Commerce, Texas is Haunted

Set back in the woods along Highway 24 just before you enter Commerce are two tall wrought iron gates with the words Shadow Lake Estates in big block letters. It was a dream project of Mike King back in the early 2000s to create a private subdivision. Throughout that area are concrete foundations, a gazebo, and a small lake. Unfortunately, the housing development never came to fruition. And it has sat empty since.

Before the pandemic, it was a place for teens to meet up and hang out. Small fires were built on the concrete pads and sidewalks. Broken beer bottles and trash have been found scattered around the property. And there was something else rumored to be out there in the dark with them, the Hanging Man.

He supposedly appears as a white male in his twenties wearing athletic shorts and a tank top. He might even come up to the circle of light made by the fire and ask for a beer. But if you have the misfortune of touching him as you hand him that Bud Light, you’ll notice he is colder than the bottle you just gave him. But as the fire dies down and people get ready to leave, he walks toward the lake instead of the fence. There have been numerous reports of people going after him to explain that he’d be alone, only to discover that they’re all alone. He vanished. That is unless you look up.

Hanging in the trees you might just see his body. There are no police reports of hangings or suicide victims on the property, but that doesn’t seem to stop him from appearing to groups of kids.

So if you’re looking for a place to hang out in Commerce, maybe find someplace other than Shadow Lake. That is unless you’re cool with someone else just hanging around with you.