If you’ve ever walked Georgetown’s historic square after dark, you already know — there’s something about this town. The lights glow a little softer, the wind feels a little cooler, and the whispers of Texas history come alive in every limestone wall.

And with over a century of stories, Georgetown has earned its reputation as one of Central Texas’s most charming — and haunted — small towns.

Let’s separate the rumors from the real hauntings and sprinkle in a little realtor insight while we’re at it.

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The Old Williamson County Jail (1889)

If any building has earned its ghostly street cred, it’s the Old Williamson County Jail on Main Street. Built in 1889, this stone fortress has seen everything — from outlaws and murderers to one very infamous inmate, Henry Lee Lucas, in the 1980s.

Today, locals and visitors alike say the air feels heavy around it at night. Some even claim to hear whispers through the bars or footsteps echoing on the old staircase.

Each October, the jail’s legend comes back to life during ghost tours and the now-retired “Nightmare on Jail Hill” haunted house — a nod to the county’s eerie history that still gives locals goosebumps.

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The Rumor That Won’t Die

There’s one story that gets retold every year: a young man who murdered his family, was jailed in Georgetown, and somehow charmed his psychiatrist into letting him live out his sentence under his care.

We dug deep — court records, historical archives, even local news — and couldn’t find anything to support this particular legend. Texas law does allow for monitored house arrest in rare cases, but this story appears to be urban legend, not documented truth.

But like all good ghost stories, its power isn’t in its proof — it’s in how it keeps getting told.

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The Williamson Museum & Downtown Haunts

Walk the Square long enough, and you’ll hear the same thing from museum staff and longtime locals: the Williamson Museum is haunted.

Employees have reported flickering lights, unexplained footsteps, and items that seem to move when no one’s around. According to the museum itself, “about five ghosts” call the building home — each tied to different moments in Williamson County’s colorful past.

It’s not just the museum. The Georgetown Art Center — once the city’s original firehouse — also has its share of ghostly guests. Rumor has it, a cowboy spirit still keeps watch from the second floor.

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Georgetown’s Ghost Tours & Charmed Community

Georgetown leans into its haunted history beautifully. You can join the First Friday Ghost Tours hosted by the Williamson Museum or the Spell Caster Ghost Tours for a deeper dive into true crime and ghost lore.

And here’s the real twist: these eerie tales are part of what makes Georgetown so special. The mix of history, small-town charm, and a dash of mystery creates a community full of character — one where homes on quiet, tree-lined streets hold stories as rich as the square itself.

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Realtor’s Note: History Has Value

Haunted or not, Georgetown’s historic district is one of the most desirable places to live in Central Texas. Historic homes near the square are in high demand — buyers love the craftsmanship, walkability, and the sense that you’re part of something timeless.

If you’re house-hunting here, just remember: every creak and whisper has a story.

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T. Kerr Property Group / Russ Phillips Team
People over production. Always.
Ranked the #1 residential sales team (excluding builders) in Williamson County, Texas, and proud winners and nominees for Best Real Estate Agents in both Round Rock and Georgetown, Texas.