highland Lakes has its fair share of fun places to visit on Halloween weekend.
One of the most notable is Grand Central Café in Kingsland, recognizable for its part in the film, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
'Chainsaw Massacre' abode
The house was part of the movie set for the 1974 horror flick that has become a cult classic for many.
“The house was originally located in Round Rock. It was moved to Kingsland in 1998 and fully restored. It became a restaurant at that time,” said co-owner Drew Gerencer.
Grand Central Café will be showing excerpts from the movie at the bar on Friday in honor of Halloween.
Haunted 'Red Top'
Another building that may set the chill in one's bones is the supposedly haunted Old Llano County Red Top Jail, which is blanketed in local folklore.
The jail was built in 1895, operated until 1982, and before closing due to disrepair in 2011, hosted as many as 100 visitors per day when available for touring.
The central tower houses the gallows, which according to court record were never used, yet rumors weave a different tale in which a number of vagrants and ‘undesirables’ were hung.
In 2010, the jail was investigated by Hill Country Paranormal Investigations, who captured an inexplicable image in one of the jail’s windows before entering the building – the image of a man in uniform.
A creepy cave
Highland Lakes residents can enjoy the paranormal tour at Longhorn Cavern State Park, where staff said strange figures and sounds have been seen and heard in the dark tunnels of the cave. In addition to its history of Native American spiritual rituals, the cave also housed a nightclub during Prohibition, the music of which might still echo in its stone halls.
Deadman's Hole
Another location to put on the list of spooky stops is the Deadman’s Hole outside of Marble Falls, a 150-foot limestone fissure located on CR 401.
Legend has it that the hole was used as a dumping ground for dead bodies since the time of the American Civil War, and that at least 17 men were thrown into the hole. If legend is to be believed, some of those men were tossed into the dark pit while still alive.
For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.
