No photograph
on file
Est. 1966
Theater / Performance Venue

W.E. Scott Theatre

A 1966 performing arts theater built with a $3 million bequest from William Edrington Scott; the prop room called 'The Dungeon' is the site of a documented 1970 death that has defined the building's paranormal reputation.

1300 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Wheelchair Accessible Research-Backed · 3 sources

Research updated June 2026

Age

All Ages

Cost

$

Ticket prices vary by performance; typically $15–$50. The building closed to regular public programming in January 2025 pending redevelopment.

Access

Wheelchair OK

Single-story theater with accessible seating; Cultural District location

Equipment

Photos OK

Apparition in brown suit crossing the stageLaughter heard from beneath the stageSelf-straightening portrait of William E. ScottElectrical anomalies and tools activating independentlyRecorded audio of unidentified voices

The haunting narratives at the W.E. Scott Theatre concentrate on two distinct figures, each connected to a documented aspect of the building's history.

William Edrington Scott — the donor who never lived to see the theater that bears his name — is the more benign of the two. Theater workers have reported that his portrait in the lobby tilts due to street vibrations and then appears to correct itself, a phenomenon interpreted by some staff as Scott continuing to maintain the building he could not oversee in life. There are also accounts of a presence felt in the production offices.

The more widely reported presence is Kenneth Walker Yandle, who died by suicide in The Dungeon — the building's prop room — on January 7, 1970. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram covered the death at the time. Yandle had been employed as an actor and stagehand with the Fort Worth Community Theatre, a resident company at the Scott, and had become despondent following a breakup over the Christmas holidays. In the years since, theater workers and paranormal investigators have reported seeing a figure in a brown suit crossing the stage when no one is scheduled to be there, and hearing laughter coming from beneath the stage in the area near The Dungeon. One account, documented by Ghost City Tours, describes a stagehand's tools activating on their own and a terrifying visual encounter that caused the worker to lose consciousness.

Paranormal investigators have also reported capturing audio of a woman's voice and children's voices in the building; these cannot be connected to any known documented death at the site.

Notable Entities

Kenneth Walker Yandle (documented death, 1970)William Edrington Scott (founder)

Plan Your Visit

1 way to experience
Self-Guided Visit

Cultural District Drive-By

The W.E. Scott Theatre building is visible from the street in Fort Worth's Cultural District. Public access to the interior is currently unavailable following the January 2025 closure of the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.

Duration:
15 min

Sources & Further Reading

Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.

  1. 1.backpackerverse.com/fort-worth-haunting-w-e-scott-theatre
  2. 2.ghostcitytours.com/fort-worth/haunted-fort-worth/scott-theatre
  3. 3.fwtx.com/news/the-fort-worth-community-arts-center-is-closing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is W.E. Scott Theatre family-friendly?
The building's paranormal history involves a documented suicide; parents may wish to provide context for younger visitors. No active programming at this time. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit W.E. Scott Theatre?
Ticket prices vary by performance; typically $15–$50. The building closed to regular public programming in January 2025 pending redevelopment.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is W.E. Scott Theatre wheelchair accessible?
Yes, W.E. Scott Theatre is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Single-story theater with accessible seating; Cultural District location.