If you're a fan of Fixer Upper, you've probably seen the incredible transformations Chip and Joanna Gaines have pulled off over the years. But one project stands out above the rest: the houseboat renovation from Season 4, titled "The Floating Fixer Upper." It was a bold move, but it paid off in a big way. So, what happened to that iconic houseboat after the cameras stopped rolling? Let's dive in and find out.
Who Was the Lucky Owner of the Fixer Upper Houseboat?
For this unique project, Chip and Joanna decided to take on something completely out of the ordinary—a houseboat! In 2017, their friend Brett Swartz approached them with a challenge. Brett had purchased a floating property from the 1970s for $27,000, and he gave the couple a budget of $58,000 to transform it into a dream home. But here's the twist: it had to remain buoyant on Lake Waco in Waco, Texas.
Now, Brett wasn't shy about describing the original state of the houseboat. He called it "big and pretty ugly," but he trusted Chip and Joanna to work their magic. And work it, they did! The end result was nothing short of spectacular. The renovated houseboat not only floated beautifully but also featured stunning French doors that opened onto a balcony, natural wood accents throughout, and a custom kitchen island with a sleek metal base and wooden top.
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Brett was absolutely thrilled with the final product. "Chip and Joanna really captured just the simple, subtle, modern design that I wanted," he said. "I didn’t want anything flashy or shiny. I just wanted it simple, and I feel like they really nailed it."
What Happened to the Fixer Upper Houseboat After the Episode?
Once the episode aired, the houseboat quickly became a sensation. It was listed on Airbnb for $300 per night, offering fans of the show a chance to experience the Gaines' handiwork firsthand. However, the listing has since been taken down. But that's not the end of the story! In 2020, eagle-eyed fans spotted the floating home docked at Lake Waco, proving that the houseboat is still making waves in the community.
Another Boat Story: Chip and Joanna's Own Houseboat Adventure
The houseboat renovation wasn't the only time Fixer Upper featured a boat. In March 2018, HGTV aired a special episode called "How We Got Here," where Chip and Joanna shared some behind-the-scenes moments about their journey. During this episode, they revealed a fun fact: they almost didn't get their own show on HGTV. But it was a quirky move by Chip that helped them secure their place in home design history.
In the pilot episode, viewers got to see a clip of Chip surprising Joanna with a houseboat he had purchased. His plan? To move the family into the houseboat while they renovated their farmhouse. But as Joanna put it, "Chip is like that kid, like the 5-year-old kid that’s trying to make his mom breakfast and there’s milk everywhere. Good heart, big mistake. But what do you do? You don’t want to spank him!"
Of course, the couple, who are parents to Drake, Ella Rose, Duke, Emmie Kay, and Crew, eventually decided to stay put in their Waco home. As Chip joked during the clip, "The goal was that I was going to move the family into this houseboat while we renovated the farmhouse, and boy did that dream not come to reality."
