Is There Really a Roller Coaster in This Popular Texas Mall?

The Galleria Mall in Houston has long been well-known for its shopping experience, high-end stores, and the famous ice skating rink that attracts visitors year-round. But a viral video on social media has recently sparked a new rumor: is there really a roller coaster inside the Galleria?

The video, which initially appeared on TikTok and has since racked up over 2.1 million views, claims that a thrilling roller coaster ride winds through the interior of the Galleria. This claim has left many Houstonians and even those in Louisiana who frequent The Galleria on occasion curious, with a few locals even making special trips to the mall just to see this supposed new attraction.

However, after a recent thorough investigation by the KHOU 11 VERIFY team, the truth has come to light: there is no roller coaster in the Galleria Mall.

The VERIFY team dug into the origins of the video, analyzing it with tools like Google Lens and consulting with mall officials. Their investigation revealed several inconsistencies in the video. Notably, the video features stores not currently located in the Galleria, and the floor and glass ceiling in the footage do not match those of the Houston mall.

Further digging traced the video back to an Instagram post from Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Yas Mall confirmed that the video was posted purely for fun, and there is no roller coaster in their mall either.

So, if you’re planning a trip to the Galleria the next time you're in Houston, you can rest assured that while the ice rink is a real attraction, the roller coaster is not. The only twists and turns you’ll face are the construction detours along I-10 leading to this iconic Houston shopping destination.

You can read the full report from KHOU 11 here for more information.