One of Texas real estate’s most recognizable homes has found a buyer, and this one comes with a pretty incredible story.
Chip and Joanna Gaines’ historic Cottonland Castle in Waco, Texas, is pending after being listed for $2.7 million. The 135-year-old property became famous after Chip and Joanna documented its extensive restoration on their 2022 Magnolia Network series, Fixer Upper: The Castle.
A Texas Castle Gets a New Beginning
Located at 3300 Austin Avenue in Waco, Cottonland Castle is anything but an ordinary Texas home. The approximately 6,176-square-foot property features four bedrooms and four bathrooms, along with incredible architectural details including antique tile floors, diamond-paned windows, ornate fireplaces, a formal dining room, great room, card room, library and conservatory.
Chip had reportedly been fascinated with the castle for nearly two decades before he and Joanna finally purchased it in 2019. The couple then took on the enormous task of bringing the historic property back to life while preserving the details and character that made it so special in the first place.
The entire restoration was documented on Fixer Upper: The Castle, giving viewers a front-row seat to one of the Gaineses’ most ambitious projects.
It Didn’t Sell the First Time
Here’s the part of the story I find especially interesting as a REALTOR®.
Chip and Joanna previously attempted to sell the castle at auction in 2023, but it didn’t sell. They eventually brought the property back to the traditional real estate market, listing it for $2.7 million in June 2026.
By September, the castle was pending.
That’s an important reminder when it comes to luxury, historic and truly one-of-a-kind properties: the right property doesn’t necessarily need just any buyer. It needs the right buyer.
Unique homes can require patience, creative marketing, strategic positioning and an agent who understands how to tell the story behind the property. Sometimes changing the strategy is exactly what it takes.
So…What Do Joanna Gaines and I Have in Common?
Here’s where this celebrity real estate story gets a little more personal—and a lot more fun.
Joanna and I actually have a Texas connection that goes way back.
We both went to high school in Texas, and believe it or not, we even dated the same guy.
Yes, you read that correctly.
You know who you are. 😉
Only in Texas.
It really is a huge state that somehow manages to feel like one very small town.
It has been incredible to watch what Joanna and Chip have built over the years and the attention they’ve brought to Texas homes, design, architecture and restoration. And as someone who has spent my own life in Texas—first in the music business and now also helping people buy and sell Texas real estate—I especially appreciate a property with a story.
More Than a $2.7 Million House
That may be my favorite part of Cottonland Castle.
It isn’t simply a beautiful house with a multimillion-dollar price tag. It’s a piece of Texas history that could easily have been lost.
Instead, someone saw what it could be.
That’s one of the things I love most about real estate. Whether it’s a historic castle in Waco, a waterfront home on Lake LBJ, a Hill Country ranch or a house that simply needs someone with a little vision, every property has a story.
Speaking of Texas properties with a story… I currently have a beautifully remodeled waterfront property at 3424 River Oaks Drive in Kingsland, directly on Lake LBJ. With a sandy beach, pool, extensive renovation and proven short-term rental history, it’s another example of what makes Texas waterfront real estate so special. Take a look at 3424 River Oaks Drive here: https://reeserealestate.net/properties/3424-river-oaks-dr-kingsland-tx-us-78639-3195446
Part of my job is figuring out how to tell that story in a way that makes the right buyer stop scrolling and pay attention.
After 135 years, Cottonland Castle is getting ready for yet another chapter.
And somewhere out there, one very lucky buyer is about to be able to say:
“I bought the castle.”
Now that’s a closing-day photo I’d like to see.
— Pauline Reese
Reese Real Estate Group | eXp Realty
Serving the Texas Hill Country, Austin & Highland Lakes
Thinking about buying or selling a distinctive Texas property? From waterfront homes and ranch properties to luxury and historic homes, I’d love to help you position your property, tell its story and find the right buyer.
