The owners of Yorktown Memorial Hospital who lead paranormal tours of the historical building say they are baffled by the City of Yorktown’s recent decision to halt their operation.
The city posted a notice on its Facebook page Friday, Aug. 22, saying, “The city has officially deemed this building unsafe for occupancy under Section 116 of the International Existing Building Code (as adopted by City Code). Due to the risk of structural failure or hazardous conditions, this property has been posted with a notice that prohibits any public entry or use.”
The owners, life partners Stephen and Fred Garza-Guzman who operate Curious Twins Paranormal and Ghost Tours, said they bought the building earlier in the summer after guiding tours through it for six years while it was owned by another party. The hospital has long been rumored to be haunted.
“This was a huge surprise to us,” Fred Garza-Guzman said. “Since 2019, our company has hosted 23 tours and investigations at Yorktown Memorial Hospital. We’ve worked tirelessly with previous owners to bring hundreds of visitors from around the world to Yorktown. During this time frame, we have not received one single complaint, citation, warning or letter of concern. It was only in the weeks after we purchased the building ourselves that we were asked to cease access to our guests. It’s confusing. Why, after years of conducting these tours, are we being shut down now?”
When contacted by the Yorktown News Wednesday, Aug. 27, Yorktown City Administrator Michele Warwas declined to comment on the case. She said that the city attorney is reviewing the matter, and that an update might be available next week.
Garza-Guzman said that they learned of the problem Thursday, Aug. 22, when a city official contacted them saying city officials saw on Facebook they planned a tour Saturday, Aug. 23. They were advised the city planned to inspect the building before the tour because it was open to the public, he said.
“We tried to explain that it wasn’t exactly open to the public,” Garza-Guzman said. “The event, like all our events, was a private, ticketed event requiring preregistration.”
Garza-Guzman said the inspection occurred that afternoon without their presence because they were notified just 15 minutes before it happened. They live in San Antonio 90 minutes away, he said.
The following day, Garza-Guzman said they were notified of the city’s decision to ban entry to the building, so they cancelled the event.
Garza-Guzman said they attended the City Council’s meeting Monday night, Aug. 25, and complained during the “Citizens to Speak” time about their not being given the opportunity to meet with city leaders before the action was taken.
“The mayor addressed us directly and verbally agreed to meet with us,” Garza-Guzman said.
Garza-Guzman said they sent an email Tuesday, Aug. 26, asking for a meeting, and Warwas contacted them the next day saying she was checking on the mayor’s availability to schedule a meeting.
