If you’ve lived in Texas Hill Country, you might have made the scenic drive by Devil’s Backbone. Located in Wimberley just outside San Marcos, this twisty road has been a student favorite for decades. The full route takes 1.5 hours to drive, and it has expansive views of the Balcones Fault.

Photo courtesy of Devil’s Backbone Tavern.

There’s a picnic spot along the route, or you can stop at the famous Devil’s Backbone Tavern that’s home to the oldest shuffleboard in Texas. You might even hear some local lore from a tavern regular.

This drive isn’t historic just for its beauty. It’s historic for its many ghost stories of Confederate soldiers, Native Americans, Spanish Monks, and more. There are multiple accounts of a monk appearing then disappearing at night, but the most interesting story is about John Villarreal.

John and his friends were hiking in an area called “the Haunted Valley” when he got separated from his friends. A wolf started running at John, pounced, and went right through him. John reported feeling a cold chill that followed him all the way back to his car. That night, his friends said John’s voice got deep and he started telling stories about Indian massacres in a language that was a mix of Spanish and Apache.

Devil’s Backbone was a sacred and spiritual spot for the Comanche and Apache tribes before they were massacred by Spaniards. Many people think this is why so many spirits appear in this area.

If you take a trip down to Devil’s Backbone, keep an eye out for lost spirits. Or, at least enjoy the view.

Memory Lane: The Haunted Devil's Backbone