The Texas Capitol was completed in 1888, with 400 rooms and 192,374 sqft of indoor space. | Photo courtesy Austin History Center, Austin Public Library
Halloween is upon us, and at the end of the day, Austin’s ghosts come out to play.
Lovers of creepy nights and frights will be pleased to know that the Capital City boasts a host of stories that will send chills down your spine, so we rounded up five to know about our scary city.
Texas State Capitol
One of the most famous buildings in the state, the Capitol building has stood since 1882, and many spirits of legend call the building home. Upon visiting, you may spot the ghost of Comptroller Robert Marshall Love — who was shot at his desk inside the Capitol — appearing near the scene of the crime, and a lady in red who tempts attractive men who come in. Keep an eye on the windows — reports of hand prints that can’t be cleaned off are common.
Which one of these is not part of the Texas Capitol’s lore?
A. There was a shoot-out in the lobby, and you can still see traces of the bullet holes B. The Capitol was made from pink granite sourced from Marble Falls C. Comptroller Robert Marshall Love was shot at his desk D. The statue on top of the Capitol has a weird-looking face
78746, 78733, 78730, and 78703. Those are the zip codes with the most expensive homes in Austin. The West Lake Hills area takes the cake with median home value sitting at $1.65 million, but the other three range from $1.1 million to $1.25 million. Check your zip code’s value. (Austin American-Statesman)
Civic
Earlier this week, Austin Parks and Recreation issued a Parks Burning Restriction until further notice as fire conditions currently exist in Central Texas. That means there should be no use of charcoal barbecue pits, building fires, or grills (other than propane) in parks — violations could result in fines up to $500.
Development
The American Red Cross Central Texas is working on a new facility off Pershing Drive. The old headquarters, where the chapter was housed for 50 years, was torn down earlier this year and construction is expected to wrap in 2027. (KXAN)
Opening
Bottoms up — Drinki Soda Co., a mobile dirty soda company, is rolling into Austin. The fizzy (booze-free) soft drink company is part of a trend originating from Utah that centers around creating elaborate soda drinks with ingredients like cold foam, flavored syrups, and coconut cream. (KXAN)
Read
They don’t call Austin “The Live Music Capital of the World” for nothing. A new guide book to local music called “Austin’s Music Scene: Your Guide to the City’s Most Iconic Artists & Venues,” by Thunderhouse Media and the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, is now on shelves. (KXAN)
Sports
The Cowboys must win the upcoming game against the Cardinals to turn their season around. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Cowboys with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Biz
Why settle for boring venues?At Mozart’s, cozy baby showers meet live music, and company outings come with paddleboard fun and lake views. Plus, gourmet coffee bars, catering, and gift bags that guests actually want. Start planning your event.*
Jobs
Do you need hiring help? We’ve got your back. Post your open roles on our Job Board + get connected with local candidates in no time. Pssst — did we mention it’s free?
The Shark Matrix IQ Robot Vacuum that’s 40% off for a limited time. Psst — that’s a savings of $120. The Buy Editor Emily loves its precision home mapping technology that results in a more thorough clean on multiple surfaces.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
The Wrap
The Wrap
Despite growing up in a place where snow in the winter was a common occurrence, living in Austin for the last 15 years has made me a big baby about the cold. Plus, I’m dressing up as Marge Simpson for Halloween tonight, so I’ll be chilly.
It was much warmer in 2023 — the year I dressed up as a Roy Lichtenstein painting.
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