Grand Galvez marks 115 years with ghost tours and Halloween masquerade

Galveston’s Grand Galvez is using its 115th anniversary to spotlight reported paranormal activity tied to the historic beachfront hotel, including the legend of Room 501. The property will also host a Halloween masquerade, The Last Ball at Versailles, on Oct. 31.

Why it matters: - Grand Galvez is turning a milestone anniversary into a marketing moment around the hotel’s haunted reputation and historic identity. - The Halloween event and ghost-tour programming give the property another way to draw visitors beyond traditional beach and resort stays.

What happened: - Grand Galvez, which opened in Galveston in 1911, is marking 115 years in 2026. - The hotel is highlighting guest and employee reports of unexplained activity across the property. - The Last Ball at Versailles, a Halloween masquerade, is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.

The details: - Reported experiences include unusual telephone calls, apparitions, children’s laughter in empty corridors and figures appearing in photographs. - The best-known legend centers on Audra, the “Lovelorn Bride,” whose story is tied to Room 501. - Hotel lore says Audra’s spirit remains at the property. - Guests and employees have reported crying sounds, telephone calls without a visible source and the sensation of someone sitting on a bed in or near Room 501. - Other accounts include child-sized handprints on glass, children who seem to disappear and a figure said to appear in an original photograph from 1911. - A portrait of Bernardo de Gálvez on the lobby staircase is also tied to a local legend; some visitors say the portrait’s eyes follow them as they walk past. - Melissa Hall, known as the “Ghostess of Galveston,” has led tours at Grand Galvez for more than 13 years and has documented unusual experiences at the hotel. - Hall described one incident in which she and two tour participants saw a man in older-style clothing who then disappeared through a doorway. - Guided ghost tours at Grand Galvez include experiences led by Hall and Historic Galveston Ghost Tours. - Grand Galvez General Manager Darryl Hill is available to discuss the hotel’s history, restoration and the stories tied to the property. - The Last Ball at Versailles is inspired by the Palace of Versailles and will feature music, champagne and live performances. - Guests are encouraged to wear formal or masquerade attire. - Tickets are available through Eventbrite. - Grand Galvez is a 222-room Autograph Collection hotel on the Texas Gulf Coast and holds an AAA 4-Diamond rating. - The property is owned by Seawall Hospitality LLC, led by hotelier Mark Wyant, who bought it from the heirs of George P. Mitchell in March 2021. - Extensive renovations have focused on preserving the hotel’s historic architecture and design. - The hotel’s restaurants and venues include Monarch Coastal Brasserie, The Founders Bar, GiGi Beach Club and poolside dining. - The property also promotes suite offerings such as the Aviator Suite, Balinese Suite and Sinatra Suite.

Between the lines: - The anniversary push blends local folklore, tourism and brand storytelling in a way that keeps the hotel’s “most haunted” reputation front and center. - The ghost-tour angle gives Grand Galvez a built-in seasonal draw during Halloween and reinforces the property’s identity as both a historic hotel and an entertainment destination.

What's next: - Grand Galvez will host The Last Ball at Versailles on Oct. 31, 2026. - The hotel is likely to continue using tours, history and paranormal stories to support guest interest around the anniversary year. - More information and reservations are available at the hotel’s overview page.

The bottom line: - Grand Galvez is celebrating 115 years by leaning into the haunted legends that have long made the Galveston hotel a tourist attraction as much as a place to stay.