A comprehensive structural evaluation performed by a licensed engineer found Yorktown Memorial Hospital’s 75year-old building to be “sound, stable and safe for its current use,” according to the building’s owners.
“The engineer’s report found no evidence of significant damage or risk of collapse, classifying minor cosmetic weathering as standard restoration opportunities rather than structural failures,” a press release from owners Fred and Steve Garza-Guzman of San Antonio said. “This professional determination provides a clear path forward for the site’s preservation and puts to rest previous concerns regarding building safety.”
The assessment contradicts a report by Yorktown City Inspector Bureau Veritas dated Oct. 16 that declared the building was “liable to partially or fully collapse.” The city’s report included 54 photographs of deteriorating conditions inside and outside the building at 728 W. Main St. in the determination it is a public nuisance that “violates the standards as provided by the Substandard Building Ordinance of the City of Yorktown.”
Yorktown city officials did not immediately respond to the press release’s assertions, but an administrative employee said the press release was received, and City Administrator Michele Warwas and Mayor William Baker planned to discuss the matter and issue a statement.
The press release follows the hospital being featured last week on the PBS Texas travel series, The Daytripper. In addition to the lore associated with the structure reportedly being “haunted,” the episode also highlighted the hospital’s distinctive architecture and its place in Texas postwar medical heritage.
With the building’s safety formally verified, the owners said they will continue to host its popular membership-based tours and paranormal investigations. They said the programs are vital to the site’s longevity, as all proceeds will directly support the ongoing cleaning, maintenance, and historic preservation of the 1950s-era facility.
The Garza-Guzmans said they loved working with The Daytripper crew and seeing how the episode showcased Yorktown’s history and cultural offerings. It highlighted two local eateries, (Abuelita’s and 5D Steakhouse), the Yorktown Historical Museum, the Nordheim Shooting Club Dance hall and De-Witt County’s multicultural population.
”We were especially grateful for the opportunity to share the history of Yorktown Memorial Hospital alongside the folklore that has grown around it over the years,” Fred Garza-Guzman said. “Texas is at its best when its stories, cultures and traditions are celebrated.”
The owners said they remain in a productive, transparent dialogue with the City of Yorktown’s leadership to ensure the site remains a compliant and contributing asset to the city’s cultural and economic landscape.
The Yorktown City Council postponed consideration of condemnation proceedings on the hospital building after a public hearing at a Nov. 17, meeting. The council heard the Garza-Guzmans’ case for saving the reportedly “haunted” building during the two-hour hearing and voted to table any action for the time being.
At the meeting, city officials agreed to a meeting with the owners prior to the council considering any action again.
The owners, who conduct tours of the closed hospital under the business name of Curious Twins Paranormal and Ghost Tours of San Antonio, told the council they are seeking historical preservation designations for the building. Built in 1950 and opened in 1951 by the Felician Sisters of the Roman Catholic Church, Yorktown Memorial Hospital served the surrounding communities for decades as a small, faith-based rural hospital. The 27-bed facility closed in 1986 and has since become known for its distinctive architecture and history of local service. Today, it stands as one of Yorktown’s most recognized landmarks, due to both its lore and as part of Texas’s postwar medical heritage. Yorktown Memorial Hospital is closed to the public and operates solely as a private, non-commercial property. Access is restricted to members of the hospital’s private club, who maintain the property and conduct educational and preservation- related activities. It serves as a historic site under private stewardship, not as a commercial attraction or public venue. Additional information is available at YorktownMemorialHospital. com
