Olde Park Hotel 2 Night Investigation

History

The Olde Park Hotel in Ballinger, Texas, is steeped in over a century of rich and rugged history. Sitting on land where outlaws once roamed, saloons thrived, and the railroad sparked new beginnings, this building is more than just old—it’s legendary.

Originally constructed in the late 1800s, the structure began its life as the Secrest Boarding House, built to house railroad workers laying track from Brownwood to Ballinger. As the town grew, so did the building’s purpose. Over the decades, it served as a brothel, funeral parlor, schoolhouse, doctor’s office, dentist’s office, piano shop, violin school, and more. Each chapter added new layers to its colorful and often chilling story.

Ballinger’s Old Town Square was once the heart of frontier Texas—and, for some, it was also where lives came to a violent end. The hotel’s walls have witnessed joy, tragedy, enterprise, and death, and many believe some of those who walked its halls never truly left.

Today, the Olde Park Hotel is considered one of the most haunted locations in Texas.

Proudly owned and operated by Chad and Leslie Wandel, the Olde Park Hotel welcomes guests to explore nearly 150 years of Wild West history and paranormal mystery. Chad and Leslie have been featured on Haunted Discoveries: Family Spirits, and their paranormal research has appeared on the Travel Channel, Discovery+, numerous documentaries, and a wide range of podcasts and conventions.

As founders of Ghost Geeks Research, Chad and Leslie are also known for creating innovative paranormal experiments and developing cutting-edge investigation equipment used by ghost hunters across the country.

Whether you're a history buff or a paranormal enthusiast, the Olde Park Hotel offers an unforgettable experience. Come walk through Texas history—and maybe even encounter one of its lingering spirits.

Paranormal Findings

The paranormal activity at this historic site is intense, consistent, and deeply personal. Everything listed below has been witnessed firsthand by our team.

Visitors and investigators have reported the sound of heavy boot steps echoing through the building — spurs included — especially on the second floor. Doors slam shut, open by themselves, and even unlock or unlatch without explanation. Doorknobs turn and jiggle as if manipulated by unseen hands. Loud, unexplained bangs, phantom knocks, and tapping sounds have been heard throughout the building.

Lingering scents of perfume and cigar smoke frequently drift through the air, even when no one is around. Upstairs, people have heard phantom music, clinking glasses, and party-like chatter—suggesting a spectral gathering that never ends.

Disembodied voices, both male and female, are often heard speaking, whispering, or responding. Full-bodied apparitions have been seen with the naked eye and captured in photographs and video. In fact, some spirits have been seen staring from second-story windows, prompting calls to the police by those who believed someone was trapped inside.

Physical encounters are not uncommon. Guests have reported being touched, pushed, grabbed, and even scratched by unseen forces. We've also witnessed poltergeist activity, including wooden partitions swinging violently, boxes being thrown down stairs, and even dolls speaking and moving on their own.

Nearly every type of paranormal investigation equipment used inside this location has received clear, intelligent interaction — including the Spirit Box, REM Pods, Paralights, vibration sensors, Estes Method sessions, Spirit Dice, Ovilus, and more.

This is an active and intelligent haunting, and it’s not shy about making its presence known.

If you're looking for a location that has it all, then look no further. This is it! The Olde Park Hotel in Ballinger, Texas. If you thought all of this activity wasn't enough, did we mention it tends to increase when you go to bed? So, care to stay the night?

Event Details

When: October 10 - 12th, 2024

Time: 5pm (October 10th) - 10am (October 12th)

Location: 107 S 6th St., Ballinger, Texas 76821

What's Included?

- Paranormal Teachings: Learn from our experienced paranormal investigators about the equipment you will be using and some techniques.

- Full night of investigating with Everything Vaguely Paranormal.

- Overnight access to the Olde Park Hotel, including a bed and shower (please bring your own towel).

- Use of our equipment which includes but not limited to EMF detectors, voice recorders, dowsing rods, vibration sensors, spirit box, among other items.

What to bring:

- Printed tickets, downloaded tickets, mobile tickets, or booking confirmation, as well as a photo ID. We will have record of your purchase and any of the above will suffice for entrance into the investigation.

- Snacks and drinks. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Ballinger, and we advise getting into Ballinger with enough time to eat prior to the start of the event.

- A small flashlight. Investigators will have theirs, but please have one for individual investigating, as we will be walking around in the dark.

- Phone/Camera. This is one of the BEST pieces of equipment you can have! The more pictures and video you take, the more likely you are to capture something. You don't have to have all the fancy equipment. A phone/camera works just fine!

- If you have any paranormal equipment, you are welcome to bring it, though not required.

- An open mind!

FAQ

What can I expect?

A fun and exciting night of paranormal investigating, just as seen in most the popular shows on TV. You will have use of our paranormal equipment at the beginning of the night, while you are being shown techniques and how to use it, from our group of experienced paranormal investigators. Feel free to bring along any of your own equipment. We will have breaks periodically throughout the night. A light jacket could be considered depending on the time of year, as some areas in the locations can get rather cold, even in the summer time.

We do not play tricks and are not out to convince anyone of the "afterlife". Please know that you will be among others who may or may not think the same as you, but are all out to seek confirmation of "the other side". We never make a guarantee that the spirit world will make itself known on our investigations, but we can guarantee that we will have fun trying!

Can I sleep at the event?

This is an overnight event at The Olde Park Hotel. There will be plenty of beds/rooms to choose. Beds will be on a first come first serve basis as to preference of where to sleep, but ticket sales will NOT outnumber the amount of available sleeping spots. If you are with a group, we advise trying to sleep in one room to allow other groups to sleep together as well.

Is there any age limit of who can attend.

The age limit is 18 years and older.

Will I receive a ticket?

We are a ticketless event. Booking confirmation or mobile tickets, with a photo ID, are enough for entry. You will receive an email for further instructions in the prior days leading up to the event.

Will I see a ghost?

Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee such a sighting. However with the use of specialty equipment, as well as the knowledge of our investigators, we will do everything we can to offer the best chance of paranormal activity.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices do not include sales tax.

Also check out other Entertainment events in Ballinger, Music events in Ballinger, Parties in Ballinger.