This October marks 20 years of Nightmare on 19th Street, a local haunted attraction that has scared and entertained Lubbock residents since 2006.
Lubbock radio host Wes Nessman co-founded the haunted house after listeners called his radio show asking about the city's lack of Halloween attractions.
Nessman said he never imagined Nightmare on 19th Street would still be operating two decades later.
“I can't give it up because it's my passion, it's my hobby, it's my gym, it's everything,” Nessman said.
The now infamous haunted attraction and experience will continue its 20th season through Halloween, Oct. 31, at its location at 602. East 19th Street.
Tickets can be purchased online through the venue's website, https://nightmareon19thstreet.com/home.
Nightmare on 19th Street's origins
At the time it started, Nessman said, he was looking for a side hustle and joined three others to create their own attraction.
Although the original group eventually dwindled to two co-owners, the attraction began with three temporary haunted houses at the Lone Star Amphitheater.
Eventually, the operation found a permanent location and expanded beyond Lubbock with another attraction in Buda, Texas.
Over the past two decades, the haunted attraction has grown far beyond its original three haunted houses, with new scares and experiences added each year.
For the 2026 season, the attraction introduced a 10-foot animatronic spider called Big Betty, as well as two new rooms inside Blood Moon Manor: a tailor room and a medical room.
The improvements go beyond the physical attractions.
Nessman said the scare actors improve each year, with some having worked at Nightmare on 19th Street since the beginning.
He also emphasized the importance of the atmosphere, encouraging visitors to take their time and enjoy everything the haunted house has to offer.
“I get very excited for people to come out here and feel like they have a great place to get away,” Nessman said.
Despite Nightmare on 19th Street's success, there have been challenges along the way. Nessman said one of the greatest challenges has been vandalism.
Beyond the property damage, he said these incidents can be discouraging for those who work hard to build and maintain the attractions.
However, these setbacks have not stopped Nessman from continuing to improve the haunted house. Even after 20 years, his dedication to the attraction and the community remains strong.
“We get to create our own world and we get to decide the rules of that world,” Nessman said. “And that's a wonderful thing.”
After two decades, Nightmare on 19th Street has become more than just a haunted house in the Lubbock community.
Nessman said people of all ages return for Halloween, with some remembering specific scares and actors from previous years better than he does.
For many Lubbock residents, the haunted house has become a yearly tradition that brings people together and creates lasting memories.
As Nightmare on 19th Street celebrates its 20th anniversary, Nessman hopes visitors will continue to make memories and find an escape from everyday life through the Halloween tradition.
“I just hope everybody will have some Halloween fun, whether it's here or there,” Nessman said. “Take a break, get away from all of the nonsense that's out in the world these days and enjoy a beautiful fall night in Lubbock, Texas."
Hailey Stromberg is a reporting intern for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in Texas. Have a news tip for her? Email our newsroom at newmedia@lubbockonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock's Nightmare on 19th Street celebrating 20th anniversary
