DALLAS – A lavish Dallas mansion in the Preston Hollow neighborhood gained viral fame for its elaborate Christmas light display, but the spectacle came with an unexpected cost: $25,000 in city expenses.
The homeowners, known for their festive spirit, posted a TikTok video inviting rapper Snoop Dogg to visit, which quickly captured widespread attention. Dubbed “The Viral House,” the property’s dazzling lights became a social media sensation, drawing throngs of visitors eager to see the display in person.
However, the festive cheer soon gave way to logistical headaches as traffic congestion and unruly crowds overwhelmed the neighborhood.
“The homeowners’ association president contacted me when traffic started building up,” said Dallas City Councilmember Gay Donnell Willis. “People were running across lanes of traffic, and yards were being damaged. It just kept escalating.”
The chaos was fueled by online buzz, with international celebrities sharing posts about the home. Willis noted, “What started as a quiet holiday tradition turned the neighborhood on its side. At a time when people seek peace and joy, this created chaos.”
The narrow residential street, ill-equipped for such an influx of visitors, became a bottleneck. Despite a warning from code enforcement about light glare violating city regulations, the homeowners continued their display throughout the holiday season.
Traffic conditions deteriorated to the point that the Dallas Police Department had to step in. Over eight nights, 71 officers were deployed to manage the situation, diverting resources from regular duties. Willis later obtained a cost breakdown, revealing that the city spent $25,375 managing the traffic.
“That’s not an ideal use of police resources,” Willis said. “Officers were pulled away from responding to 911 calls to manage a Christmas lights traffic issue.”
Homeowner Ryan DeVitis defended the display, stating that it initially received positive feedback from neighbors. “On December 15th, a social media post gained significant traction. We observed a profound sense of community, with families gathering in holiday pajamas to take photos and share smiles. While some neighbors expressed differing views, we chose to focus on the positives,” DeVitis said in a statement.
DeVitis did not address the city’s expenses directly.
Moving forward, Council member Willis plans to propose a review of city regulations to prevent similar disruptions in the future. “We need to consider how to balance individual expression with the collective needs of neighborhoods,” she said.
Author/ Fox 4
