Victoria’s Black Swan Inn in San Antonio.
Mario G. via YelpVictoria’s Black Swan Inn — known locally as a hub for paranormal activity — has landed an upcoming feature on the Travel Channel’s Portals to Hell. The Greek-revival style plantation house was constructed in 1867 on a grassy hill across from the Salado Creek.
Just 20 years before the home was constructed for the occupation of various San Antonio socialites, it is said that General Caldwell and his men massacred over 60 Mexican soldiers in the bloody Battle of Salado on the grounds while defending the Republic of Texas. Since the early 90s, the property has been under the stewardship of JoAnn Rivera, who claims to have experienced a range contact of with the spiritual realm. According to Rivera, who raised her children in the home, she is familiar with eight or so distinct spirits that co-habitate with her and her family.
“A lot of people are afraid of the spirit world, but a lot comes from the fact that they don’t understand it,” she told MySA last year.
Victoria’s Black Swan Inn in San Antonio.
Mario G. via Yelp
Victoria’s Black Swan Inn
Over the years, Black Swan has developed a reputation, and subsequently has been visited by a bevy of investigators and ghost-curious clients. These days they host events, markets, and events like “haunted cocktail tours” filled with both kinds of spirits.
Armed with ghostly “expertise” and equipment, paranormal investigators Jack Osbourne (yes, THAT Jack Osbourne) and Katrina Weidman (previously seen on Paranormal Lockdown and Paranormal State) traveled to the property for season three of Portals of Hell. The episode will air this Saturday, June 11 at 10 p.m. ET. It will also stream on discovery+.
To investigate it for yourself, you can find Black Swan at 1006 Holbrook Road, Suite A. Catch their next event — an artisan market — on Friday, July 17.