Anyone who’s watched Dazed and Confused knows about Austin’s moonlight towers. The movie’s iconic scene at the moon tower had everyone at the theater wishing they were at that party. While this exciting image would make you think these towers are full of excitement and fun, rumor has it that these structures have a dark past. According to some, the moonlight towers were put in place as a response to Texas’ most deadly serial killer, The Servant Girl Annihilator. Whether or not these two stories have a correlation, one thing remains certain: 19th century Austin had a dark and evil killer that will never be forgotten.
Seventeen of the original 31 towers remain.
Matthew Rutledge/Wikimedia Commons According to legend, these towers were erected in order to light the streets after the Servant Girl Annihilator’s killing spree. This serial killer was known for brutally murdering young servant girls in the middle of the night.
Austin is the only city with any remaining moonlight towers.
Katie Spence/Flickr The Servant Girl Annihilator killed 8 victims in a similar, gruesome manner. He often left his axe behind at the scene of the crime. His bloody footprints become one of the only clues to his identity because the right foot only had four toes.
O. Henry coined the name for this evil madman.
Wikimedia Commons Famous for writing classics such as “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Ransom of Red Chief,” O. Henry gave this serial killer his nickname. The deranged criminal’s real name was never confirmed.
Speculation still swirls around this crazed murderer from the 19th century.
Kenny Easwaran/Flickr The Servant Girl Annihilator was never found, but many historians believe the killer fled to England and became Jack the Ripper.
The towers are listed under the National Register of Historic Places.
Wade Treichler/Flickr These historical landmarks won’t be going anywhere. To many Austinites, the moonlight towers stand as reminders of Austin’s dark and evil history.
The Servant Girl Annihilator isn’t the only bone-chilling story to come from Austin. These 7 haunted places in Austin will send chills down your spine.
Matthew Rutledge/Wikimedia Commons
According to legend, these towers were erected in order to light the streets after the Servant Girl Annihilator’s killing spree. This serial killer was known for brutally murdering young servant girls in the middle of the night.
Katie Spence/Flickr
The Servant Girl Annihilator killed 8 victims in a similar, gruesome manner. He often left his axe behind at the scene of the crime. His bloody footprints become one of the only clues to his identity because the right foot only had four toes.
Wikimedia Commons
Famous for writing classics such as “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Ransom of Red Chief,” O. Henry gave this serial killer his nickname. The deranged criminal’s real name was never confirmed.
Kenny Easwaran/Flickr
The Servant Girl Annihilator was never found, but many historians believe the killer fled to England and became Jack the Ripper.
Wade Treichler/Flickr
These historical landmarks won’t be going anywhere. To many Austinites, the moonlight towers stand as reminders of Austin’s dark and evil history.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
