“The people that investigate, looking for paranormal activity, believe that they have communicated with some of the residual presence in this building.”
YORKTOWN, Texas — Yorktown Memorial Hospital, long considered a hotspot for paranormal activity, is now at the center of a dispute following its recent change in ownership.
For the past 15 years, thousands of paranormal enthusiasts have toured the abandoned hospital, hoping to encounter spirits believed to still haunt the halls. But just months after new owners took over the property, the City of Yorktown is attempting to restrict public access, citing safety concerns.
The controversy came to a head at a City Council meeting Monday, where the new co-owners, Fred and Stephen Garza-Guzman of Curious Twins Tours, and former owner Philip Ross pushed back against the city’s decision.
Ross, who still holds the lien on the hospital, called the city’s actions unlawful.
“There are administrative procedures that have to be in place in order to deny a private property owner the full enjoyment of their property rights and their rights to due process,” Ross told the council.
The city reportedly informed the Garza-Guzmans of an inspection and promised a report. However, they say that what followed was an email and a public notice posted on the door, declaring the building unsafe and closed to the public.
“We just got an email with a statement,” Garza-Guzman said. “It listed that, due to decisions by the City Council and the mayor and the inspectors’ review, the hospital is closed to the public. There was no guidance or official report included.”
While tours have been halted, the new owners say they don’t plan to use the hospital as a business. Instead, they envision a private institution focused on research and education. Curious Twins Tours is also working toward obtaining a historical designation for the building, with the goal of preserving it.
“Our next step is to help the City Council understand the loss behind what’s going on—our perspective, and the economic impact that closing down the only real attraction Yorktown has could cost the city,” Garza-Guzman said.
Despite requests for comment following Monday’s meeting, Yorktown’s mayor declined to speak with KENS 5 or provide a statement.
The hospital, originally built in the 1950s, is said to be the final resting place for thousands of former patients. Many ghost hunters claim to have made contact with lingering spirits over the years — contributing to the hospital’s infamous reputation in paranormal circles.
Now, the future of the once-thriving ghost-hunting destination remains uncertain as the city and the owners work to resolve their differences.