HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
1924 Art Deco auditorium on the Texas-Arkansas state line that hosted touring performers for decades; paranormal investigators report EVP voices near the back dock and a sense of unseen contact
400 N State Line Ave, Texarkana, TX 75501
Research updated August 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Venue access depends on current programming; check Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk for tour tickets
Access
Wheelchair OK
Indoor venue with level main floor; older building may have accessibility limitations in some areas
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1924 · Art Deco civic auditorium 1924 · Century of Texarkana civic and performance programming · State Line Ave civic architecture · Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk stop
The Texarkana Municipal Auditorium was constructed in 1924 and anchors the civic block on State Line Avenue, the unusual thoroughfare that runs directly along the Texas-Arkansas border. The Art Deco building has functioned as the city's principal performance venue since its opening, hosting traveling shows, civic events, and musical programming through much of the twentieth century.
Regional music history writers have noted the auditorium's position on the touring circuits that moved through the mid-South and Deep South during the 1940s and 1950s. Texarkana's location at the junction of Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana made it a natural stop for performers working the territory between Dallas and Memphis. The Texarkana region produced its own music culture during this period, with local venues drawing performers from the broader Louisiana and Texas country and rockabilly scenes.
The building sits on the Arkansas side of State Line Avenue — a peculiarity of the border city's geography that means the auditorium itself falls under Arkansas jurisdiction despite being embedded in the downtown commercial district shared between the two states. It continues to function as an active civic facility.
The Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk added the auditorium to its Arkansas-side route edition, connecting the building's long performance history to the paranormal reports that have accumulated around the back dock area.
Sources
The auditorium's paranormal reputation is centered on its back dock — a service and loading area at the rear of the building. Investigators and visitors who have spent time there report the physical sensation of a hand placed on the back or a pinch on the shoulder, experienced without any visible person present.
A team of paranormal investigators from New Orleans conducted a formal session at the building and reported capturing EVP recordings they transcribed as 'Tickets Please' and 'You are so cheap.' These phrases are cited in regional ghost coverage as among the more specific EVP claims associated with the Texarkana performing arts circuit.
Local ghost-tour tradition attributes the physical sensations and voice activity to the spirit of a performer associated with the venue's history. This attribution is a legend circulating in the Haunted Texarkana tour community rather than a historically documented claim, and the specific identity varies across accounts. The auditorium's role as a stop on the Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk's Arkansas-side edition has brought additional investigators and visitors to the building in recent years.
The Municipal Auditorium is a featured stop on the Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk's Arkansas-side edition, which covers the building's performance history and the paranormal reports from the back dock area. Tour departs from downtown Texarkana — check the Haunted Texarkana website for current schedule and ticket information.
The 1924 Art Deco auditorium exterior on State Line Avenue is viewable from the public sidewalk. The building sits on the Arkansas side of the Texas-Arkansas border and remains an active civic venue.
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Paris, TX
Built in 1927 in Art Deco style and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building now operating as the Paris Community Theatre began its life as the Plaza Theatre. It has anchored the northeast corner of the Paris town square for nearly a century and remains an active performing arts venue.
Texarkana, TX
The theater opened November 18, 1924, built by the Saenger Amusement Company as its Texarkana flagship, designed by architect Emil Weil in Italian Renaissance style. After closing in 1977, it reopened in 1979–80 following a $2.5 million restoration, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Texas State Landmark, and was renamed for Texas billionaire Ross Perot.
Texarkana, TX
The Perot Theatre opened November 18, 1924, as the Saenger Amusement Company's Texarkana flagship, designed by architect Emil Weil in Italian Renaissance style. After restoration in 1979-80, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a Texas State Landmark. It is operated by the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council.