Spring Shadows - Houston, TX

In 1830, Karl Kolbe, a German immigrant, built a cabin along a natural spring-fed stream flowing to Buffalo Bayou and became the first settler in the Spring Branch area. More German farmers settled the area, most of whom owned dairy farms. In 1848, the farmers cleared the heavily-wooded land and built St. Peter’s United Church, which eventually sponsored the school district. The community flourished and started to become industrialized, as farmlands were sold and turned into subdivisions. MetroNational began development of Spring Shadows, a master-plan community within the larger Spring Branch North neighborhood, in the 1950s, and the area expanded as new residents arrived.

Locals travel to Houston’s museum district south of downtown, but for a taste of the arts nearby, visit Gallery M Squared in The Heights. Browse curated works housed in an old movie theater. The Spring Shadows community gathers annually for Springfest with food and kids’ games.

Spring Shadows residents enjoy a wide range of dining options in the neighborhood. Local, family-owned businesses infuse the area with specialty fare along with friendly dining atmospheres. Along Gessner Road sit two favorites, Thai Jin and Chavez Mexican Cafe.

With dim lighting and a cozy dining room, Thai Jin makes a great date-night spot. The eclectic menu features Asian fusion cuisine including Thai, Japanese, and Chinese foods, as well as several sushi options. The Pad Thai remains a favorite dish, with perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Less than a mile down the road, Chavez Mexican Cafe serves up fresh salsa and delicious Tex-Mex that bring locals back again and again. Try the tender sizzling Beef Fajitas or the Fish Chava, a tilapia filet served with sautéed shrimp. Save room for dessert and order the flan for a perfect end to your meal.

After a casual dinner, residents head out to a neighborhood bar for a few drinks. H & H Saloon on Clay and Blalock Road provides a relaxed atmosphere with a fun vibe. The spacious bar houses pool tables and free arcade games to go along with affordable drinks.

Travel south on Blalock Road to S Karaoke to hang out with a livelier crowd. The sound system awaits your next solo, and the friendly bartenders make sure your glass stays full.

Spring Shadows sits near the Sam Houston Parkway and Interstate 10, making commuting into downtown and the nearby Energy Corridor simple. The vast majority of residents rely on cars to travel around the neighborhood as well as to surrounding parts of Houston. The neighborhood provides some bike lanes and the flat terrain makes cycling easy, though most residents use bikes for leisurely rides or for exercise rather than running errands.

To ride the METRO bus, walk to Kempner Drive or Gessner Road to one of the stops along those busier streets. A ride downtown takes about an hour and ten minutes. Cabs do not frequent the residential neighborhood, so to request a ride, call Yellow Cab, or schedule a ride with Uber using your smartphone.

Green space fills the Spring Branch area, and Spring Shadows residents enjoy easy access to a number of parks. Agnes Moffitt Park on Hammerly Boulevard ranks among the favorites for its disc golf course. Cool off in the swimming pool on a hot summer day, or gather a group of friends for touch football on the athletic fields.

Terry Hershey Park, a popular Houston park, lies six miles southwest of Spring Shadows. Locals head here for extensive hiking and biking trails along the Buffalo Bayou. The dog-friendly park provides plenty of entertainment for your pup as well, with plenty of wildlife to chase after. Terry Hershey Park also hosts annual 5K runs for different fundraising organizations.

With close proximity to some of Houston’s hottest neighborhoods, Spring Shadows residents enjoy nearby shopping and entertainment destinations without having to pay the same high cost of living. The cost of living in Spring Shadows sits about 9 percent higher than Houston’s average cost of living. A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $805 per month.

Locals don’t have to travel to ritzy or trendy downtown bars for a night out, but instead enjoy neighborhood bars where they pay about $3 for a domestic beer. A trip downtown on the city metro bus costs $1.25 per ride, but traveling by personal car proves economical as well with gas prices about 22 percent lower than the national average.

Because Spring Shadows consists primarily of residential housing, residents travel to surrounding retail centers for their shopping needs. For one-stop shopping, Memorial City Mall sits about 3 miles south on Interstate 10. Anchored by typical department stores such as Dillard’s and Macy’s, the mall contains a wide selection of stores including Gap and Apple. The attached Target provides the perfect opportunity to get all your everyday shopping done in one place.

When searching for great deals, locals stop by MAM Resale. The thrift store contains everything from dresses and kids’ clothes to books and furniture. Sift through the well-organized sections for hidden treasures at discount prices. Saturdays feature additional mark-downs on sale items.

Head five miles east to Becker’s Books for a special collection of vintage books. Newer books sprinkle the piles of books stacked neatly throughout the old house, but the selection focuses on the classics and rare finds. Spend a rainy afternoon wandering the aisles of books while sipping on complimentary coffee and cookies.

Popular chain stores like HEB and Kroger provide residents with convenient grocery shopping. The stores stock fresh produce as well as everyday staples at affordable prices. For the best local farmers markets, travel to Westchase or The Heights. On Thursday afternoons, browse the freshly baked breads and homemade jams at the Westchase District Farmers Market. Or spend a Saturday morning wandering through Canino Produce & Farmers Market in The Heights for the best selection of local organic fruits and vegetables.