There were two firsts for my companions on Monday July 22, 2019. The first of the firsts occurred when our alarm went off at 5:15am. The second of the firsts came when Vicki leaped out of bed and into the shower as the sound of the alarm still echoed in the room. Only two words could explain the pre-dawn bounce in her step – Chip and Joanna. That’s right – Chip and Joanna Gaines; the stars of the television show ‘Fixer Upper’ that ran from 2013 to 2018 on HGTV.
Twenty-six years earlier, in April 1993, Waco became nationally known for the siege at the Branch Davidian compound known as Mount Carmel that killed over 80 people; including their self-proclaimed prophet David Koresh. Koresh’s kingdom was turned into a smoldering pile of ash. A little over twenty years after the infamous Waco Massacre, a magnolia branch and some shiplap emerged from the ashes; led by energetic entrepreneurs Chip and Joanna Gaines. Together, the home-renovating couple helped Waco rise above the scars left by Koresh and they turned their Magnolia empire into a mega-million dollar kingdom that has rejuvenated the city of Waco. Arguably, the Sultans of Shiplap single-handedly saved the city of Waco. While Chip Gaines, a Baylor University graduate, has never claimed to be the Waco messiah, he and his wife have definitely helped resurrect their beloved city and turned that Texas town into a Magnolia mecca.
As Tom and Vicki headed to the Magnolia Table, the Gaines’ restaurant that first opened in 2018 and opened that morning at 6:30am, they prepared to spend the entire day following in the footsteps of the Waco saviors. Since pictures are each worth a thousand words, here are seventy thousand words worth of photos from our day in Waco; a day that I primarily saw from the confines of the opened camera case. The only time I emerged to stretch my Gorilla Glue repaired legs was when my photographer and his wife had dinner in McGregor at Donald Citrano’s Coffee Shop Café. It turned out that George W. Bush and his wife Laura enjoyed eating there when they stayed at their Prairie Chapel Ranch in nearby Crawford. The last time the Presidential couple had dinner in the small coffee shop was July 8, 2017. Tom talked with our server about the Bush’s last visit and she pointed-out the table they had eaten at; and she had photographic proof as well. My photographer didn’t hesitate; he placed me on the precise table where President Bush had dined two years earlier and he snapped several images. As I stood there, I had wondered what the Bush’s had for dinner – our server couldn’t recall. If George W. had ordered his favorite meal, it would’ve been chicken pot pie, grilled cheese, or cheeseburger pizza.
On our earliest start to any day of the trip, we joined some of the first diners already seated inside the Magnolia Table.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 6:40am, Vicki was extremely impressed with her eggs, tater tots, bacon, biscuit, and orange juice. “It was expensive, but worth every penny!”
While Joanne Gaines didn’t cook Vicki’s breakfast, it was likely her own recipe that made the food so delicious.
The interior of the Magnolia Table began to fill up after my companions finished their breakfast.
Although we didn’t see them during our stay, Chip and Joanna Gaines were pictured at Magnolia Table shortly after it opened in 2018.
The exterior dining area that was located behind the eatery.
When Chip and Jo Jo had renovated the eatery, it was no surprise that it was immaculate.
We saw evidence that the Magnolia Table was owned by Chip and Joanna.
Even this female Great-tailed Grackle found some good food at the Magnolia Table.
Featured in Season 3 of ‘Fixer Upper’, the Shotgun House was renovated by the Gaines’s.
The Shotgun House was a 1,050 square-foot, one bedroom home that was purchased and renovated for Cameron and Jessica Bell. The Bell’s never lived there.
Tom took a moment to photograph the Foxtail Millet that he saw growing across from the Shotgun House.
After our visit to the Shotgun House, we drove to Common Grounds; a coffee shop that had been featured on episodes of ‘Fixer Upper’ and is popular with the college crowd.
From our vantagepoint near Common Grounds, we could see the Magnolia Market Silos and the ALICO building in the distance.
During Season 2 of ‘Fixer Upper’, the owners of Common Grounds had their home renovated by Chip and Joanna Gaines.
