The Fort House

Located at 503 S 4th St, Waco, TX 76706.

The Fort House is the latest acquisition by Chip and Joanna Gaines.  Magnolia purchased the property from the Historical Waco Foundation.  Foundation director Jill Barrow declined to disclose the sale price of the historic home, but she said the proceeds would strengthen the nonprofit's endowment and further its mission of education and preservation.

The house was built in 1868 in the Greek Revival Style. The original owner was William Fort who came to Waco in 1854 with a caravan of five hundred people from Alabama. He and his father established a plantation four miles south of Waco in the Downsville area.  Fort rose to prominence within Waco as the acting president of Waco National Bank, and the owner of the city’s first transit system.

The house is constructed of locally made pink brick possibly sourced from the Trice brick kiln in East Waco. On either side of the front door are cypress fluted ionic columns. The columns were made in New Orleans, shipped to Galveston, and then transported to Waco overland by ox cart and flat-bottom boat. The house also features cypress shutters and pine trim. The balcony above the front door originally extended to the columns.

This will likely be the closest bed and breakfast to the Magnolia Silos.  The Fort House has a state historic marker, and major changes to the house's appearance would require approval by the Texas Historical Commission.

Back in the old days, houses were really tiny in the front because you were only taxed on your frontage.  So when you look at this house, it is very small in the front... and really big in the back.  Sort of like...Jennifer Lopez.