Explore Haunted Texas: Haunted Houses, Ghost Towns & Alien Lights

Everything is bigger in Texas, and in October, that includes the number of scares that are waiting for you. From ghost towns to haunted attractions, the Lone Star State has it all for thrill seekers.

Texas is actually so filled with frights that it ranks among the most haunted states in the U.S. What makes it such a scary state to be in this time of year?

A new study was done by Hard Rock Bet to determine which states are the most haunted. They broke down the stats from official sources like the National UFO Reporting Center and Scare Factor to see where fear thrives.

Haunted Locations Across Texas

First, Texas has an impressive number of haunted locations. The Lone Star State has everything from haunted cemeteries to iconic haunted hotels. All of them come with stories that will chill you to the bone.

Texas has a whopping 120 recorded haunted locations. If you are a thrill seeker looking for a place to get your blood pumping, there's plenty for you to find.

Ghost Towns by the Hundreds

Next, the number of ghost towns was used to help determine the most haunted states. Texas has the most, with 550 recognized ghost towns.

It's not surprising. Texas doesn't just have ghost towns; it celebrates them in a way. Places like Terlingua continue to live on, even though they are considered ghost towns.

Ghost towns in Texas come with myths and legends that add not only to their spooky factor but also continue to fuel interest and excitement. Terlingua has its chili cookoff. Glenrio is being revived on Route 66, where it stradles the border of Texas and New Mexico. Texas loves its ghost towns.

UFO Sightings and Otherworldly Activity

The study also looked at the number of UFO sightings recorded by the National UFO Reporting Center. The Lone Star State seems to be a favorite destination of interstellar travelers.

Texas boasts 6,592 UFO sightings recorded by the National UFO Reporting Center. Not shocking when you consider things like the Marfa Lights, and the near constant videos posted online of strange things soaring in the night sky.

Haunted House Ratings Tell the Tale

The last thing the study looked at is the average rating for haunted houses. If you love going to haunted houses around Halloween, you're going to love Texas.

The average rating in the Lone Star State is 9.63 out of 10. That near-perfect score is enough to tell you that Texas knows how to do haunted houses right. We also have them all across the state. It's hard to find a place without one nearby.

Still a Top Haunted Destination

All of these things came together to officially declare Texas as the second most haunted state in the U.S. The number one spot went to California, which had over 16,000 UFO sightings. That was enough to put it over the top.

Even though it didn't take top honors, Texas still has more than enough to offer those looking for a thrill.

LOOK: 25 reportedly haunted places across America

Stacker has assembled 25 haunted places across America—from hotels and theaters to murder scenes and cemeteries—based on reported ghost sightings and haunted histories.

Gallery Credit: Stacker