Back in 2022, Chip and Joanna Gaines fans were thrilled to see the couple take on their most ambitious project yet: the Cottonland Castle renovation on Fixer Upper: The Castle. Purchased in 2019, this massive 6,000-square-foot property marked the biggest challenge the Magnolia Network duo had ever undertaken. Let me walk you through the story of what happened to this historic gem after Chip and Joanna worked their magic.
The Gaines Family's Monumental Castle Makeover
Chip and Joanna Gaines have always been about embracing challenges, and Cottonland Castle was a doozy. Chip had his eye on this place for two decades, making multiple offers before finally securing it. This 100-year-old castle wasn’t exactly in pristine condition when they bought it. The walls were covered in graffiti, and it had become a makeshift home for local wildlife. But that didn’t stop the Gaines crew from diving headfirst into this massive undertaking.
After three years of dreaming and designing, Chip and Joanna finally rolled up their sleeves and got to work. They didn’t have a specific buyer in mind, so Joanna envisioned the castle as a dream home for an older couple who loved to entertain. Renovating a historic property like this wasn’t easy, but the Gaineses proved once again why they’re the kings of home renovation. Fans got an inside look at every step of the process through the six-part Magnolia Network series, from the initial walkthrough to the jaw-dropping final reveal.
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In a heartfelt blog post in January 2023, Joanna reflected on the experience, writing, “The castle taught us that sometimes the forgotten things in life don’t need a reinvention but just a little dusting off. Those deep-seated dreams within us are worth holding onto, even if they’ve been brewing for 20 years. In the waiting, pieces fall into place, allowing what’s truly meaningful to shine through. When we give ourselves that space to wait, beauty reveals itself in the most unexpected ways.”
Did Chip and Joanna Gaines Sell the Castle?
As fans tuned into Fixer Upper: The Castle, one question burned in everyone’s mind: Who would end up living in this magnificent home? Given Chip’s long-standing attachment to the property, there was some hesitation about selling it. The couple, who are parents to Drake, Ella Rose, Duke, Emmie Kay, and Crew, originally planned to flip the property and put it on the market.
“Jo and I don’t think we want to live here literally,” Chip explained in an October 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “This was a project I’d been pursuing for 20 years. The reality is, we need to sell it, and we should sell it.” But Chip couldn’t help but wonder if selling it would be the right decision for their family in the long run.
“But I wonder if it’s not one of those things where 10 years from now, you look back and think, ‘Gosh, should we have kept it? What if someone in the family wanted it?’” he mused.
One thing was clear: they had no plans to rent it out on Airbnb. “This neighborhood means so much to us,” Chip said. “Turning this into a commercial entity would be a disservice to the community.”
On June 23, 2023, Magnolia Realty announced that the castle would be put up for auction through Concierge Auctions. The Facebook post read, “In 2019 — after 20 years of dreaming about the chance to renovate this castle — Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines finally did. They aired the whole process on Magnolia Network last summer, then opened it up for guests to tour. Now, they’re ready for someone new to write the next chapter in this historic home’s story.”
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That same day, the castle hit Zillow with a $2.9 million price tag, complete with stunning photos of the interior and exterior. Bidding opened on July 20, 2023, and closed on July 27, 2023. Surprisingly, after the auction, it was announced that the castle wouldn’t be sold after all.
“Magnolia is pleased to share that the Historic Waco Castle is staying in the Magnolia family,” a statement from Magnolia revealed. “A prospective buyer and Magnolia mutually agreed not to close, and the unique property will not be sold at this time. This decision is made with much enthusiasm and anticipation as the beloved castle’s story continues with Magnolia.”
According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, Chip and Joanna secured a special permit allowing the castle to operate as a “house museum” for at least six more months. Tickets to tour the estate are now available for purchase.
