Photos by Rod PradoNews
Top 10 Hello Woodlands News Stories of 2025
3…2…1… Before the ball drops at midnight and we count down to the beginning of a new year, the team at Hello Woodlands is reflecting on quite an eventful and newsworthy 2025.
In 2025, Hello Woodlands published… 1,046 Articles, 7,868 Social Media Posts, and 117 Email Newsletters.
Thank you! Your support over this past year allowed the Hello Woodlands team to cover and share local news, impactful stories, exciting events, and what’s happening in our community. We are looking forward to an amazing 2026!
Top 10 News Stories of 2025
Below we count down the top ten (most viewed) news stories of 2025 and moments that we will not soon forget.
#10. Snow Day – January 21
Many woke up on the morning of Tuesday, January 21 with 2 or more inches of snow covering the ground. “This will certainly be a day to remember for much of the Houston/Galveston area,” shared the U.S. National Weather Service Houston-Galveston Texas. “Many reports 2-4″ of snowfall, with the highest reaching 6 inches.” See photos and updates from this historic day of snow here
#9. South Regional Library closes, Kevin Brady Library & Community Center opens
The South Branch Library first opened in 1976 and its first building was completed in 1978. The library was destroyed by fire in 1992 and operated in a temporary space until the South Regional Library building opened in 1994. The South Regional Library closed on Saturday, July 26 and relocated to the new Kevin Brady Library and Community Center that now serves as a central hub for the community, providing a space for learning, connection, and collaboration for years to come. Read more
#8. New Pedestrian Bridge across The Waterway
The Woodlands Town Center Owners Association in partnership with The Woodlands Township unveiled a new 250-foot pedestrian bridge over The Woodlands Waterway, near The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Planned in 2003, the bridge marked the fifth pedestrian crossing along the Waterway, further enhancing the walkability and accessibility of The Woodlands Town Center. Read more
#7. Restaurant openings announced in The Woodlands
The Woodlands area welcomed and celebrated many new restaurants in 2025, but the biggest buzz came from the double announcement made that two new independent restaurants from acclaimed Texas chefs will be opening in 2026 – one from chef Austin Simmons and another from Aaron Bludorn. Read more
#6. Three Board Positions in November Election
Residents had the opportunity to vote for candidates in three positions on The Woodlands Township Board of Directors in the November 2025 election. Each office carries a two-year term, and all three positions are elected at large by voters in The Woodlands Township in both Montgomery and Harris County. Residents reelected Shelley Sekula-Gibbs (Position #5) and Cindy Heiser (Position #7), and elected Adam Lamb (Position #6). Meet the candidates
#5. The Woodlands mourns Loss of Beloved Business Owner
On Tuesday, September 30, Dosey Doe shared a statement regarding the loss of their beloved owner, Steve Said, and confirmed that Dosey Doe will continue to operate. The Big Barn, a vintage 1840s barn transformed into a multilevel music venue located at 25911 Interstate 45 N, and Dosey Doe Coffee, a quaint coffeehouse offering breakfast, lunch & dinner with live music performances located at 8021 Research Forest Dr, remain open. On behalf of the Hello Woodlands team, we continue to pray for and offer our heartfelt condolences to the Dosey Doe and Said family. Read more
#4. Howard Hughes continues to make Real Estate Acquisitions & Development
On May 19, Howard Hughes announced the acquisition of 10101 Woodloch Forest Drive, a Class A office building that would be renamed 7 Waterway and added over 200,000 square feet of available office space to the company’s growing portfolio in the Waterway District. This news found its place upon the top articles of 2025 in addition to the Grogan’s Mill Village Center Retail Revitalization Project, opening of Kevin Brady Library and Community Center, plus residential real estate news such as the new Ritz-Carlton Residences. Read more
#3. Wesley Doolittle takes the helm as Montgomery County Sheriff
After the results of the 2024 election, Wesley Doolittle took his position as Montgomery County Sheriff officially on January 1, 2025. On the first day of the job, Sheriff Wesley Doolittle shared a message to the community, pledging to work tirelessly to ensure that Montgomery County remains one of the safest communities in Texas and to keep the lines of communication open and transparent. We thank our local Sheriff’s office and law enforcement agencies for keeping our community safe. Read the message
In 2025, we saw many changes in leadership across Montgomery County – including Michael R. Holley as Montgomery County District Attorney, Ritch Wheeler as Montgomery County Precinct 3 Commissioner, Dr. David Vinson as Conroe ISD Superintendent of Schools, Jevon Gibb as The Woodlands Area EDP’s CEO, and more.
#2. Kristian Blummenfelt and Kat Matthews earn victories at Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas
The Woodlands once again hosted the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American Championship on Saturday, April 26, 2025. In the first full-distance 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series triathlon in North America, Norwegian powerhouse Kristian Blummenfelt stormed to victory in his debut appearance in The Woodlands in a time of 7:24:20. Additionally, history was made when British superstar Kat Matthews took the tape for the third consecutive year in Texas, this time completing the course in a staggering 8:10:34 and setting a new fastest time for a full-distance IRONMAN during a thrilling day of racing. Watch Video, View Race Photos
#1. Spectacular Christmas Lights in The Woodlands Area
Once again, The Woodlands and surrounding areas set up and showcased epic Christmas light displays so both residents and visitors could experience the magic and wonder of the season. Year after year, the Hello Woodlands Christmas Lights Guide and Map is our most viewed article and guide of the year. The list and map are continually updated throughout the month of December with new locations, photos, and videos so you and your family can map out your sightseeing adventure and make incredible memories together. Christmas may be over, but most lights continue to shine into January – so it’s not too late to walk through “Holiday on The Waterway” or take a drive around the neighborhood. A special thank you to Entergy Texas for sponsoring the Hello Woodlands’ 2025 Christmas Lights Guide. Happy sightseeing! View the Guide
Thank You for your support over this past year! The Hello Woodlands team is looking forward to an amazing 2026. Happy New Year!
