A Historic Hotel Where Legends and Ghosts Never Left
Step Into the Spirit of the Old West
The Olde Park Hotel is more than 140 years of Texas history wrapped in mystery. From outlaw roots to paranormal fame, our story is one of restoration, preservation, and unexplained encounters.
About Us
Where History and Hauntings Live On
The Olde Park Hotel in Ballinger, Texas isn’t just an old building, it's a landmark destination for those who crave history as well as the paranormal. Owned and operated by Chad and Leslie Wandel, the Olde Park Hotel invites guests to immersively explore nearly 150 years of frontier legend, Wild West lore and of course, paranormal activity all wrapped up in the exciting history of Ballinger, its outlaws and its people.
The Olde Park Hotel has been featured on the Travel Channel, Discovery+, multiple documenteries and more to come, making it a must visit location for history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts alike.
Chad and Leslie have been featured on Haunted Discoveries: Family Spirits and their work in the paranormal has been featured on numerous paranormal shows, podcasts and conventions. Chad and Leslie also founded the Ghost Geeks Research team, where they research numerous aspects of the paranormal, create new experiments, and develop and design new equipment for paranormal investigators.
Our Hotel Is Perfect For
Ghost Seekers, History Lovers & Brave Adventurers
Whether you're planning a paranormal investigation, a themed group stay, or just want to sleep where outlaws once roamed—The Olde Park Hotel offers a one-of-a-kind experience you won't forget.
Friends & Families
Hobby Detectives
Trendsetters
Teambuilding
Our Story
From Frontier Roots to Paranormal Fame
The Olde Park Hotel stands on land rich with Texas history, where outlaws roamed, saloons thrived, and the railroad carved new towns into existence. Originally built as a boarding house for railroad works carving the line from Brownwood to Ballinger sometime in the late 1800’s, the Secrest Boarding House is where the life of this landmark began.
Over the years, The Olde Park Hotel served as a brothel, funeral parlor, schoolhouse, Doctor’s office, Dentist office, piano shop, violin school and more, The frontier ambition of the time kept a steady flow of people and entrepreneurs coming into Ballinger, but not all of them were law abiding. Old town square was the place to be, and for some, the place to die. When you visit the Olde Park Hotel, we will share the history of the many people that lived here, some who lost their lives here and some who may still call the Olde Park Hotel home.
The unexplained voice, ghostly apparitions, and numerous other paranormal experiences with our other worldly residences are why the Olde Park Hotel is considered one of the most haunted locations in Texas.
Think you can do it?
Stay the Night—If You’re Brave Enough
Whether you're a seasoned paranormal investigator, a curious traveler, or someone simply seeking a truly unforgettable stay, The Olde Park Hotel invites you to spend a night surrounded by legends, spirits, and stories that refuse to fade. Come explore, connect with the past, and maybe even meet one of our ghostly guests.