The Waco-Made Ice Cream shop was located next to Common Grounds. My photographer loves ice cream and he thought the van looked cool.
The ALICO Building in Waco is shown in nearly every episode of ‘Fixer Upper’. At 282-foot tall, it’s the tallest building in Waco.
While there are six American flags on the surface of the Moon, my photographer wanted to capture an image of the Moon on the American flag.
ALICO stands for American Life Insurance Company; and the 20-foot tall red neon letters at the top can be seen for miles. There is no observation deck and visitors are not allowed to go to the top of the building; unless, of course, you last name is Gaines.
Chip and Joanna Gaines were photographed on top of the ALICO Building.
Tom tried to gain access to the interior of the ALICO Building, but he was turned away.
The beautiful McLennan County Courthouse was built in 1901.
The courthouse featured the statue of Themis, the Greek goddess of divine order, on top of its dome.
In 1930, the McLennan County Courthouse in Waco was where notorious criminal Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, stood trial for burglary and theft.
It was roughly 8:45am when we arrived at the Silo District; made famous by Chip and Joanna Gaines and their show ‘Fixer Upper’. Although Vicki was full from breakfast at the Magnolia Table, she had to buy some baked goods at the Silos Baking Co.
Vicki browsed the menu that featured baked goods that were made from Joanna’s personal recipes and designed with her creative flair.
There are times when my photographer makes snide comments about Chip and Joanna Gaines. But truth be told, I think my fat camera guy is jealous. After all, the Gaines’s are hardworking, marketing geniuses who seem to give back to their community.
Like with everything associated with Chip and Jo Jo’s Magnolia brand, there were souvenirs to purchase along with their cupcakes and muffins.
While my photographer has been known to poke fun at the word “shiplap” while in Waco, he was forced to admit the shiplap cupcakes looked delicious.
Vicki refrained from buying any souvenirs, but she couldn’t leave the bakery without a cinnamon bun and cupcake.
Only the creative minds of Chip and Joanna Gaines could turn a couple of unsightly old silos into a tourist mecca that’s worth millions of dollars.
Joanna Gaines seemed proud to show off her big set of twins. Come on, I was talking about her Silos! Sheesh!
The Gaines’s ‘Magnolia’ empire began on one of Chip and Joanna’s first dates. Chip climbed up a magnolia tree and plucked a magnolia bloom and gave it to Jo Jo; and the rest, as they say, is history. They’ve used the word ‘magnolia’ to symbolize everything they’ve accomplished together.
My photographer said “Heck with the magnolia, I’m going to focus on the black-eyed Susan”. Tom found these flowers near the famous Silos; and they weren’t made in China.
Chip and Joanna Gaines opened their Magnolia Market at the Silos in 2015. The twin silos are 120 feet tall and were originally built in 1950.
My photographer and I sat on the picnic tables in the shade of the Silos while Vicki scoured the Magnolia Market for new treasures. There was no way that Tom and I were going inside to see the same Chinese-made stuff that we could find at Hobby Lobby. I have nothing against stuff made in China – I’m made in China!
From our comfortable spot in the shade, we saw my photographer’s wife emerge empty handed. We could tell Vicki was disappointed, especially when she said: “I didn’t see anything different than what was there in 2016.” It was at that moment I thought Vicki had just overdosed on Chip and Jo Jo.
Vicki wanted to pose for a photograph near the Magnolia truck. I laughed to myself when the woman in the background photo-bombed the image. With the woman’s mouth wide open, I figured she saw my head poking out of the camera case and was stunned by my good looks.
As we headed back to the Highlander, we stopped for a final closeup look at the Silos.
This was the original Magnolia Market that Chip and Joanna Gaines opened in 2003. It’s now known as the ‘Little Shop on Bosque’.
Even though this small shop had been swapped by the Gaines’ for their Magnolia Market at the Silos, shoppers still flocked there to buy the farmhouse décor.
