Sometimes, the most beautiful dreams face the harshest trials. Just days after HGTV stars Erin and Ben Napier proudly revealed their long-awaited boutique hotel in Laurel, Mississippi, tragedy struck in the most unimaginable way. On the morning of August 26, 2025, the newly restored Heirloom Hotel, a project years in the making, went up in flames before ever welcoming its first guest.
The fire not only destroyed a building but also shook the spirit of a town that has become a national symbol of small-town revival. What was meant to be a cornerstone of Laurel’s progress has now turned into a heartbreaking test of resilience for the Napiers, their close friends, and the entire community.
A Dream Born From Friendship and Community
The Heirloom Hotel was not just another business venture. It was a deeply personal project that Erin and Ben Napier undertook with their dearest friends: Jim and Mallorie Rasberry — Erin’s cousin and lifelong best friend — and Josh and Emily Nowell. Together, this circle of families has spent the past decade pouring their energy into revitalizing Laurel, the very heart of their hit HGTV series Home Town.
Housed in the historic former Kress Building, the Heirloom Hotel was envisioned as both a stylish destination and a love letter to Laurel’s history. Its 25,000-square-foot space had been meticulously restored with the same passion that viewers of Home Town have come to know and love. From late nights filled with hammer swings to final brushstrokes of paint, the project was a labor of love, designed to honor the town’s legacy of hospitality.
The Morning of the Fire
The Laurel Leader-Call reported that the blaze began around 5 a.m., starting on the top floor of the hotel. Within moments, flames engulfed the building, and firefighters from five stations worked tirelessly to bring it under control. By mid-morning, the historic building had suffered catastrophic damage.
Thankfully, no one was inside at the time of the fire. Still, the emotional toll was immediate. Erin described the scene with heartbreaking words:
“Today feels like a funeral. We held each other and watched it burning while the brave fire fighters from the Laurel FD worked for hours to get the inferno under control.”
Her words captured not only the sadness of watching a dream collapse but also the sense of collective loss felt by the entire town.
Erin & Ben Napier’s dream hotel is in ashes
The Emotional Fallout
On social media, Erin shared her raw grief with fans, writing that after so much celebration the week prior, her friends and family had lost “their labor of love, their dream.” Though her words revealed heartbreak, they also carried her unshakable faith:
“I know these people. They won’t give up here. I don’t know what will happen next or if you’ll ever get to see this HGTV show now. I don’t know much of anything. Pray for my friends and family, please. It is hard to explain how this reverberates through our town and its progress in many ways. But I know God has a plan for this setback. He always knows the way, even when we don’t.”
A Show Lost Before It Began?
The fire also jeopardizes an exciting chapter in the Napiers’ television journey. HGTV had just announced Home Town: Inn This Together, a new spin-off set to debut in 2026 that would follow the renovation of the Heirloom Hotel. Fans were eagerly anticipating the chance to see the behind-the-scenes magic of restoring a historic landmark into a welcoming inn.
Now, Erin herself has admitted she doesn’t know if the series will ever make it to air. The footage exists, but without the hotel, the story feels painfully unfinished. For fans, it is another layer of loss — the sense of missing out on a story that was supposed to celebrate community and creativity.
“Hospitality Is Our Legacy”
The Instagram account for the Heirloom Hotel posted its own emotional message, alongside a mural that had been painted outside with the phrase, “Hospitality is our legacy.”
“The weight of this reality is hard to put into words,” the post read. “It’s not about the loss of wood, brick, or paint. It’s about the grief we feel for the countless hands that have worked tirelessly over the past year, breathing life back into this 25,000-square-foot space.”
For the team, the loss goes far beyond a building. It represents months of devotion, the efforts of contractors and artisans, and the spirit of a town that had rallied behind its newest landmark.
Outpouring of Support
If there is one silver lining, it is the incredible wave of support the Napiers and their friends have received from fans and fellow HGTV stars.
Jenny Marrs of Fixer to Fabulous wrote, “Oh Erin. I’m so so sorry. Praying right now for you all. 💔🙏”
Sarah Baeumler of Renovation Island offered a message that particularly touched fans: “We can rebuild – together – as one HGTV family.” Her use of the word “we” sparked emotional responses, with many pointing out that it reflected the unity and love the HGTV community feels for one another.
Brian Kleinschmidt of 100 Day Dream Home added, “This breaks my heart. 🙏 I know how much hard work and passion went into this project. Thank God no one was hurt. Anything can be fixed…anyone can’t be.”
Fans echoed these sentiments, offering to help in any way — from fundraising to purchasing merchandise — to ensure the Heirloom Hotel could rise from the ashes.
The Legacy of Laurel
For Erin and Ben Napier, this tragedy is not the end of their story. From the beginning, their mission has been bigger than TV ratings or business ventures. Since 2016, they and their friends have steadily rebuilt Laurel into a thriving community, opening businesses like Laurel Mercantile, Erin’s Scent Library, and the Scotsman General Store & Woodshop.
The Heirloom Hotel was meant to be the next chapter — a symbol of hospitality, history, and hometown pride. While the flames have left the future uncertain, the resilience of the Napiers and their friends suggests that this is not the last we’ll hear of the project.
A Setback, Not an Ending
“Today feels like a funeral,” Erin said on the day of the fire. And in many ways, it did. But just as Laurel itself has shown, new life can emerge from heartbreak. With the love of their fans, the support of their HGTV family, and their own determination, Erin and Ben Napier may yet find a way to rebuild what was lost.
The Heirloom Hotel was born out of love, and love, as the people of Laurel have proven time and again, is stronger than fire.
0 Comments