Motivation

A Houston couple has built a life-size 40-foot pirate ship as part of their Halloween decorations, aiming to bring joy to their neighborhood.”I remember when I was a kid there was that one house, right, you would go to, and it really left an impression on you and we’re hoping to be that one house,” Jake Massel said.On Massel and Braxton Kirwan’s street, you’ll see both standard and unique decorations.”Here behind me, we’ve got a 40-foot pirate ship,” Braxton Kirwan said.Massel and Kirwan have been planning this design since June while traveling to their wedding.”We were waiting for our next flight and we started looking at ideas for Halloween and I said what if we did pirates?” Kirwan said.The idea quickly turned into an authentic, life-sized pirate ship, complete with a captain, cannons, treasure chests, and a few surprises.”They have the sights, the sounds even the smells from the wood and that will really give them an authentic experience,” Massel said.Their family even flew in to help, putting in eight-hour days over the past week to make it all happen.”Who doesn’t want to build a pirate ship once in their life?” Massel said.The couple has done themed decorations for the past few years, a tradition they feel is important to continue after moving to Houston in 2021.”This particular neighborhood was hit really hard by Harvey,” Kirwan said.The couple’s neighborhood sits right next to Buffalo Bayou.”When you’re having to decide between putting a new kitchen in your house from the flood or decorate for Halloween well the kitchen is going to win,” Kirwan said.It’s why when you roll up to the couple’s home, they hope everyone gets some joy out of what they’ve created.”They’re really excited about it,” Kirwan said.If you want to check out the decorations for yourself, you can visit the West Houston Memorial Thicket neighborhood.

A Houston couple has built a life-size 40-foot pirate ship as part of their Halloween decorations, aiming to bring joy to their neighborhood.”I remember when I was a kid there was that one house, right, you would go to, and it really left an impression on you and we’re hoping to be that one house,” Jake Massel said.On Massel and Braxton Kirwan’s street, you’ll see both standard and unique decorations.”Here behind me, we’ve got a 40-foot pirate ship,” Braxton Kirwan said.Massel and Kirwan have been planning this design since June while traveling to their wedding.”We were waiting for our next flight and we started looking at ideas for Halloween and I said what if we did pirates?” Kirwan said.The idea quickly turned into an authentic, life-sized pirate ship, complete with a captain, cannons, treasure chests, and a few surprises.”They have the sights, the sounds even the smells from the wood and that will really give them an authentic experience,” Massel said.Their family even flew in to help, putting in eight-hour days over the past week to make it all happen.”Who doesn’t want to build a pirate ship once in their life?” Massel said.The couple has done themed decorations for the past few years, a tradition they feel is important to continue after moving to Houston in 2021.”This particular neighborhood was hit really hard by Harvey,” Kirwan said.The couple’s neighborhood sits right next to Buffalo Bayou.”When you’re having to decide between putting a new kitchen in your house from the flood or decorate for Halloween well the kitchen is going to win,” Kirwan said.It’s why when you roll up to the couple’s home, they hope everyone gets some joy out of what they’ve created.”They’re really excited about it,” Kirwan said.If you want to check out the decorations for yourself, you can visit the West Houston Memorial Thicket neighborhood.