Tonight, the Night Owl is opening a new case—one that takes us to Austin, Texas, where a striking Victorian home, built in 1876 and relocated to South Congress in the 1970s, has quietly stood with its secrets tucked beneath decades of history.

Originally built in 1876 for local businessman and senator, Walter Tips, the house is now home to Freddo ATX, a cozy café and cocktail bar with a growing reputation… not just for its drinks, but for its spirits.

Over the years, people have reported strange sensations—feeling watched when no one’s around, hearing voices, whispers, loud thuds, and unexplained electrical issues. Doors rattle or swing open on their own. Some guests swear they’ve seen children staring down from the upstairs windows.

And when something unexplainable happens? The staff all say the same thing: “That’s just Walter.”

In this episode, you’ll hear directly from Freddo’s three owners, several staff members, and even two local ghost tour guides—each with their own story to tell.

Photo by Meg Blohm

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Over the past four episodes in this series, the Night Owl team has been immersed in a chilling investigation of the Sunset Strip Comedy Club, located on Austin's legendary 6th Street. From eerie disembodied voices and shadow figures to a haunting presence in the back stairwell, the team has uncovered a disturbing pattern of paranormal activity tied to the building's long and mysterious past. Early on, they uncovered the tragic story of John Waller Stephens Jr., whose alleged suicide by self-administered Lysol ingestion was thought to haunt the club, but the investigation has since revealed far more than they could have expected.

In Parts 2 and 3, psychic mediums Jeffery and Kate the Brave helped validate staff experiences, while introducing new and unexpected spirits. Jeffery even identified a spirit named "Hank" who had no connection to the original story of John’s death. And Kate brought to light that the negative energy in the building might not be tied to John at all—but to something darker lurking in the shadows. Then, in Part 4, a game-changing revelation completely shook their understanding of John’s death.

Nicole Riccardo, a trusted member of the paranormal community, revealed that she had investigated the speakeasy below the Sunset Strip, Eden, years earlier. Through extensive research, she uncovered startling contradictions in the narrative surrounding John Waller Stephens Jr.’s death. Newspaper articles described his death as the result of a car accident—no mention of Lysol or suicide. Even more puzzling was the strange police report showing that, after the accident, John was driven across town, past his house and two hospitals, directly to his workplace at Wilson Furniture Company—now the very building they had been investigating. This discovery raised more questions than ever about the true circumstances of his death.

Now, armed with new evidence and insights, including the help of Nicole and the team of psychics, the Night Owl team returns to the Sunset Strip Comedy Club determined to uncover the truth. Will the investigation reveal what truly happened to John Waller Stephens Jr., and what dark forces are still at play in this historic building? Join them as they continue their journey to solve this mystery and confront whatever spirits may be haunting the Sunset Strip Comedy Club in Austin, Texas.

Photo by Meg Blohm

EPISODE SPONSORS:

LUMEN
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BETTERHELP
The Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/nightowl

AG1
New subscribers, go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl to get a FREE $76 Welcome Kit, bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box when you sign up.

In the first three parts of this investigation, the Night Owl team uncovered unsettling paranormal activity at the Sunset Strip Comedy Club, particularly around the back stairwell of the building. Staff have long attributed the ominous energy in this area to the mysterious suicide of John Waller Stephens Jr. Reports of shadowy figures and an overwhelming sense of dread have made this spot a hotspot for eerie encounters. But during their last investigation, working with psychic mediums Jeffery and Kate the Brave, they made an intriguing discovery: the shadowy presence both mediums saw appeared to be a completely separate energy from John’s spirit, and it was likely the source of the darker activity reported. In this episode, the investigation will continue with Jeffery and Kate, reflecting on what has been uncovered so far, and Stephen will reveal a fascinating new breakthrough that sheds more light on the mystery of John Waller Stephens Jr. and his tragic death.

Photo by Meg Blohm

EPISODE SPONSORS:

AG1
New AG1 subscribers: Go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl for a FREE $76 gift when you sign up. You’ll get a Welcome Kit, a bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box.

FACTOR
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