Woman in White of Sabine County

Travel Feature – Paranormal

By Walter Pond

Deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas, where ancient trees stretch into the mist and time seems to slow, travelers tell of a ghost who walks the roads after dark. Dressed in a flowing white gown, silent and pale, she’s known simply as the Woman in White of Sabine County.

It’s more than just a local legend. Across generations, residents and passersby alike have shared spine-tingling encounters with this mysterious figure. Whether she’s standing roadside near Hemphill or appearing in the rearview mirror on a foggy stretch of farm-to-market road, her presence is unmistakable—and unforgettable.

A Legend Rooted in Mystery

Sabine County, nestled in the piney borderlands near Louisiana, has no shortage of ghost stories. But the Woman in White holds a unique place in local folklore. While no definitive origin story exists, popular theories abound.

Some say she was a bride who died in a carriage accident on her way to the altar, forever trapped in the dress she never wore down the aisle. Others claim she was a settler’s wife who drowned while searching for her lost child—her soul doomed to wander until she finds them. Another tale casts her as a murder victim, buried deep in the forest by someone she trusted.

Despite these conflicting backstories, the encounters all share common threads: she is always alone. Always in white. And always appears before vanishing without a trace.

Firsthand Accounts

Local fisherman Carl M. recounted his 1998 encounter near Milam:

> “It was late, after two in the morning. I saw her standing near the edge of the road—barefoot, white dress, long hair. I pulled over to help, but by the time I stepped out of my truck… she was gone. No footsteps. No sound. Nothing. Just the trees and silence.”

A retired sheriff’s deputy also reported responding to multiple calls in the early 2000s—each describing a woman walking along rural roads in the middle of the night, always vanishing before help arrived.

And then there’s the tale of a delivery driver who claims he picked her up—only to realize halfway through the ride that the back of his van was completely empty.

Where to (Maybe) Find Her

If you’re bold enough to chase the legend, the roads between Hemphill and Milam are ground zero. Locals point to the Old Plainview Road and FM 83 as particularly active areas—especially during cold, foggy nights in late fall or early spring.

Visitors interested in the paranormal can book cabins along the edge of Toledo Bend Reservoir and take a self-guided drive through the ghost roads, or connect with local ghost tour guides who share stories passed down from generation to generation.

Travel Tips for Ghost Seekers

Stay the night: Sabine County is home to several charming inns and rustic lakefront lodges—ideal for late-night ghost hunting or cozy storytelling around the fire.

Pack for the elements: The Piney Woods can be humid, muddy, and cool at night. Bring boots, a jacket, and a flashlight.

Respect the locals and land: Many of the stories are tied to private or rural areas. Stick to public roads and always ask permission when exploring off the beaten path.

Keep an open mind: Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, the experience of a misty night drive through East Texas woods is unforgettable.

Haunted or not, Sabine County’s Woman in White adds a spectral shimmer to East Texas’s natural beauty and rich folklore. So if your travels bring you to this mysterious corner of the state, keep your eyes on the road—and don’t be surprised if someone… or something… is watching from the trees.