HALLSVILLE, Texas — A video of an East Texas man driving his airboat on Hallsville's icy roads is circling social media feeds this week.
Jeff Grace, the owner of that airboat, said it was a unique way to have some fun in the winter weather.
"We actually just use it for leisure (by) checking out the Caddo Lake swamps and south Louisiana," Grace said. "We go out and run around and look at alligators and some boat fishing out of it."
This week, his airboat proved to be more than just a water vehicle.
"It’ll go in just about any terrain, so we were like, let’s take the airboat up to the shop," Grace said.
Driving down the road, Grace said people kept saying hi as they waved in awe seeing an airboat navigating on icy streets.
"Taking videos, thumbs up and waving and honking and just having a good time with it," Grace said.
The video taken by Savanah Hearnsberger has made its rounds across social media. Hearnsberger said she kept hearing a loud sound, so she finally went outside to see what all the commotion was about. That was when she saw it.
"He was coming down Collins Point Rd., and then turned south on FM 450," Hearnsberger said. "My house is situated on the corner in our subdivision, so he went right in front of our house."
Grace said he was driving near Hearnsberger's home leaving the neighborhood to head to his car shop on Highway 80.
Grace said he enjoys seeing the joy it brings to people when they see his airboat.
"It’s always the focal point everyone likes to see it because there’s not a lot of them around here," Grace said.
The boat ended up staying at his car shop for the night. But don’t worry, Grace has more than one way of getting around in icy weather.
"I’ve got a big Jeep right there," Grace said.
Grace said it's an experience he won't forget. For now, the airboat will be put up for the next swamp season or ice storm.