The Cottonland Castle

At the turn of the 20th century, Waco's thriving cotton industry elevated it to a major Southern urban hub, sparking local investments. In 1890, stone contractor John Tennant acquired the land and began constructing the home on the city's outskirts. Financial difficulties led to Tennant selling the unfinished house in 1906. In 1913, Captain Alfred Abeel purchased the property and enlisted Roy E. Lane to transform it into a three-story castle. Between 1913 and 2019, the property changed hands a total of five times, falling into a state of disrepair. In 2019, Chip and Joanna Gaines purchased the property, completing the renovation in 2022. The entire restoration process was shared through a six-episode television show, Fixer Upper: the Castle. The castle will always be a striking hallmark of the Castle Heights neighborhood, and the impressive home continues to stand as a quiet reminder of the importance of the cotton industry which once brought prosperity to Waco.