HGTV star Erin Napier saw the Heirloom hotel destroyed by a fire in August 2025 [2].
The loss represents a significant blow to the local development efforts in Hometown, Michigan, where the couple's television projects often drive community revitalization.
Napier and her husband, Ben Napier, spent two years renovating the property [1]. The hotel served as a central project for the couple, who are known for their work on the series "Home Town: Inn This Together."
Napier said the event was the most emotional moment of her life. The fire engulfed the structure shortly after the renovation process was completed [2]. While the fire was described as heartbreaking, the reports did not detail the specific cause of the ignition [2].
"I just watched my two-year renovation go up in flames. It’s heartbreaking," Napier said.
She also said, "Seeing the fire tear through the Heirloom was the most emotional moment of my life."
The Heirloom was intended to be a cornerstone of the couple's investment in the region. The destruction of the building comes after a prolonged period of labor and design aimed at restoring the historic site to a functional hotel.
“"I just watched my two-year renovation go up in flames. It’s heartbreaking."”
The destruction of the Heirloom hotel highlights the inherent risks of historic preservation and large-scale renovations. For public figures like the Napiers, whose brand is built on the successful transformation of dilapidated spaces, such a loss is not only a financial setback but a narrative disruption to their televised efforts in community building.
