Downtown El Paso Haunted Locations

 By Aaron Perez

Published 8/12/2025

Image Credit: Visit El Paso

El Paso is a city filled with good food, a vibrant Hispanic culture, and a connection to the paranormal. In earlier blogs, I already documented several haunted areas in El Paso, some located in the downtown area. Among those documented, Armijo Elementary and the Main Public Library come to mind since they have notorious paranormal activities and legends surrounding them. There are other locations in the downtown area that have paranormal activity documented, with one location being infamous for having notorious serial killer Richard Ramirez as a guest. Here is a list of locations in downtown El Paso that have reported paranormal activity.

One San Jacinto Plaza

Built in 1962 as the El Paso National Bank Tower and later known as the Chase Tower before being renamed One San Jacinto Plaza in 2018, this 20-story high-rise stands as a prominent feature in downtown El Paso. Formerly known as the Chase building, this high-rise in downtown El Paso is home to the spirit of a woman in a red dress. It is said that her ghost haunts the top floor of the building. People who pass by have also reported red lights coming from the building when driving on the I-10 freeway.

Mills Building

Constructed in 1911 by architect Henry Trost and named after Anson Mills, a key figure in El Paso's development who platted the city's layout in 1859, this 12-story building was one of the first concrete-frame skyscrapers in the U.S. and originally served as office space. A staple of downtown El Paso and located in San Jacinto Plaza, the Mills building is home to a couple of spirits haunting its halls. People report seeing apparitions of ghosts wearing clothes typical of the early 20th century. There has also been an incident where a fire broke out in the building which may connect to these ghosts roaming the halls, as many victims died in that tragedy. There are also reports of voices being heard when no one is around.

Abraham Chavez Theater-1 Civic Center Plaza

Opened in the early 1970s as part of El Paso's civic center complex and named after Maestro Abraham Chavez, the longtime conductor of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra from 1975 to 1992, this 2,500-seat venue features a distinctive sombrero-shaped design and has hosted countless performances. The Abraham Chavez theater and the nearby convention center have their fair share of paranormal activities, with shadow figures moving around in late hours at night. There are also instances of the elevators moving by themselves as well as a regular piano playing music when no one is there.

Lerner Building

Erected in the 1940s on the site of the former Acme Saloon, which was tied to notorious gunslinger John Wesley Hardin who was killed there in 1895, this Mediterranean-style building originally housed the A.B. Poe automobile dealership before becoming a fashion store. This now abandoned building was once the ACME saloon and a fashion store, but it is also the site of many gruesome murders. It is the exact location where John Wesley Hardin, a notorious gunslinger, was murdered. A corpse was found by maintenance workers in the 2010’s and had been lying there for a month. This poor victim had been murdered by a group of people, who decided to hide the body there. It is said that the building and nearby locales are haunted and local paranormal investigators have noted activity in the adjacent basement.

De Soto Hotel

Originally opened in 1905 as the Great Northern Hotel to serve travelers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, this 116-year-old structure gained notoriety for its haunted reputation before being gutted by a fire in 2022, with restoration efforts underway to revive it. Known for having the infamous serial killer Richard Ramirez as one of its guests, the De Soto hotel has been the subject of documentaries and investigations for all the wrong reasons. This hotel has been a hotspot for paranormal activity, with guests even reporting being attacked by an unknown assailant. Paranormal investigators have even spotted recordings of a young girl inside the property, while also finding photographic evidence of shadow people in the area. There is also speculation that there might be a demon haunting the basement as well. Sadly, the original building burnt down in 2022 but it is to be determined if any spirit remains in the restored premises.

The Plaza Theater

Built in 1930 as a movie palace and vaudeville house in the Atmospheric style by architect Henry Trost, this iconic venue nearly faced demolition in the 1980s but was restored in 2006 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. A staple in El Paso culture, the Plaza Theater serves as an iconic venue where many El Pasoans go to be entertained. Located next to the Mills Building, the Plaza theater also has its fair share of spirits, with flickering lights as well as movement in the shadows. Employees have reported that these spirits like to play pranks on them by turning lights on and off. Colored orbs have also been spotted in the area and moving around the property.

