Haunted houses are cool, but true scary stories really make your spine tingle. That’s exactly what you’ll get at Murder Walk Austin, a weekend tour allowing participants to retrace the steps of America’s very first serial killer. Are you ready for a nightmarish good time?
Our state capital was a sleepy little town back in the late 19th century, but that abruptly changed overnight. America’s first ever serial killer, dubbed “Servant Girl Annihilator” due to the types of women he targeted," delivered the chilling message that evil is right here walking among us.
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Turning the most wonderful time of year into a nightmare, the Servant Girl Annihilator began his killing spree on December 30, 1884. Almost a full year would pass before Austinites could breathe deeply again, and the aftermath was tragic.
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Otherwise known as the “Austin Axe Murderer,” this evil man killed a total of eight people: seven women and one male. All of his victims were posed similarly, and six had a sharp object inserted into their ears.
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Murder Walk lasts for just under two hours, covering two miles of historic Austin. Guests will visit the exact locations where the Midnight Assassin committed his atrocities and contemplate various theories about the killing spree.
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West 6th Street is one of the destinations you’ll visit. Although now easily the most upbeat, lively place in Austin, this iconic strip was once a desolate place from which nobody would notice if someone went missing.
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A slightly more sophisticated 6th Street, Warehouse District accommodates a slightly older crowd. Its name comes from the plethora of old buildings that early residents - primarily young women - worked in many years ago. Their shifts often extended well into the night, providing an easy target for the ruthless killer lurking about.
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Finally, you’ll stop at the world-famous Driskill Hotel to have drinks and mingle with its resident ghosts. This opulent building first opened its doors in 1886, giving it more than a century to accumulate an impressive amount of urban legends.
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The tour departs at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from the corner of Whole Foods in Downtown Austin. Visit the official website or Facebook page to learn more.
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Have you ever participated in Murder Walk? If so, we’d love to hear all the spooktacular details. Give our previous article a read to learn more about the historic Driskill Hotel.
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Address: 525 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78703, USA