I laughed to myself when I heard Tom ask his wife to check where her artificial flowers were made: “Let’s see if those fake flowers were made with Jo Jo’s own crafty hands.” When Vicki replied: “Made in China”, I nearly fell out of the camera case. The flowers and I had something in common; perhaps we’re cousins!
The Findery, which was down the street from the Silos, was a place where Joanna Gaines hunts down decorations and accessories for her show’s renovated houses.
Vicki was all smiles as she shopped at The Findery. For my photographer and I, we had contracted a severe case of “Gagnolia”.
The interior of The Findery was where Joanna Gaines has likely browsed in the past. Jo Jo has introduced the nation to “Farmhouse chic” and that style’s not going away soon.
My photographer’s wife found a piece that she figured would look wonderful in their home. And today, it’s hanging on the wall outside of their bathroom. In my mind I thought: “They only have one bathroom in the house – do they really need a sign to find it?”
When we returned to the Highlander that was parked behind The Findery, we saw the Silos that were down the street.
My companions had learned that Chip and Joanna shop in this building for items featured on their show. The place was called Spice Village and Vicki was eager to go inside.
While Vicki was initially impressed with the building’s décor, the place turned out to be a small shopping mall that featured a cargo plane full of useless junk. It was by far the most disappointing stop on our ‘Fixer Upper’ tour.
Although the previous stop at Spice Village was a bust, my photographer’s wife was excited for her return to Harp Design Co. – a business owned by talented woodworker Clint Harp. Harp’s handmade furniture, fashioned from reclaimed wood, is usually featured on most ‘Fixer Upper’ episodes.
During a past interview, Clint and Kelly Harp were pictured outside of their business.
Harp Design Co. is a must-stop for any fan of the ‘Fixer Upper’ show; and most tourists visiting Waco don’t miss it. It had become so popular, in fact, that Clint and his wife Kelly felt compelled to move from their home that was located next to their business.
When Clint and Kelly Harp moved to Waco, they purchased this home that the Gaines’s renovated on the fifth episode of “Fixer Upper” Season 1 called “The 15th Street Story”. The Harp’s had lived there for about two years before moving out. Today, Clint and Kelly rent the house on Airbnb for between $550 and $650 per night – but it does sleep twelve.
This was the “Harp House” before Chip and Joanna Gaines got their hands on it.
Inside Harp Design Co., Vicki looked at $17.50 wooden letters that were allegedly handmade by Clint Harp. In my mind, I thought she should buy six letters to spell “R-I-P O-F-F”; which would’ve only cost $105 plus tax.
The ‘Holy Grail’ for Vicki was our visit to Chip and Joanna Gaines’ farmhouse; which was nearly a 15-mile drive from Harp Design Co.
It took hours for my photographer to find Chip and Joanna’s address on-line, because no one wanted to post the exact location. When Tom finally discovered that 10095 N. Highway 6, Crawford, Texas was the place to be; he compared photos of their place with images on Google Earth and before he knew it we were In Like Flint; or Clint; or Chip.
Chip Gaines was pictured during an interview outside of his Crawford farmhouse.
Unlike their Magnolia Empire in Waco, Chip and Joanna’s private home was not open to the public; and that’s understandable. While Vicki had hoped to somehow magically cross paths with the ‘Fixer Upper’ stars, she had to settle for a cell phone image of their digs. She was close, but so far away!
During our ten-minute stay outside of the fenced property of the Gaines’s farm, the only living creature we saw stirring about was their steer – and that’s no bull!
With a vehicle parked near their house and two more near the barn, my photographer and his wife figured Chip and Joanna were home.
While a lot of people in our country were opposed to Trump’s wall on the Mexican border, no one blinks an eye when famous celebrities build barriers to keep uninvited people off their land.
It took roughly 20 minutes for Vicki to drive from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ farmhouse to Magnolia House in McGregor, Texas. This home was renovated by the Gaines’s during Season 3 and they turned it into their own B & B.
Chip and Joanna Gaines posed near their Magnolia House B & B after their renovation.
When Chip and Joanna bought this house in 2015, it looked in need of a makeover. Today, they rent their renovated B & B for the hefty price tag of $795 to $995 per night; with a two-night minimum stay. “Now that’s the lifestyle of the rich and famous!”
