Check in to Faust Hotel and meet the owner … who died in 1933

For today’s “Spooky Place in Texas,” we’re traveling to a place best known for fun in the sun, but the historic town of New Braunfels also has a few tales to tell.

Shortly after World War I, the town’s community leaders sought to include a world-class hotel among its attractions for out-of-town visitors. A local businessman by the name of Walter Faust Sr. spearheaded the project. The now-named Faust Hotel opened Oct. 12, 1929, just two weeks before the stock market crash. Originally dubbed the Traveler’s Hotel, the hotel was considered one of the best in Texas for the period and soon became a central meeting place for business travelers and families alike.

Walter Faust and his family lived in the hotel until his death in 1933.

Guests and employees have been witness to many strange occurrences in the Faust. One former night manager reported the elevator doors would open and no one would be seen exiting. It would happen at about the same time every night. Employees also would hear and see doors open and close by themselves and chairs being pushed back in place when no one was near them. A visiting couple asked the desk clerk who the “nice gentleman running the elevator” was, and he had to assure them the hotel did not employ an elevator operator.

When  you’re in New Braunfels and in need of a place to stay, consider the hotel Walter Faust built. It’s still there … and so is he.