El Camino Real Hotel

Opened in 1912 as the Hotel Paso del Norte, designed by Henry Trost to cater to elite travelers, this historic landmark underwent renovations and name changes, including becoming the Camino Real in the 1980s, before reopening in 2020 after a major restoration. Established in front of the Plaza theater, El Camino Real Hotel is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman wearing a white gown. She is said to roam the entire building and be seen in an angry mood. Other incidents involve doors opening and shutting by themselves. A certain room is said to be haunted by the ghost of a crane worker who tragically died in the 1990's. Employees and guests often hear the sound of something crashing at random times of the day. It is also said that the room where the body of the worker was brought in is abandoned as people refuse to stay there for the night. One incident on the 17th floor involved guests staying at the floor below complaining about a loud party and the staff called security to investigate. What they found was an empty room with no one there. The strange thing is that at the time that investigation was happening, guests still reported the sounds of a piano being heard.

La Popular Building

Erected in 1917 for The Popular Dry Goods Company, a department store chain founded in 1902 by Adolph Schwartz that grew into a major retail hub with multiple El Paso locations before closing in 1995, the building has since been repurposed for residential use. Located in the center of downtown El Paso, this building is a sight of things moving by themselves and both phantom voices and footsteps being heard when someone is alone. This building, once a retail venue, has now been converted into a residential building for those in the housing program. With people moving in and making this historic building their home, it is expected that there will be a rise of paranormal activity being recorded.

Cortez Building

Originally opened in 1926 as the Hotel Orndorff, renamed Hotel Hussmann in 1927 and then Hotel Cortez in 1934, this 11-story Spanish Revival structure designed by Henry Trost served as a luxury hotel until closing in 1970 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Do portals to other dimensions exist? If so, the Cortez building may be proof that there is one here in the city of El Paso. It is said that employees who would work at night in one of the former restaurants would get orders from people who would walk in like any regular patron. When they would complete the orders, these people would vanish without a trace. Whether it was deliberate pranks or the unknown, employees would refuse to work at night due to how frequent these events happened. It is also said that the building's ballroom is also haunted, as a young woman can be seen weeping before disappearing if approached. Other phantoms that are said to appear are the spirits of children being seen running, reflections of people in the elevator when riding alone, and various paranormal activities happening on the fourth floor.

White House Department Store

Founded in 1900 by Felix Brunschwig and originally operating from Juarez before moving to El Paso in 1912, this Chicago School-style building designed by Henry Trost housed the department store on the lower floors and Hotel McCoy above until the store closed in the mid-20th century. Now a part of the Mills Building, this location used to be its own separate locale before the extensive renovations connected the two. It is said that the ghost of a woman can be seen in the new hallway that connects the two buildings, with her body being witnessed from the waist up. Other phantoms have been witnessed back when the building was a department store and have been theorized that they continue to look for bargains even to this day.

Sacred Heart Church

Founded in 1893 by Jesuit Father Carlos Pinto to serve the Spanish-speaking community in El Paso's Segundo Barrio, this church has been a cornerstone for low-income Mexican-American residents, with Jesuits staffing it continuously and recent restorations uncovering historical artifacts. Located downtown El Paso, at just a few streets from the border, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church has served many devoted followers for decades. Founded in 1893, this church has been a staple for those living in Segundo Barrio, a section of the city that encompasses parts of downtown and central. This church is said to be haunted by at least one spirit which has been observed weeping on the altar. This spirit is said to be that of a bride who was abandoned in her wedding and now haunts the area, waiting for her groom to return.

Fire Station #9

Built in 1925 as one of El Paso's early firehouses, this station gained tragic fame when Captain W.F. Bloxom died fighting a fire across the street in 1934, an event that many believe sparked its haunted legacy. The ghost of a former fire chief is said to haunt the property and is reported to be a friendly spirit. The ghost is said to even fulfill his duties from beyond the grave and warn fire crew of an impending emergency call.

Toltec Building

Constructed in 1910 by architect John James Huddart for the Toltec Club, a men's social organization, this building briefly served as Pancho Villa's purchasing office in 1913 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Sitting next to various court houses, the Toltec building is said to be haunted by various ghosts, with a woman appearing in the upper floors of the building. Many orbs have also been seen in the area.