The carriage house can be seen in the background, which is where the B & B caretakers Rob and Marianne Ward live. During our ten-minute stay, Vicki saw Marianne and engaged in a short and very friendly conversation with her.
During our 2016 visit to Magnolia House, my photographer told his wife that someday we would spend a couple of nights there. Knowing my frugal camera guy, he better start buying some winning lottery tickets if he intends to uphold his promise.
After being lugged all around Waco for the past nine hours, we finally ended up at a Presidential site at 3:30pm. The Coffee Shop Café was located in McGregor and has been a favorite of George W. Bush whenever he’s at his ranch in nearby Crawford.
I’m standing on the table where George and Laura Bush had dinner on July 8, 2017. I could understand the President sitting there, but “nobody puts baby in the corner”; or Laura, either.
My companions’ server showed us where the President had dined. The young woman also showed-off a photo of George W. as he posed with her at the café.
It had been a long day filled with Chip, Joanna, Magnolia, and Shiplap. I was thankful for the one Presidential site that we ended our day with, albeit a small and fairly insignificant Presidential site. During our ride back to Hotel Indigo in Waco, my photographer and his wife kept an eye out for antique shops; but most were closed by five o’clock.
For the remainder of the evening, as I stood sentinel near the room’s television set, Tom wrote his NASCAR fantasy update that he emailed to the league; while Vicki caught up on her Facebook and email messages that she didn’t take time to check during the day. When my photographer turned out the lights at 9:30pm, I heard him tell his wife that he looked forward to their stay at the Johnson ranch for the next three days. Immediately my sculpted resin ears perked up; were we going back to the LBJ Ranch? Did Tom make arrangements for the three of us to stay at the Texas White House? It was neither – the Johnson ranch that he had mentioned was the BLJ Ranch; not the LBJ Ranch. That’s right; Vicki’s cousin Kim, and her husband Bill Johnson, had invited us to spend time with them at their farm – dubbed by my photographer as the William Leehy Johnson Ranch – or the BLJ Ranch for short. I was also thankful when I heard their home was constructed of brick rather than shiplap. After all, I had my fill of shiplap to last me for a life time – or at least until Vicki gets the craving to make another pilgrimage to the Magnolia mecca in the future.
My name is Thomas Watson and I've been a U.S. history fanatic since I was 9 years old. In 2013, I decided to take my passion to the next level when I purchased a Thomas Jefferson bobble head with the sole intention of photographing that bobble head at Presidential sites. From that first day on July 10, 2013 at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, this journey has taken on a life of its own. Now, nearly 40,000 miles later, I thought it was time to share the experiences, stories, and photos of Jefferson's travels. Keep in mind, this entire venture has been done with the deepest respect for the men who held the office as our President; no matter what their political affiliations, personal ambitions, or public scandals may have been. This blog is intended to be a true tribute to the Presidents of the United States and this story will be told Through the Eyes of Jefferson. I hope you enjoy the ride!
2 thoughts on “117: MAGNOLIA AND SHIPLAP AROSE FROM WACO’S ASHES”
I give this one a “Five Star” rating.
Does Vic know that “Fixer Upper” is coming back to TV sometime this month?
Thanks Sally…that’s my first five-star rating. To be honest, it’s the only-star rating I’ve received. Vic does know about the upcoming Fixer Upper, but she said it will be on a pay channel and not on regular HGTV. Chip and Joanna didn’t become multi-millionaires by giving their stuff away! Thank you so much for reading my blog and leaving comments.
I give this one a “Five Star” rating.
Does Vic know that “Fixer Upper” is coming back to TV sometime this month?
Thanks Sally…that’s my first five-star rating. To be honest, it’s the only-star rating I’ve received. Vic does know about the upcoming Fixer Upper, but she said it will be on a pay channel and not on regular HGTV. Chip and Joanna didn’t become multi-millionaires by giving their stuff away! Thank you so much for reading my blog and leaving comments.