We have investigated historic houses, cemeteries and old jails, but a working barbecue restaurant presents a very different kind of setting. When Patrick arranged a visit to Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue in Tomball, Texas, it was on fairly short notice. I headed out with Patrick, my brother Marcos and Turner, curious about the stories employees had been sharing and what the building might reveal after closing.
We weren't even fully inside when something caught our attention. Scott, one of the people behind Tejas, met us with footage from a security camera. The crew had just experienced something unusual, and we were glad we'd decided to start recording as soon as we arrived.
How a Chocolate Business Became Tejas Barbecue
Before the investigation, Scott told us about the business. He'd spent years in the railroad industry before turning a hobby of making bean-to-bar chocolate into something bigger. Chocolate sales led to a storefront, and barbecue became a way to build a sustainable business around the original idea. The restaurant's popularity grew, but the team never stopped making chocolate part of its identity.
We liked hearing that story before setting up equipment. It reminded us that this is a real business filled with people who work there every day, not a location that exists just to be investigated.
The Ice Scoop That Had Already Fallen
As we arrived, Scott told us about an ice scoop that had come off the top of a machine. Security footage showed the aftermath and part of the event, but the camera angle made it difficult to see everything we would have wanted to inspect. Staff also showed us other security recordings of objects that had moved or fallen in the business.
It was intriguing, especially because it happened shortly before our visit. Still, a heavy object moving unexpectedly doesn't identify the cause. Placement, vibration, balance and the parts of the scene outside the camera frame all deserve consideration.
In the Chocolate Room
We spent time in the chocolate room because employees had described unusual experiences there. We had recording equipment and different devices operating, including audio-reactive equipment and tools meant to register environmental changes.
At one point I heard a muffled, voice-like sound nearby and initially thought Marcos or Turner had spoken. They said they hadn't. I couldn't make out words, and I didn't have a clear explanation for what I heard. That made it worth revisiting on the recording rather than declaring that someone unseen was talking to us.
We also noticed odd device responses, including a beep that prompted a discussion about nearby electronics. A microwave or other equipment could have been involved, and the recording alone wasn't enough to settle it. We wanted to remember what else was switched on at the time.
The Door, the Light and the Alley Session
Later, Marcos said a staff restroom light was on and its door was open even though he believed he'd turned the light off and closed the door. We kept asking who had last used the room because that was the obvious first explanation to investigate.
Outside, we tried a spirit-box session near the alley. During that session, one of us reported head pressure and a sensation of being touched, then asked whether anyone on the team had made contact. Personal sensations can be unsettling, but they aren't a measurement of paranormal activity. They need to be reported as experiences, not proof.
What We Wanted to Review Later
Between the security footage, the chocolate-room sound, the restroom question and the outdoor session, there was a lot to think about. We returned to those moments in our Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue After the Investigation discussion.
Where is Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue?
It's a restaurant in Tomball, Texas, northwest of Houston. It is an active business. Our filming took place with permission; visitors should respect the restaurant and its staff.
Did Ghost Texas prove the restaurant is haunted?
No. We documented unusual reports and moments that caught our attention, but the recordings and personal experiences do not establish a supernatural cause.
What Would You Replay First?
Would you start with the ice-scoop footage, the muffled sound in the chocolate room or the question of the door and light? We want you to look closely at the sequence of events and tell us what else could explain them.
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