Waco's 22-story Beaux Arts skyscraper, completed 1911 as the Amicable Life Insurance Building and once the tallest structure west of the Mississippi; a security guard who died by suicide in the 1980s is said to still open doors for staff.
425 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
The building is a private office building; it is not open to the public. The exterior and ALICO signage are viewable from the street at no cost. Ghost walk tours that include the building as a stop are available through Waco Ghosts and US Ghost Adventures.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Downtown Waco sidewalk; flat, accessible exterior viewing.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1911 · Once tallest building west of the Mississippi River (1911–1912) · Beaux Arts architecture by Sanguinet and Staats · Texas Historical Landmark (1982) · National Register of Historic Places (2012) · Survived the 1953 Waco F5 tornado
The Amicable Life Insurance Company commissioned Sanguinet and Staats — the prominent Fort Worth and Dallas architectural firm — to design a headquarters building that would announce the company's standing. The result, completed in 1911, was a 22-story, 282-foot Beaux Arts tower at the intersection of Austin and 5th Street in downtown Waco. Construction cost approximately $755,000, equivalent to over $26 million today. Upon completion, the building held the distinction of tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, a title it held until the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas was finished in 1912.
The building's structural integrity was demonstrated dramatically on May 11, 1953, when the deadliest tornado in Waco's history — an F5 storm with 260 mph winds — struck the downtown core, killing 114 people and destroying most of the surrounding blocks. The ALICO Building swayed several feet but did not collapse, distinguishing it from the neighboring structures that were obliterated.
In 1958, the red neon lettering spelling 'ALICO' was installed atop the tower, creating the landmark nighttime silhouette that defines the Waco skyline today. The Amicable and American Life Insurance companies merged in 1965, producing the ALICO name. Modernization renovations followed in 1966. The building was designated a Texas Historical Landmark in 1982 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012 as part of the Waco Downtown Historic District. The American-Amicable Life Insurance Company remains the primary tenant.
Sources
The single paranormal story attached to the ALICO Building concerns a security guard who worked there during the 1980s. According to Cindy Little of Waco Ghosts, who has collected accounts from building employees, the guard was known and liked in the community and took genuine pride in his work. As he aged and found his physical capabilities declining, he became distressed about his inability to perform the job as he once had. He died by suicide in the building's basement.
After the company hired a replacement guard, the new employee began reporting a consistent phenomenon: when he approached the basement stairwell or door with both hands full — unable to open it himself — the door would swing open on its own, and the lights in the basement would switch on. The experience was consistent enough that the building staff came to attribute it to the previous guard's lingering presence, still performing the tasks that had defined his working life.
Cindy Little, who includes the ALICO on the Downtown Waco Ghost Walk, characterizes the spirit as 'a kind, friendly ghost' — framing the suicide not as the endpoint of the story but as the context for a gentle haunt. The account was reported by KWTX in October 2023. No independent paranormal investigation findings for the ALICO Building have been published in available sources.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
The ALICO Building's Beaux Arts facade and distinctive red neon signage atop the 22-story tower are visible from Austin Avenue. The building is a frequent photography subject and anchor for Waco's downtown walking tours.
Ghost walk tours operated by Waco Ghosts and US Ghost Adventures include the ALICO Building as a featured stop with the security guard story.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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