About six years ago I was looking for a change of scenery. At the time I was living in Houston, but I was hoping to intensify my research into all manner of mysterious creatures. I was familiar with accounts of monstrous birds that had been reported sailing over the skies of San Antonio and had also read about reports of Bigfoot near the old Kelly Air Force Base during the 1970s. In addition, I knew about the legacy of San Antonio oil millionaire Tom Slick who had organized and sponsored expeditions to search for the mysterious Yeti of the Himalayas during the 1950s. Combine all of that with my love of good Mexican food and well … the Alamo City became the obvious choice.
However, since moving here in 2006 I have discovered that this city’s legacy of strange stories seems to surpass all other American cities. Many of the local legends have been the focal point of this very blog. For example, next to New Orleans, San Antonio has a stout reputation within the paranormal community as a Mecca for ghost hunters. The Alamo and Menger Hotel rank among the most haunted. But, one can make a long list of alleged haunts around the city in short order. There is also a vast array of weird legends involving a menagerie of phantoms and strange creatures – La Llorona, the Donkey Lady, Lechuza, and the Dancing Devil quickly spring to mind.
Since making my pilgrimage, I have investigated many other, local mysteries including the Elmendorf Beast and a multitude of so-called ‘Chupacabra’ reports, in addition to a number of UFO sightings and encounters with apparently non-human entities. To what do we owe this apparent bounty of unexplained phenomenon? I like to think that it is a combination of Old World culture, history, and the legacy of a courageous populace that is not afraid to tread where others dare not.
So, on this particular Halloween Eve, when the moon is full and things go bump in the night, remember that like me, you are blessed (or maybe cursed) to live in one of the spookiest cities around.