Car Crash Destroys A ‘Fixer Upper’ House, Owners Blame Chip And Joanna Gaines
Fixer Upper couple Chip and Joanna Gaines are facing yet another scandal. One of the houses they flipped for the HGTV show has been destroyed by a car crash last Saturday, and the homeowners are blaming Chip and Joanna.
The accident happened at around 1:00 a.m. on Saturday when a suspected drunk driver smashed his car right through the Fixer Upper home in North Waco, Waco Tribune-Herald reported. Homeowners Ken and Kelly Downs were sleeping in the bedroom and were fortunately unharmed. However, the crash destroyed the room next door, their front room office.
The Downses moved into the property last year, and their renovation project was featured on Season 3 of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. The couple has been a huge fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines, so they turned to Magnolia Realty when they were hunting for a house in the area.
Ironically, Chip and Joanna nicknamed the house “Three Little Pigs” in the episode, alluding to the children’s story of houses being torn down by the big bad wolf. Now, the moniker seems like a bad premonition.
The house is located at the end of a “T” intersection, and the frustrated homeowners claim that this isn’t the first incident of drivers failing to stop. Now, Ken and Kelly Downs blame the Fixer Upper hosts for offering them the property in the first place.
“There’s a big problem here. It’s not safe. This is a Fixer Upper gone bad.”
Owners of a North Waco house renovated on "Fixer Upper" got a rude awakening early Saturday morning.https://t.co/Uo1GKZUV1T pic.twitter.com/i6zpO1V0QS
— Waco Tribune-Herald (@wacotrib) July 9, 2017
Aside from this safety issue, Ken and Kelly are also complaining about the late-night noise coming from nearby bars and businesses.
“It’s like the Wild West here. There’s been a lot of commotion coming from the bars and the store across the street. We’ve lived here a year and a half and we feel deceived by the city of Waco and Magnolia Realty.”
Furthermore, the Downses are also exposing the downside of Fixer Upper’s success. They are claiming that taxes have shot up since their house and neighborhood have been featured on the hit show. Because of this, they have been at the receiving end of many complaints from “anti-Fixer Upper” groups.
“We have been intimidated and harassed.”
Waco, Texas has gained a significant boost in its tourism industry since Fixer Upper became a huge hit. Chip and Joanna Gaines have also expanded their Magnolia empire with several other businesses in the area, including their Magnolia Market at the Silos.
Webster and 6th is the place to be for an afternoon treat! Stop by and pick up a cupcake or a silo cookie! Get both and thank us later. ? pic.twitter.com/PqQNJLhyY0
— magnolia (@magnolia) April 17, 2017
Despite their complaints, it seems that Ken and Kelly Downs have also capitalized on Waco’s tourism boost. People Magazine unearthed their Airbnb listing where they are renting out their house for $273 per night.
“You’ll love our home and its interior ambiance because it is an Original Magnolia Homes Fixer Upper Season 3, Episode 10…Fellow Fixer Upper homes are nearby. Feel free to hop in your car and go Fixer Upper house hunting!”
Apparently, the Downses have been banking on the Fixer Upper fame before Saturday’s accident. In the Airbnb listing, the homeowners speak nothing but praises about Chip and Joanna Gaines.
“We purchased our home in Waco because of the incredible opportunity given to us to work with Chip and Joanna Gaines of Magnolia Homes. They were able to transform an old craftsman home with great potential into the incredible charming house that we live in today.”
Chip and Joanna Gaines have not yet responded to the issue.
[Featured Image by Brian Ach/Invision/AP Images]
