UPDATE
We announced this project a while back, and nearly four years later we are thrilled to share that it’s at the finish line. Hotel 1928Opens in new tab is officially open for booking! We thought we’d film the whole process too—so you can watch the renovation story of this historic property unfold on a new season of Fixer Upper: The Hotel coming this fall.
We can’t wait to host you!
ORIGINAL STORY, published October 3, 2019
Home matters. For Chip and me, there is nothing more valuable or essential to our well-being than the way our family feels when we are home. This philosophy drives nearly everything we do and all that we stand for—in part because we deeply want this for everyone. If you’ve followed our work, you might notice a pattern—that time and time again, Chip and I are drawn to projects that emphasize the value of home.
From the outside looking in, it may seem like we are constantly tackling something new, sometimes even before we’ve completed what’s in front of us. I have had moments where I’ve wondered to myself if we might be overreaching. But what I’ve grown to recognize is that this is who we are. Chip and I started out as small business owners who were drawn to challenging projects—and we’re still those people—especially when it involves acting on things that we believe in and care deeply for. So when a project like the one we’re announcing today comes along, and it bridges what we’re most passionate about—home, hospitality, and restoration—we can’t help but go all-in.
Chip and I are thrilled to share the news that in 2023, we will be opening the doors to a boutique hotel in downtown Waco, Texas!
We are, without a doubt, firm believers that home is the most important place on earth. But we’ve also learned that home can be found beyond a physical dwelling. It encompasses more than the place where our mail is delivered. Home is a feeling, created by and for the people you love and share your life with; it’s a state of being known and loved just as you are. That is our dream for this hotel—that it would serve as an extension of the way we feel about our own home and all it represents to us, and that every guest who comes to stay would experience that same sense of belonging and community. A weary traveler who’s searching for rest, a parent who needs a weekend to recharge, a family eager for an adventure, or anyone else simply looking for a place to settle in and be filled up. In all of these things, what it really comes down to is our desire to create a place where people feel welcomed home.
This fall, we’ll begin renovations on a historic building in downtown Waco, just a few blocks from Magnolia Market at the Silos. When we first toured the nearly one-hundred-year-old building—which is nearly 53,000 square feet!—we were amazed by the unique architecture and how much of it was still intact. Instantly, we knew we wanted to be a part of making this place sing again. We’re honored to work alongside Ben Weprin and his team at Adventurous Journeys (AJ Capital) to bring this place to life. They’re the group behind some of the most iconic and creative hotels in the country, including Soho House Chicago, the Graduate Hotels, Chicago Athletic Association, and the Pontchartrain Hotel to name a few.
We’ll be sharing progress updates in the coming months, so stay tuned. We truly cannot wait to host you here in Waco!
