HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
An 1896 Victorian built for Judge Charles A. Wilcox; during 1980s renovation a plumber reported seeing a luminous woman carrying twin boys up the staircase — believed to be Stella Wilcox, who never left.
809 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78701
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$$
Boutique B&B; room rates vary. See website for current availability.
Access
Limited Access
Historic 1896 two-story Victorian structure; staircase access to upper rooms.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1896 · 1896 Victorian residential construction · Former home of Judge Charles A. Wilcox
The building at 809 West Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard was constructed in 1896 as the private home of Judge Charles A. Wilcox, an Austin attorney and judge. Austin Ghosts' detailed account of the property establishes the Wilcox family as its original occupants and traces the house's use through the family's tenure and into the twentieth century.
By the 1980s the house had fallen into significant disrepair. A renovation project at that time converted the structure into a bed-and-breakfast operation, the Inn at Pearl Street. The renovation is documented as the occasion of the inn's best-known paranormal encounter: a plumber working on the project reported seeing a luminous woman in white carrying twin boys up the main staircase. Austin Ghosts identifies the figure as Stella Wilcox, a member of the original Wilcox family, though the basis for that identification is not stated in available sources.
The UT Daily Texan published a feature on the inn in October 2016 that documented its haunted reputation and quoted staff accounts of ongoing unexplained activity. The inn operated as an active B&B at time of that coverage; current operational status should be confirmed via the venue website.
Sources
The inn's most specific encounter occurred during its 1980s renovation. Austin Ghosts documents the account of a plumber who saw a luminous woman in a white dress carrying two young boys up the main staircase. The figure was visible long enough for the worker to register the scene before it disappeared. Austin ghost tradition identifies the figure as Stella Wilcox, connected to the original family that owned the home, though no primary source establishing Stella Wilcox as a historical person or her relationship to the twin children has been located in available documentation.
The UT Daily Texan's 2016 Halloween feature on the inn captured current staff accounts of ongoing activity: music heard coming from rooms that turn out to be empty, lights that flicker without electrical explanation, and furniture that has been found moved between staff visits to rooms. The Texan's reporting frames the activity as 'friendly' — no violent or threatening phenomena in the documented record.
The staircase, as the location of the original plumber encounter, is the focal point most frequently cited in guest reports. Austin Ghosts notes that guests on upper floors report the strongest sense of activity, consistent with the staircase as a transition point in the original sighting.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Guests staying overnight in the 1896 Victorian have reported music from unoccupied rooms, flickering lights, and furniture movement. The staircase — where a plumber reported seeing the luminous figure of Stella Wilcox during 1980s renovation — is the site of the most frequently cited encounter.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Las Vegas, NV
The Aladdin Hotel opened in Las Vegas in 1966 as a major resort and casino property. The hotel underwent renovations and continued operations until its closure in 2003. Planet Hollywood Entertainment acquired the property in 2005, completely renovating and reopening it in 2007 as Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The 7th floor Panorama Suite emerged as the property's most paranormally active location during Aladdin Hotel operations.
Genoa, WI
Big River Inn dates to either 1879 or 1896 (sources vary) in Genoa, Wisconsin. The building originally functioned as a restaurant before evolving into a combined inn and restaurant. It now operates as Water View Inn, maintaining its paranormal reputation while serving contemporary hospitality functions.
Austin, TX
The Driskill opened on December 20, 1886, in downtown Austin as the grandest hotel in central Texas. Colonel Jesse Lincoln Driskill, a Tennessee-born cattle baron who had supplied beef to the Confederate Army and Texas Rangers, financed the construction. A harsh winter and drought devastated his herds and forced him to sell the hotel in 1888; he died in 1890.