Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new hotel is Hotel 1928 in downtown Waco. It sits inside the restored Grand Karem Shrine Building near the Magnolia Silos. The hotel opened in late 2023 with 33 rooms, specialty suites, dining spaces, and a rooftop bar. More than a simple Magnolia stop, it gives guests a stylish stay tied to the couple’s growing mark on Waco.
Chip and Joanna Gaines Hotel Overview
When you’re looking for Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new hotel, you’ll find Hotel 1928 in downtown Waco at the corner of Seventh Street and Washington Avenue, just a short walk from Magnolia Market at the Silos.
Inside, you step into a boutique stay shaped via a thoughtful hotel ownership partnership between Magnolia and AJ Capital Partners. You can feel Joanna’s design vision in the Art Deco lines, Southern warmth, and carefully restored details, while AJ brings hospitality expertise that keeps the experience polished.
The project honors the site’s historic building legacy as the former Grand Karem Shrine Building, a 1928 gathering place for Waco celebrations and community life. With 33 rooms, four suites, dining venues, a rooftop bar, event space, and a library, you’re welcomed into something intimate, memorable, and distinctly rooted in Waco.
Where Is Chip and Joanna’s Hotel?
You’ll find Chip and Joanna’s hotel in downtown Waco, Texas, at the corner of Seventh Street and Washington Avenue.
It sits just a few blocks from Magnolia Market at the Silos, so you’re right in the middle of the city’s most recognizable Magnolia landmarks.
From this spot, you can easily walk to downtown attractions and take in the historic core that gives Hotel 1928 its distinct Waco setting.
Hotel Location
In downtown Waco, Texas, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Hotel 1928 stands at the corner of Seventh Street and Washington Avenue, right in the city’s historic core. From here, you’re planted where Waco feels most alive, with downtown access that makes the city easy to claim as your own.
You can walk about three blocks to Magnolia Market at the Silos, then keep exploring nearby shops, restaurants, and familiar local stops without needing to drive far. The address also gives you riverfront proximity, so Brazos River views and open-air strolls feel close at hand.
Because the hotel sits within Waco’s Magnolia-centered tourism district, you’re not arriving on the edges of the action-you’re stepping directly into a shared local rhythm, where visitors and longtime fans naturally gather and connect daily.
Waco Landmark Setting
At the heart of downtown Waco, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Hotel 1928 occupies the restored Grand Karem Shrine Building at Seventh Street and Washington Avenue. You’re planted in a historic downtown setting that feels connected, walkable, and unmistakably Waco, with Magnolia Market at the Silos just a few blocks away.
From here, you can envision your stay through:
- Brick-lined streets buzzing with local shops and cafés
- Brazos River proximity that brings nearby views and an easy riverfront feel
- A landmark corner where Moorish Revival character meets downtown energy
You don’t feel tucked away here; you feel included in the city’s rhythm. Set within Waco’s historic core, the hotel places you near attractions, gathering spots, and the welcoming pulse that defines this Magnolia-shaped destination today.
Why the Hotel Is in Downtown Waco
Because Hotel 1928 sits in downtown Waco at Seventh Street and Washington Avenue, it places you right inside the city’s historic core and within easy walking distance of Magnolia Market at the Silos. That location lets you experience Waco as a connected neighborhood, not just a stop on an itinerary. You can walk to downtown attractions, catch Brazos River views, and feel the steady energy shaping the Magnolia district today.
The setting also reflects Magnolia’s larger values. Via restoring a 1928 landmark instead of building elsewhere, the project supports historic preservation while contributing to downtown revitalization. You’re not staying on the edge of town removed from local character; you’re stepping into it. Downtown gives the hotel a stronger sense of place, helping you feel woven into Waco’s story, streets, and shared gathering spaces daily.
Chip and Joanna Hotel Opening Timeline
You can trace the Hotel 1928 timeline from the project’s public rollout to its late 2023 soft opening, as Magnolia tied its initial broad public look to a November debut.
As you follow the launch phase, you’ll notice a steady build of updates, from renovation buzz on *Fixer Upper: The Hotel* to media tours and influencer stays.
That sequence shows how Chip and Joanna turned a long-anticipated restoration into a carefully staged opening in downtown Waco.
Opening Date Announcement
Late 2023 marked the long-awaited debut of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Hotel 1928, with the initial public opening tied to November 2023 after years of anticipation around the downtown Waco project. You could feel the momentum building as press release timing sharpened expectations and public reveal details gave fans a shared date to circle.
From your viewpoint, the announcement felt like an invitation into Waco’s next chapter:
- A historic downtown landmark waking up with polished brass and warm light.
