Over the next six weeks, a small city in Alabama will get a whole lot of attention -- and probably gain a bunch of new visitors -- thanks to Ben and Erin Napier, stars of HGTV’s “Home Town.”
Wetumpka, a quaint spot nestled along the Coosa River, will be the focus of “Home Town Takeover,” a reality series that highlights 12 major renovations around town. Restaurants, shops, historic homes, public spaces, a farmers market and a downtown street will be featured on the show, which debuts on Sunday at 7 p.m. CT on HGTV and Discovery Plus.
The Napiers -- famed for renovation and revitalization projects in Laurel, Mississippi -- brought a production team to Wetumpka for about four months, aiming to “make something good today” in the city in Elmore County. Russell Construction of Alabama was involved in the series, as well, supervising makeovers that focus on people and places epitomizing the community spirit of Wetumpka.
If you’re wondering exactly where the Napiers will rip down walls and pull up carpets, we can offer some illumination. Several of the renovation projects are previewed in a video series, “Road to Takeover,” that can be viewed on the HGTV website. Excerpts from the videos can be found on HGTV’s Instagram and Facebook pages, as well.
Jason Pickens, an interior designer and furniture builder with Alabama roots, serves as the tour guide for “Road to Takeover,” hosting five episodes that run about five minutes each. Featured in the clips:
- The “Big Fish” house used for Tim Burton’s 2003 fantasy movie, now owned by Shellie and Wade Whitfield. The Whitfields are overwhelmed by the renovations required at the house on East Bridge Street, which has an unfinished second floor created by the “Big Fish” crew.
- Coaches Corner Sports Bar & Grill, an eatery on Orline Street that serves wings, sandwiches, salads, nachos and other casual fare. There’s a pleasant deck that overlooks the Coosa, but it needs to be more visitor-friendly during the hot summer months. Also, the restaurant needs a facelift.
- Company Street, a downtown thoroughfare that includes shops, offices, restaurants and boarded-up buildings that have seen better days. Jenny Stubbs, executive director of Main Street Wetumpka, shows Pickens around and offers historical context.
- The home of Kasey and Ray Moody, foster parents who would benefit from a bigger kitchen, a different floor plan and more space for their active brood.
- Jerry’s Barber Shop, owned and operated by Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis. (He’s a singing barber, by the way.) Willis is a hospitable haircutter, but his shop could use an update.
Pickens also gets a primer on the Wetumpka Impact Crater, created by a cosmic event about 80 million years ago. The massive crater isn’t pegged for renovations, of course, but it’s an important part of the city’s overall landscape.
Celebrity guests will be part of the mix on “Home Town Takeover,” including singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, Eddie Jackson of the Food Network, Randy Fenoli of “Say Yes to the Dress,” Ty Pennington of “Rock the Block” and Tamara Day of “Bargain Mansions.”
Although it hasn’t been confirmed by HGTV, we suspect that Crow will make an appearance on Sunday’s episode, titled “First Hammer Swing.” An HGTV description of the program says: “Ben and Erin begin revitalizing Wetumpka, Ala., by turning a foster couple’s home into a welcoming space for kids; Dave and Jenny Marrs help tackle a boutique on the brink of closure; a special guest surprises Wetumpka with a performance.”
The “Big Fish” house gets its TV close-up on May 9, in an episode titled “The Mayor Is Also the Barber.” Here’s the official description: “Ben and Erin step in to give Shellie and Wade Whitfield help restoring what is known as the ‘Big Fish’ house to its former glory; Ben and Erin mosey over to Jerry’s Barber Shop, a local mainstay.”