Visiting Magnolia Silos in Waco, TX

Yesterday was a girls' day out with a trip to the Magnolia Silos in Waco, popularized on the HGTV show Fixer Upper.  We began the trip at 6:30 am for the 2-hour drive, knowing the earlier we arrived the smaller the crowds would be.  Success!  We parked in the only free parking lot next to the store, about the third car in the lot.  Our first trip was to the bakery where there were only 3 other people in the shop.  We selected our treats and took them outside to eat in what was a perfect day.  Breakfast was wonderful!  The shop opened at 9:00 and we were some of the first in.  It is a beautiful shop full of fabulous finds.  But then I wouldn't have expected anything different from Joanna.  It is spread out on 2 levels and full of the most friendly and helpful employees you will ever find.  We spent about an hour looking at everything and of course making a few purchases - no lines yet!  The grounds outside were just beautiful and geared toward families.  It was surrounded by food trucks (I imagine they are only open on the weekends).  Even the local police were very friendly and one took this wonderful picture of the three of us.

As you have probably guessed I am a big fan of this show - yes I've seen every episode (more than once).  I decided if I ever got to Waco I not only wanted to see the shop but at least some of the houses remodeled on the show.  Now, for obvious reasons, addresses of the homes are not made public.  But I have always prided myself on my internet research skills and created a spreadsheet of each season complete with people's names and address of all the homes.  I mapped out our route on a Waco map, pulled up GPS and off we went.




The first stop was Clint Harp's woodworking studio, featured on almost every episode.  It wasn't far from Magnolia and right next door to the home the Gaines' remodeled for them on one of the shows.  Unfortunately because Clint couldn't even walk from the house across the driveway to the shop without getting accosted by fans (I would never do that!) they have sold the house and it is now a AIRBNB.  The shop was adorable and he will be getting his own show on DIY network in a few months.

We saw a number of the houses.  In all the pictures the one on the left is from the show and the one on the right is the picture I took.  The trip was an eye opener.  Many of the houses still looked good but many have not been kept up, especially the landscaping.  Sadly, a number of people have turned their home into a B&B either to cash in on the fame or because of stalkers (I am NOT a stalker - I don't care what my husband says!).  If you are a fan you will surely recognize some or all of these.

This first one belongs to a wealthy doctor and it has a wonderful view of Lake Waco.  It has always been one of my favorites.

This one was purchased by a cute single guy.  What you never saw in the show were the massive power lines and towers just feet from the house.  You can see part of one in my picture.

The next five houses all look pretty good although the landscaping has changed some since the shows.

I don' remember the carport on this house and am pretty sure it is not something Chip and Joanna would have done.  It also had a "For Sale by Owner" sign in the yard.

This one looked really good until you saw the location.  Just to the right of the house is a main road with retail buildings and directly behind them was another main road and buildings.  You don't get to see that on the shows.

These next two didn't look bad but were in questionable neighborhoods.   The second house looks like the trim around the windows has been repainted since the show.

I wonder what Chip and Joanna think about the current condition of these homes.  Maybe someday they should do a show where they revisit the houses and people.  

We would have liked to have seen more homes but they are spread out.  We might have to make another trip.  We also did some of the local shops and had lunch.  On our way past Magnolia on our way home late in the afternoon we could see the line to the bakery was wrapped around the building, every parking lot was full and there were hundreds of people milling around.  Getting there early is the secret.