By Katy Fassler
Photography by Sharon Cannon Jones
Everyone knows and loves Chip and Joanna Gaines. People everywhere are inspired by the clean lines, beautiful, farmhouse décor, and of course, shiplap! Beginning their tv show in 2013, the Gaines family has built a home décor and renovation empire. Besides the exclusive collections with Target and Anthropologie, the Gaines family have created a destination spot in their hometown of Waco, Texas.
In 2015 the Gaines’s opened their new site location: the Silos. The property, located in downtown Waco, featured two rusty grain silos, a 20,000 square foot barn, and 2.5 acres of property and was the former home of the Brazos Valley Cotton Company. While the interior of the silos is not yet restored or in use, there is a big plan for future renovations, the property is now a bustling marketplace and a must- see travel destination. The Silos and surrounding buildings encompass a two-block area of downtown Waco.
Visiting Magnolia is a bucket list item on many “Fixer Upper” fans. “There’s a little something for everyone at Magnolia Market at the Silos. Shopping, games, the garden and even a bite to eat. The Market itself is staged and set up with one goal in mind: to inspire you to own the space you’re in. We hope that you’ll come to visit and leave excited about your home,” says Magnolia.com.
Our own Sharon Cannon Jones, a photographer for Heartland LIVING since 2015, has had the opportunity to explore and experience Magnolia Market at the Silos and all Waco, Texas has to offer. “I love their hometown values. Their restoration is inspiring.” Sharon and her husband Ron have visited several times and always leave inspired and wanting to return. “Magnolia Market at the Silos is well worth the visit. It has a little something for everyone. I enjoy shopping and the amenities as well as the history and renovations that have been made to Magnolia Market. I leave inspired! Be sure to check out Waco, it’s a quaint little town with much to offer as well.”
Things to do at Magnolia
Magnolia Market at the Silos is the main location for shopping, dining, outdoor games, and food trucks. On this site is home to the bakery, church, and ball-field. Here you can visit the garden, a place to explore and experience seasonal produce. The Magnolia Seed + Supply store sells garden supplies, kits for children, as well as seeds and pots. Kids can make fairy gardens and play under the tee-pee. The grounds also include many food trucks to choose from. One of the most iconic food trucks is Alabama Sweet Tea, where your sweet tea comes in a commemorative glass jar.
Silos Baking Co. is one of the newer additions to the Magnolia Market. In this little building, you can order Joanna’s own recipe baked goods. The bakery sells Joanna’s famous cupcakes in a wide array of flavors, scones, biscuits, and more. Fan favorites include “The Silos Cookie”, “The Prize Pig” bacon and cheddar biscuit, and the “Nuts and Bolts” cupcake. Joanna always suggests her biscuits with strawberry butter!
Magnolia Home is a retail space that showcases fully staged rooms in which visitors can see furniture, décor items, and more in place. You will be inspired with ideas for your home. You can see the many collections of furniture, wall art, and rugs.
Magnolia Table is an offsite breakfast and lunch restaurant located in the historic Elite Café building. The café was the first place in Waco to have air conditioning and it is rumored that Elvis Presley once visited and ate here many years ago. Chip and Joanna restored the building in 2016. It is approximately 10 minutes away from the Silos.
The Old Church: The Second Presbyterian Church was purchased and moved onto the Silo grounds in 2017. The church was built in 1984 and sat vacant for decades. As one of the oldest buildings still standing in Waco, it quickly became a passion project for the Gaines family. It now stands strong and restored at the silos as a resting spot for guests.
Katy Ballpark at the Silos is a nod to the rich history of Waco. Waco was home to the minor league Cubs. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig with the New York Yankees traveled to Waco to play ball. Katy Park has been abandoned due to the Great Depression, restored with the Waco Pirates, destroyed by a tornado and restored again only to later become a parking lot. Creating Katy Ballpark at the Silos, which is a wiffle ball field, honors the past with having the home plate right where it was located all those years ago. Guests are invited to play with equipment ready for a pickup game!
Little Shop on Bosque is the original home of Magnolia Market opened in 2003. You can still visit and find clearance items as well as last seasons goods.
Magnolia Press is an onsite café selling coffees, teas, seasonal drinks, and savory and sweet pastries. What trip is complete without a good cup of coffee!
Magnolia Market is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm. There is free parking and much to do in the surrounding area. There is a free trolley that travels the Silo District you can take to explore all downtown Waco including the same shops Chip and Joanna frequent.
If you are a fan of “Fixer Upper” or just simply love the “Farmhouse-chic” style, traveling to Waco, Texas to visit Magnolia Market at the Silos is a must. There is so much to see, taste, and experience. For more information, please visit www.Magnolia.com and if you make the trip, let us know how you were inspired!