- A boutique stay opening steps from Magnolia’s familiar orbit.
- A November moment that turned years of renovation buzz into something real.
Rather than a vague tease, the opening date grounded the story. You knew the instant the doors would initially welcome guests, and that clarity made the project feel closer, more communal, and easier to envision.
Launch Phase Updates
Once the November 2023 opening date came into focus, the launch phase showed how Hotel 1928 moved from announcement to lived experience. You could see momentum building through press coverage, local excitement, and polished previews that made the downtown Waco property feel welcoming before many guests arrived.
As soft-opening activity began in late 2023, you’d notice how Magnolia and AJ Capital shifted from renovation storytelling to hospitality delivery.
Media tours, influencer stays, and community promotion helped translate the hotel’s 1920s-inspired design into something you could actually imagine yourself enjoying.
Early bookings signaled that interest wasn’t just curiosity; people wanted a place inside the Gaineses’ world.
With 33 rooms, rooftop views, dining spaces, and event areas ready for use, the debut felt intimate, intentional, and woven into Waco’s historic social rhythm.
What the Hotel Looks Like Outside
From the street, Hotel 1928 makes a striking initial impression with its historic facade rooted in Moorish Revival architecture and sharpened via Art Deco detail. You notice how the exterior facade anchors downtown Waco with a sense of permanence, while still feeling welcoming and current. Set at Seventh Street and Washington Avenue, it stands like a landmark you’re meant to find.
You can imagine the outside through details like:
- Creamy masonry and ornate arches that spotlight its historic architecture.
- Vertical lines and geometric trim that give the building a refined 1920s rhythm.
- Corner placement and tall windows that connect you to Waco’s walkable, lively core.
Just blocks from Magnolia Market, the building feels woven into the neighborhood, inviting you to step closer and feel part of the story there.
Inside the Hotel Rooms
When you step into the rooms at Hotel 1928, you notice how carefully the design blends 1920s character with polished Southern comfort.
You’ll find options ranging from thoughtfully styled guest rooms to spacious suites like the Washington Suite, which gives you extra beds, more residing space, and two bathrooms.
In each room, you can expect a boutique feel that pairs historic detail with practical comforts for a relaxed, design-forward stay.
Room Design Details
Although Hotel 1928 leans into grand public spaces, the guest rooms feel more intimate, layering 1920s character with the kind of comfort you’d want for a relaxed weekend stay. You notice a warm textiles palette right away, with customized bedding, woven accents, and drapery that softens the historic architecture.
Inside, the design invites you to settle in rather than simply pass through:
- vintage lighting that casts a mellow glow across wood tones and brass details
- thoughtfully restored architectural touches that keep the rooms connected to the building’s 1928 roots
- locally inspired colors and textures that make the space feel grounded in Waco
The general effect feels polished but welcoming, giving you a room that belongs to its setting while still feeling easy, personal, and restful for every kind of traveler.
Suite Features
Suite accommodation takes the hotel’s intimate design language and gives you more room to spread out, especially in standout accommodations like the Washington Suite.
You notice how the suite layout supports togetherness without feeling crowded, giving your group places to gather, settle in, and still keep a little breathing room.
Because Hotel 1928 has only four suites, each one feels intentionally considered rather than mass produced.
In the Washington Suite, you get a larger footprint designed for shared stays, with room for up to 12 guests and two bathrooms that make group travel smoother.
Throughout these spaces, premium bedding softens the historic atmosphere and helps the rooms feel welcoming, not formal.
The general effect is warm and social, as though the hotel expected you to arrive with people who already feel like home.
In-Room Amenities
Beyond the added space in the suites, the in-room experience at Hotel 1928 focuses on comfort wrapped in historic character.
You step into rooms that feel intimate and polished, where restored architectural details meet soft, livable finishes. Every choice seems designed to help you settle in quickly and feel like you belong there.
- Plush bedding and layered linens support sleep comfort after long walks through downtown Waco.
- Thoughtful bathroom essentials give the baths a practical, welcoming feel without losing the boutique edge.
- Warm lighting, vintage-inspired furnishings, and custom-fitted textures create a calm retreat with personality.
Because the hotel has only 33 rooms, your stay feels personal rather than anonymous. Inside each room, the design doesn’t just look beautiful-it invites you to exhale, unpack, and stay a little longer than planned.
Room Types and Suite Options
What stands out most about Hotel 1928’s accommodations is how intentionally scaled they are: with just 33 guest rooms, including four suites, the hotel keeps the experience boutique and personal rather than sprawling or convention-like.
That smaller footprint means you’re not choosing from endless, impersonal categories. Instead, you’ll find thoughtfully varied options, from standard guest rooms to larger family suites that give your group room to settle in comfortably.
