Halloween Wrap Up

Impact boos: Houston's best haunted house is an under the radar neighborhood treasure with a building legacy

Some say “Halloween is for kids.”

Friday night at 2051 Claremont — it was all about the kids . . . and one heck of a haunted house.

Julie and David Shannon started hosting this gig six years ago. It’s grown ever since and not just in BOO factor.

What started as a small cemetery in the front yard the first year went to a flying ghost the second. After that, the kids took over and voila . . . Haunted House. Don’t worry about the chainsaw. It doesn’t have a blade.

When I left at 8 p.m., kids in costumes were still pouring into the place like sand fleas.

Their kids and a bunch of their friends start planning it way before school cranks up in September. Some jot notes. Stone Shannon (age 13) sketches. All the input is given to architects, Scott McCool and James Tryles, who then make it happen starting 10 days out.

How scary fun is this house? Friday night, one little kid who’d just exited was asked, “How was it?” He answered with his thumbs. Two up.

Tons of other kids agree. Last year, some 200 invitations went out (including UPS folks and all the neighbors) and by the end of the evening 600 kids had answered THE DARE nailed above the entrance.

No tellin’ how many attended Friday night. When I left at 8 p.m., kids in costumes were still pouring into the place like sand fleas. I looked down Claremont Street and thought, LIVE FROM HOUSTON — IT’S HALLOWEEN!

It’s all about the kids: Daniel Chavez-Golden, from left, Stone Shannon, Lane McCool and Wesley Alexander.

$4 It\u2019s all about the kids. L to R - Daniel Chavez-Golden, Stone Shannon, Lane McCool, Wesley Alexander Katie Oxford Haunted House November 2014$

Photo by Katie Oxford

It’s all about the kids: Daniel Chavez-Golden, from left, Stone Shannon, Lane McCool and Wesley Alexander.

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Houston news of the week. New rankings top the list, including the best places to live and the best grad schools. Plus, we meet the team behind a hidden Italian gem. Read our five most popular stories below, then find some weekend fun via this guide.

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3. 9 Houston universities make U.S. News' 2025 list of top grad schools. Nine prestigious Houston universities have climbed through the ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s recently released report of the best graduate schools nationwide for 2025. Several graduate programs also appeared among the top 10 in a Texas-wide comparison.

4. 9 new bars shaking up Houston with cocktails, live music, and more. Houston’s bar scene continues to deliver, with nine new spots offering everything from sneaker-lined walls to art-inspired cocktails. Discover which of the city’s latest bars could become your new favorite haunt.

Sante cocktail lounge Sante's Garden Room is decorated with two olive trees. Photo by Chris Furia

5. Raise a glass to these 8 can't-miss Houston food and wine events. Houston spring event season is rapidly drawing to a close. Before the summer swelter sets in, consider these options that support a charity, include a little road trip, give wine lovers the opportunity to stop and drink the rosés, and more.