Discover Waco

A Weekend of Magnolia Magic, Historic Hotels, and Local Hidden Gems in the Hometown of Chip and Joanna Gaines

By Rebecca Thompson

When my wife and I pulled up to Hotel 1928, I had the sneaking suspicion that we were about to experience Waco in its full, retro-chic glory.

The building, standing like a beautifully preserved relic from another time, seemed straight out of the roaring '20s—if the roaring '20s had been edited by Joanna Gaines. The exterior was all grand arches and polished brick, but inside, it was a seamless blend of vintage charm and modern luxury. Think Art Deco with a Texas twist, and throw in a few meticulously styled shiplap walls for good measure.

We’d been die-hard fans of Fixer Upper for years, and this weekend pilgrimage to Waco was as much about escaping our fixer-upper back in Houston as it was about soaking in all things Chip and Joanna. Our house project had turned out to be more “hilarious disaster” than “magazine spread”—like the time we thought we could retile the kitchen ourselves and ended up with grout in places grout should never go—but it’s been fun, in a messy, chaotic way. Now, at least for the weekend, we were letting someone else take care of the renovations.

For those who only know Waco as the home of Fixer Upper and Magnolia Market, it can seem like a town constructed purely for HGTV. But beyond the curated rustic-chic aesthetic, Waco is its own fascinating, slightly weathered city, where history and fame collide in a weirdly endearing way. The streets, some worn and some gleaming with new life, give off a sense of transition—like the town is both reveling in its newfound celebrity and still figuring out how to handle it.

The Hotel 1928

Day One: The Magnolia Pilgrimage

We kicked off our first day, naturally, at Magnolia Market at the Silos. Every Fixer Upper fan knows this is where you go to worship at the altar of Joanna’s design sensibility. There’s the predictable mix of stylish kitchenware, shiplap signs declaring “home” or “gather,” and a bakery selling pastries that somehow taste better because Joanna probably smiled at the recipe.

After browsing the market (and loading up on way too many decorative pillows), we made our way to Magnolia Table, the restaurant that Chip and Jo built. The food is as wholesome as their on-screen personalities—avocado toast, scrambled eggs with herbs, and Joanna’s biscuits that make you feel like you could totally tackle that home project, if you just believe hard enough. The space was bright, airy, and unpretentious, with servers who didn’t bat an eye when I made a second trip to the gift shop.

Waco, we were beginning to realize, isn’t just a backdrop to the Gaines empire—it has its own quirks and rhythms, tucked between the Magnolia-branded destinations.

Boots and dresses go well in Waco.

Discovering Waco’s Offbeat Side

That afternoon, we decided to dive into something a little more offbeat—Waco’s Dr Pepper Museum. At first, I was skeptical. Could an entire museum dedicated to soda be worth the visit? The answer: absolutely. The building, like much of Waco, has a vintage charm. It’s housed in the original Dr Pepper bottling plant, and there’s something delightfully nostalgic about wandering through exhibits on the soda's history, complete with old-school soda fountains where you can get a glass of Dr Pepper made the original way. My wife’s eyes lit up at the sight of it, and we spent a good hour learning more about carbonated beverages than we ever thought possible.

The Magnolia Market

Night One: Whiskey and Wonder

After our Dr Pepper escapade, we headed back to Hotel 1928, where the timeless luxury of the lobby made us feel like we were part of some grand historical narrative. But we didn’t linger too long, because our next stop was Balcones Distilling, Waco’s very own whiskey distillery. Situated in an old warehouse, the distillery offered a cool, industrial vibe that felt miles away from the rustic charm of Magnolia Market. We sampled their award-winning Texas whisky, which was bold and smoky with just the right amount of bite, and toasted to surviving both our house renovation and this mini-adventure in Waco.

Hotel Herringbone

Day Two: Hotel Swap, Nature, and Nostalgia

We decided to switch things up on the second night and moved to Hotel Herringbone, another boutique hotel that felt like a love letter to Waco’s blend of old and new. While Hotel 1928 had a certain historical gravitas, Hotel Herringbone was more modern chic with a nod to Waco’s industrial past. Exposed brick, sleek lines, and warm wooden accents made it feel fresh but comfortable, like the kind of place where you could easily spend an evening sipping cocktails on the rooftop bar while pretending you didn’t have a half-renovated bathroom waiting for you back home.

After checking in, we spent the morning exploring Cameron Park, which turned out to be much more beautiful than I expected for Central Texas. The park spans 416 acres and offers trails that wind through the hills and along the Brazos River, shaded by oak and pecan trees. It was the perfect antidote to all the home renovation stress, giving us a moment of peace before we plunged back into more Waco exploration.

Our next stop was Harp Design Co., owned by Clint Harp, Joanna Gaines’ go-to carpenter on Fixer Upper. The shop is a treasure trove of handcrafted wooden furniture and home décor, blending rustic and modern in a way that made me want to throw out half the furniture in our Houston fixer-upper and start fresh. It had that perfect “modern farmhouse” vibe, without the feeling that you’re walking through a Pinterest board. We picked up a few smaller items—coasters made from reclaimed wood, a candleholder that practically screamed “Instagram photo op”—and marveled at how seamlessly the shop fit into Waco’s understated charm.

linguine with pistachio pesto Moroso Wood Fired Pizzeria Waco

Linguine with pesto at Moroso

Night Two: Pizza, Wine, and Waco's Charm

We closed out the trip with dinner at Moroso Wood Fired Pizzeria, a local favorite that the Gaineses had recommended. The place had a casual yet refined atmosphere, with wood-fired pizzas that were equal parts rustic and gourmet. We devoured a Margherita pizza and linguine with pistachio pesto, sipped on a glass of Chianti, and marveled at how Waco had managed to surprise us at every turn.

After dinner, we returned to Hotel Herringbone and capped off the evening on the rooftop bar, watching the stars peek out over Waco. It wasn’t a glitzy skyline, but it had a certain quiet charm that made the whole trip feel special—like we’d stumbled upon something that was ours to keep, far beyond the shiny veneer of TV fame.

Waco’s ALICO building is always in sight.

Waco’s Secret Ingredient

As we packed up the car the next morning, it hit me: Waco is like one of those houses Chip and Joanna restore—rough around the edges, but with so much potential. It may not have the glitz of other destinations, but what it lacks in polish, it makes up for in authenticity. And in a way, that’s exactly what we needed—a reminder that even if our home isn’t magazine-perfect yet, it’s a work in progress. And so, it turns out, is Waco.