The standout Washington Suite sleeps up to 12 guests and includes two bathrooms, making it especially practical for reunions or shared weekend stays. Across categories, the design leans restored, layered, and welcoming, so you feel connected to the building’s history without sacrificing comfort.
The availability of accessible accommodations also helps more travelers feel genuinely considered and at home here.
Hotel Dining and Guest Amenities
At Hotel 1928, the food and shared spaces do as much storytelling as the guest rooms. You don’t just check in here; you settle into gathering places that feel warm, social, and distinctly Waco. With two restaurants, a lively café, and a rooftop bar, the hotel gives you easy ways to linger, connect, and make the stay feel personal.
- Sip rooftop cocktails while downtown lights and Texas skies stretch around you.
- Slip into the luxury library, where quiet corners invite conversation and unhurried pauses.
- Wander through the ballroom, event spaces, and retail shop, where exclusive Magnolia pieces extend the experience.
You’ll also notice spa style perks in the thoughtful comforts, curated details, and easy flow between spaces, creating a boutique stay that feels both elevated and welcoming for everyone.
How Magnolia Style Shapes the Hotel
How does Magnolia style translate into a historic hotel? You see it in the balance between preservation and warmth. At Hotel 1928, Magnolia design influences don’t erase the building’s Moorish Revival arches or Art Deco character. Instead, they soften them with layered textures, rich woods, brass accents, and collected details that feel lived in. You’re not stepping into a museum piece; you’re entering a place that invites you to settle in.
That sense of belonging comes through in the hotel’s Southern vintage styling. You notice fitted upholstery, nostalgic lighting, and a palette that echoes Texas earth, stone, and sun. Local touches, curated books, and thoughtful materials make the space feel grounded in Waco rather than staged for visitors. The result feels welcoming, storied, and unmistakably Magnolia.
Expected Room Rates at the Hotel
Room rates at Hotel 1928 likely reflect its boutique size, historic character, and Magnolia branding rather than a budget stay. You can expect pricing tiers that sit above standard Waco hotels, especially since there are only 33 rooms and four suites. That smaller scale usually creates a more exclusive feel, and you’re paying for design, atmosphere, and walkable downtown access.
- Envision a standard room priced for a stylish weekend escape.
- Envision suites climbing higher for extra space, richer details, and group stays.
- Expect seasonal demand to nudge rates upward during Magnolia events, holidays, and busy Texas travel weekends.
Because the hotel blends restored architecture, rooftop views, and curated Magnolia touches, you’ll likely feel like you’re joining a carefully designed Waco experience, not simply reserving a place.
How to Book Chip and Joanna’s Hotel
Booking Hotel 1928 is fairly straightforward, but you’ll want to plan ahead because the 33-room property is small and demand can spike around Magnolia events and busy Waco weekends. Start with the hotel’s official site, where the reservation process is typically clearest, then compare other booking channels if you’re hunting for package perks or date flexibility.
| Option | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Official website | Best room details, direct policies |
| Travel platforms | Broader booking channels, occasional deals |
You’ll choose your dates, room type, and rate, then review cancellation terms before confirming. Should you’re planning a group stay or want a suite, calling the hotel can help you feel more connected and confident. Booking ahead gives you the best shot at joining the Hotel 1928 experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hotel 1928 Family-Friendly for Children and Large Groups?
Yes. Families usually do best in the larger suites, with the Washington Suite being a strong option for bigger groups. The hotel does not emphasize children’s amenities, so expect an upscale, design focused stay rather than features tailored specifically to kids.
Does Hotel 1928 Offer Valet Parking or Self-Parking?
Current parking details for Hotel 1928 are not listed in the available information. To know whether valet parking or self parking is offered, contact the hotel directly before your stay, especially if you are visiting during a busy time in downtown Waco.
Can Non-Guests Visit the Rooftop Bar or Restaurants?
Yes. The 33 room setting feels intimate, but a stay is not required. Visitors can dine at the public restaurant, and rooftop access is often open to non guests. Check current hours, reservation requirements, and entry policies before you go.
Is the Hotel Pet-Friendly for Dogs or Other Animals?
Hotel 1928 has not published a clear pet policy for dogs or other animals. For the most accurate details, contact the hotel directly to ask about pet fees, size or breed limits, and service animal accommodations.
Does Hotel 1928 Host Weddings, Conferences, or Private Events?
Yes, Hotel 1928 hosts weddings, conferences, and private events. The property offers more than 6,600 square feet of event space, including a grand ballroom and venues designed for wedding packages, receptions, and business gatherings.

