For years, Cottonland Castle stood as one of Waco’s most intriguing landmarks, an imposing historic home that had plenty of character but needed someone willing to take on the work. In 2019, that someone was Chip and Joanna Gaines. After years spent restoring and reimagining the property, the famous Waco couple’s castle has now found a buyer, states an online report by PEOPLE. The Historic Waco Castle, also known as Cottonland Castle, went pending on Sept. 18 after being listed for $2.7 million in June. The eventual sale price has not been disclosed. The Gaineses had previously explored selling the property through an auction in 2023, adds the online report.
A 135-year-old Waco landmark
As per PEOPLE, the castle dates back roughly 135 years and occupies 6,176 square feet. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence combines the imposing character of a historic structure with the highly considered interiors associated with the Gaineses’ Magnolia brand. Its restoration focused on preserving the property’s historic identity while making the house functional as a modern home. Antique tile floors, diamond-paned windows and other period details remain central to the design, adds the report.Inside, the layout includes a formal dining room and a spacious great room, along with more distinctive spaces such as a card room, library and conservatory. Together, the rooms give the house a character that is unusual even among historic Texas properties, the online report elaborates.
From neglected property to TV project
The castle’s transformation became a television project when the Gaineses documented the renovation for their 2022 Magnolia Network series Fixer Upper: The Castle.The show followed the couple as they tackled the challenges of bringing the aging structure back to life. For Chip Gaines, the property had long been a personal ambition. He had reportedly followed the castle for years, making repeated attempts to acquire it whenever it returned to the market. The restoration ultimately became one of the couple’s most ambitious projects, combining architectural preservation with the layered design approach that has become synonymous with Fixer Upper.
The latest property move
The castle is not the only Waco property the Gaineses have been dealing with this year. Around the same time Cottonland Castle was listed, the couple also put their Colonial-style Hillcrest Estate on the market for $1.7 million. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom property had previously been offered as a short-term rental through Airbnb and the Magnolia website. It remains listed for sale, according to property records.The Gaineses have also taken on another notable restoration project involving an abandoned factory building that was transformed into the Gristmill. The property, which viewers may recognize from Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table cooking show, was listed for $935,000 and remains on the market.
A new chapter for the castle
The pending sale marks the latest chapter in Cottonland Castle’s long history. What began as a neglected historic property became a high-profile restoration project and a television centerpiece before returning to the real estate market.With a buyer now lined up, the 135-year-old landmark is set to move into its next era, carrying with it the architectural details and history that made the Waco castle worth saving in the first place.Images Courtesy: EOnline and People