Southwest University Park

Opened in 2014 on the site of the former El Paso City Hall, which was demolished in 2013, this ballpark honors the city's history with its design inspired by local landmarks like the Union Depot and is named after a local virtual university sponsor. The location where the old City Hall and Insights museum formerly stood, there are reports of Jumano or Pueblo Indian spirits seen and roaming around the property. The ghost of the tribe's chief is also said to be spotted in the area as well as the apparition of a woman in white.

Union Depot

Designed by renowned architect Daniel Burnham and opened in 1906 as a neoclassical train station to consolidate multiple rail lines, this depot played a key role in El Paso's growth as a transportation hub near the border. The movements of chairs by themselves are said to happen in this old station. There are also reports of unexplained noises and the spirit of a boy playing with a toy ball. Another ghost of a woman is said to haunt the second floor, where most of the activity is said to happen.

Fire Station #11

Designed by Henry Trost in an Art Deco style and completed in 1930 at the corner of Santa Fe and Paisano, this two-story red brick station has served El Paso's fire department for nearly a century. In this fire station, there is a particular bed no one sleeps in, as a spirit is said to violently shake the bed and rip off the blankets to those unfortunate enough to spend the night.

Wigwam Museum

Housed in a building from the 1880s that started as the Wigwam Saloon, a notorious gambling hall and brothel partially owned by outlaw John Wesley Hardin, this site later became a theater and is now a museum run by Ghosts915 paranormal investigators. Housed in a historic building from the 1880s that was once the Wigwam Saloon and a notorious brothel, this downtown museum is now the base for Ghosts915 paranormal investigators and is packed with creepy artifacts. Visitors report encounters with spirits like Lilly, a former worker from its brothel days, who causes cold spots, shadowy figures, and unexplained touches. Temperature drops and mischievous poltergeist activity are common during tours, making it a hotspot for those seeking a direct brush with El Paso's wild west past.

Dave's Pawn Shop

Evolving from a World War II-era surplus store opened by the Baron family in the 1940s, this shop on South El Paso Street was converted into a pawn shop in 1950 by David Baron and remains a family-run emporium of oddities in one of downtown's oldest buildings. Tucked away on South El Paso Street in the heart of downtown, Dave's Pawn Shop is a bizarre treasure trove of oddities, including real human skulls and eerie relics that seem to attract supernatural energy. It's infamous for a demonic-looking doll named JuJu, brought in by a terrified owner, which is said to move on its own and cause nightmares for those who stare too long. Shoppers and staff report whispers, objects falling off shelves without reason, and a heavy, oppressive feeling, especially near the cryptic artifacts—perfect for anyone brave enough to hunt for haunted bargains.

EPIC Bar & Grill

Occupying a space that once housed a Selena boutique in the 1990s and tied to downtown's vibrant nightlife scene, this bar opened as a premier gay nightclub in the Pride Square district, blending entertainment with echoes of El Paso's historic buildings. This lively spot in downtown El Paso, known for its drinks and atmosphere, hides a darker side with reports of ghostly patrons from its historic building's past. Bartenders and customers have seen apparitions in old-fashioned clothes lingering at the bar, glasses moving on their own, and sudden chills that make the air feel electric. Some tie the activity to the area's violent history, with whispers of unrest from souls who never left the party behind.

The Reagan

Renovated from an old two-story building with a basement into a gastropub and entertainment venue in 2021 by owners Alex and Kassi Nava, this spot draws on downtown's frontier-era history while serving craft cocktails and live music. Another downtown bar with a haunted reputation, The Reagan is said to be frequented by spirits who enjoy stirring up trouble late at night. Guests report hearing laughter from empty corners, doors slamming shut, and shadowy figures darting between tables. Tied to El Paso's rowdy frontier days, the hauntings might stem from long-gone gamblers or outlaws, making it a chilling stop for a drink with a side of the supernatural.

Alexandria Apartments

Dating back to at least the 1920s as evidenced by early city directories, these apartments on Oregon Street have a history marked by a major fire in the 1980s and have long been part of downtown's residential landscape, now offering modern rentals. On Oregon Street in the downtown area, these creepy apartments give off an eerie vibe that's hard to shake. Residents and workers describe bizarre occurrences like footsteps in vacant units, flickering lights in hallways, and a general sense of being watched. The whole building feels like it's stuck in time, with some speculating that old tragedies from its past keep the spirits restless and roaming.

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