ON THE WALLS of the Waco, Texas, headquarters of Magnolia, the home and lifestyle brand founded by reality-TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, you'll find a bold mission statement. "We believe in unearthing beauty, however hidden and subtle it might be," reads one standout line.
Three blocks away, the Silos is a development that embodies that philosophy. In 2014, the Gaineses, both alumni of Baylor University in Waco, bought the moldering Brazos Valley Cotton Oil Mill. Over the past decade, they have transformed the five-acre downtown property into a retail mecca for fans of their hit HGTV show Fixer Upper and the Magnolia empire it spawned.
In addition to the flagship Magnolia Market, which sells home goods, there's Ferny's: The Retro Plant Shop, curated by Joanna's sister, Mikey (I bought a lovely $34 pot made by a local ceramist); Reverie, which sells women's clothing; and No. 16, with Chipapproved baseball caps, pocket knives, and other stereotypical guy stuff. Need caffeine? There's the Magnolia Press. Craving quiet? Find respite from retail inside the Old Church, a 130-yearold, long-abandoned Presbyterian house of worship that was dismantled, moved a mile down the road, and rebuilt in 2020.
The Silos has proven popular: more than 1 million people visit annually. The rust on the mill's two 120-foot-tall silos is now a beauty mark. Yet Waco lacked luxurious lodgings for those visitors-until last fall, when the Gaineses unveiled Hotel 1928 (doubles from $375).
This story is from the May 2024 edition of Travel+Leisure US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2024 edition of Travel+Leisure US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
OUR PORTUGUESE ADVENTURE
Small plates in Lisbon, fancy soaps in Porto, sandcastles on the beaches of the Algarve... Jessamine Chan and her family fall for a country with something for everyone.
Note Perfect
For centuries, the Italian town of Cremona has been home to the great instrument makers, and its streets continue to ring with music. For Julie Orringer, a family trip becomes a master class in the power of travel.
CREST of the WAVE
On France's rugged Basque Coast, old-school glamour meets shaggy surf culture-and creates an irresistible mix.
Turkish Delight
A major waterfront revitalization project in Istanbul is giving visitors-and locals-a reason to stroll and stay awhile.
Out of the Box
How an Austrian ski and spa town landed on the European art circuit.
Breaking Away
Finding solitude on a peaceful island in the Pacific Northwest.
Wrocław Reborn
After being decimated in World War II, this Polish city has risen from the ashes. On a quest for family roots, Laura Moser discovers a vital cultural crossroads.
It Takes a Village
In the canyons of northern Greece, the people of the Zagorohoria are cementing their home as a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Eleni N. Gage shares their story.
Explore One of Europe's Coolest Capitals: Tallinn
AFTER EMERGING FROM the intense heat of the sauna, I ran across a wooden deck and plunged into the brisk Baltic Sea. The cold pierced my skin from the soles of my feet upward, like ice water blanching a steamed vegetable. When I surfaced, my travel companions, who'd just done the same, were laughing so hard they could barely stay afloat.
Restore Your Body and Mind in Kyoto
WHEN VICKY TSAI visited Kyoto for the first time in 2008, she booked what she thought would be a simple facial.