Nested in the heart of San Antonio is the Victoria’s Black Swan Inn. It is 35 acres of lawns, gardens, cottages, barns, gazebos and woodlands. It sits along side the Salado Creek where the Battle of Salado occurred in 1842. This southern mansion was built in 1867 and was home to some of the most prestigious people of San Antonio’s history.Victoria’s Black Swan Inn is also known to be one of the most haunted inns in the area. The original owners, a German immigrant by the name of Heinrich, are known to still roam the dairy barn. As well as, the prominent attorney who was found dead with his hands bind to his back and ruled a suicide. This battle was a bloody massacre leaving 100’s dead, many Texas army men, countless Mexican and Cherokee soldiers as part of the battle for the Republic of Texas.
There have been plenty of unexplained phenomena, including lights turning on and off, sightings, cold spots, music playing, doors locking or unlocking on their own.
Even during the day it was dark and creepy, the house is hidden by a mass of 100 year old oak and pecan trees which makes it hard to see from the road. We drove slowly up to the Inn and got a feeling we where living a horror movie. The place looked deserted, and there was an eerie quietness while I walked the grounds.
This is a great place for amateur ghost hunters to practice their craft. We are here with The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS ParaLab) Beyond Reality Events who is holding a Paranormal Boot Camp at the Inn. They conducted a class session with a hands-on investigation. In the class we learned about the equipment, theories, experiences and the scientific explanation. The class was very informative and the team was quite funny with their stories.
We had no idea what we where about to experience. As we broke up into teams we separated into different areas of the property. We first went into the dairy barn, where they experienced things being thrown and people being pushed. Then off to the main house, where music is heard, doors open and close. Unfortunately, it started to rain, so we where unable to go to the gazebo where soldiers have appeared. So, they sent us back to the dairy barn. For our final location we went to the cottage where it was originally a slaughter house.
I experienced something in every location. From hearing the voices using the enhanced recording and playback equipment, to a sickness feeling, to the music playing and the door opening & closing on demand.
When I sat on the sofa in the cottage, an incredible sensation came over me that I was going to be sick, but when I stood up and walked to the other side of the room the feeling stopped. Maybe it was just the old smells, animal urine, mold and wood rot. In the main house, the sound of music playing happened at least three times. Everyone in the group of 20 people heard it at least twice and we all confirmed it wasn’t our cell phones ringing. Creepy! Then as we sat in the ballroom, someone asked the spirit to open the door. The door did not have a doorknob on the outside of the building and it only locked from the inside. They asked about three times and on command the door opened partially ever so slowly. Then they asked to close the door and with the same effort the door closed. I quickly got up to investigate the door and I knew the back and side doors where open. It could have been easily the wind or draft pulling the door or maybe not.
In the famous closet where the owner of the house continuously kept getting scared and the door locking on its own, I sat quietly waiting for some experience. As I sat there with my eyes open, I thought to myself, do I really want to experience this… what if something appeared in front of me. I waited about five minutes and got out, the closest gave me the creeps. I decided, I would leave this experience to someone else.
The most incredible experience was in the dairy barn. The TAPS Paralab had their equipment that would enhance the volume of any EVPs so you could hear it easier. As well as an ultraviolet camera to capture any images. It wasn’t more than 5-10 minutes when things began to happen. I am in the room with 20+ people who all shared this with me. The link below is the sounds of Sophia, who is a 14 year old girl, who constantly plays tricks on the owner in mischievous ways. I am sitting right in front of Andy who has the voice magnifier and Michelle is on my left who is asking the questions. There is high static on the clip because this is the energy in the room. If you turn up your volume and try to ignore the static you will hear the voice of a little girl who giggles and answers all Michelle’s questions. You may have to listen a couple of times so you can learn how to hear over the static. Sophia Talking
This is only one of many voices we experienced. As I get the other EVPs I will upload under my links section of my blog. As you can hear, we laugh with the responses of the giggling, with no fear, totally comfortable and participate as if it’s a conversation amongst friends. We also heard, Don, Steve, and Tobias Samson.
Believe it or not, but it was awesome to begin the day with 80 strangers and end the evening at 2:00 am the next day with people who now are your friends who shared something which many people do not get this opportunity.
I had a memorable experience and I was blessed to share it with my good friend Carla. We laughed throughout the day to help calm our nervous from creepiness to the sigh of amazement with every experience. I can cross this off my bucket list… I completed my ghost hunt. Now only time will tell if we brought any home with us… I hope not, my motorcycle only has a solo seat.
Other EVP Recordings:
I'm Here (listen closely at 17-18 secs)
Milk Barn (inaudible sound)
