History
The building that now houses the Ripley’s Haunted Adventure Museum was built in 1921. The Museum itself was opened for business in 2002 with the Haunted Adventure, followed by the Guinness World Records Museum in 2003, and the 3D Tomb Rider attraction in 2005 – originally opening as the Davy Crockett’s Tall Tales Ride. All three attractions are visited by thousands of tourists annually as part of the Downtown San Antonio Alamo Plaza.
The location of the Ripley’s Museum has been a number of sites in Downtown Texas history. The Maverick Bank once stood on this location. The bank operated in the center of town. Many cattle and land investors did their business here in old downtown San Antonio. They would leave their ranches to stay at the Menger hotel and take their earnings and investment funds to the bank. The site then became a Five and Dime and later the largest Woolsworth department store in Texas. The Woolsworth was known in the early 1960s to be a key location of the Civil Rights Movement. The basement housed the Woolsworth lunch counter, and was one of the first in the South to desegregate and serve meals to all.
Legend
The Ripley’s Museum is reported to still hold the residual cries of Texas and Mexican soldiers, echoing through its walls. Employees are afraid to be in certain parts of the building alone.
With all of this significant history and energy, no wonder the Ripley’s Haunted Adventure is known for hauntings, both onstage and off. Some of the reported activity that employees of the museum report are voices, shadows, creepy feelings, and even sightings of Doppelgangers. (A spirit that mimics or doubles as a living person.)
After The Haunt
Go deeper and behind the scenes with the official after show of Haunted Tour, AFTER THE HAUNT! Hosted and streamed by NELCO Media
