Melvin Maya · Ghost Texas · Houston
Two Nights at Houston’s Hotel ICON — Ghost Texas Trailer
We spent two nights investigating the historic Hotel ICON in downtown Houston. This trailer gives you a look at what we investigated, why we went, and the questions we brought home.
Why we spent two nights at Hotel ICON
Hotel ICON sits in the heart of downtown Houston, inside the former Union National Bank building. Its history, architecture, and stories told by hotel guests and employees made it a location we wanted to investigate in more depth. We filmed over two nights instead of relying on a brief walk-through, with opportunities to return to areas that raised questions.
There are stories about voices in empty rooms and people seeing figures in the building. Those accounts explain why we were interested, but they are eyewitness reports—not verified evidence that anything supernatural occurred.
Room 415 and our EMF readings
Early on, Patrick was using a K2 electromagnetic-field meter when he noticed strong readings in and around room 415. We moved through portions of the hallway to compare responses. The readings did not remain consistent throughout the floor, which was interesting to us but also encouraged us to consider how wiring and electrical equipment could affect the instrument.
EMF readings are a measure of the environment; a meter cannot tell you that a ghost is standing nearby. The trailer previews the discussion we had about those readings, while the full footage gives the surrounding context.
Trying to make sense of the spirit-box responses
We tried spirit-box sessions in an area connected with the hotel's banking history, asking about anyone who might once have worked there. During parts of the session, we thought we heard names and words that might be relevant to the building's past. Later research raised additional possibilities, but it would be misleading to treat a perceived word as proof of communication.
We also worked with the Estes Method, where the person hearing the audio does not have the same information as the people asking the questions. That can help us compare apparent responses, though it does not eliminate coincidence, radio fragments, or interpretation.
The second night in the penthouse
We returned for another night and explored the hotel's penthouse with guests connected to the property. One participant described feeling an unexplained heaviness around his shoulders. Later, several people reported noticing a shape on a thermal-camera display that reminded them of a person. The shape wasn't clearly preserved in the downloaded video, so we can't responsibly present that moment as a confirmed apparition.
The penthouse sequence was a reminder that there can be a difference between what someone experiences on location and what a camera actually preserves. Both belong in the story, but they shouldn't be described as identical kinds of evidence.
What this trailer is—and isn't
This is a preview of the Hotel ICON investigation. It introduces some of the people, places and questions involved, not the finished case file or a definitive explanation. When the full investigation arrives, I want viewers to look at the circumstances around each event rather than only the most dramatic few seconds.
Watch the official Ghost Texas trailer on YouTube. We'll keep the full episode and any After the Investigation discussion separate from this trailer so the releases are easy to follow.
Frequently asked questions
Is Houston's Hotel ICON really haunted?
There are many stories and reports associated with Hotel ICON, but our trailer doesn't prove a haunting. It shows a few observations and questions we are examining.
Where is Hotel ICON?
The hotel is in downtown Houston, Texas, in the historic building formerly used by Union National Bank.
More Hotel ICON coverage
Ghost Texas — official trailer and investigation hub
Paranormal Unknown — investigation context and video feature