Can you “take over and make over” an entire city? Ben and Erin Napier, stars of the HGTV series “Home Town,” aim to give it a try in Wetumpka.
This Alabama city, nestled along the Coosa River in Elmore County, has been chosen for the Napiers’ new reality series, “Home Town Takeover.” The Napiers -- famed for renovation and revitalization projects in Laurel, Mississippi -- plan to apply their skills to private homes, public businesses and historic buildings in Wetumpka.
The city was selected from thousands of photo and video submissions highlighting over 2,600 American towns, according to HGTV.
“In January, HGTV and ‘Home Town’s production company RTR Media put out a casting-call of sorts, inviting residents of America’s small towns (population 40,000 or less) to log on to a website to make the case that their town should be the one featured in the new series,” HGTV says on its website. “Applicants were encouraged to highlight aspects of their town that make it special, fascinating, historic or unique — including distinctive features like vintage period architecture, special destinations or a classic main street.”
“Home Town Takeover,” a six-part series, is set to air in 2021. However, TV viewers can get a preview tonight on “Home Town: A Small Town Salute.” On the hourlong episode, which airs at 7 p.m. CT, the Napiers highlight the changes made in Laurel, and throw a spotlight on Wetumpka as the subject of their new show.
“Ben and I often speak about our love of small town living and what that lifestyle means to the people who live in one,” Erin Napier said on the HGTV website. “The people of Wetumpka know they have a small town that’s worth saving, and now the world will see why this tight-knit community deserves a fresh start.”
The Napiers and HGTV producers were drawn to the natural beauty of the Wetumpka landscape, the website says, and the team was intrigued by the oddball appeal of the “wonderfully strange Wetumpka Meteor Crater.”
Other factors were influential in the choice, as well:
“Wetumpka faces many of the same challenges that beset small and remote towns across the country — closing businesses, compromised employment prospects, outmigration of young people, the impact of natural and climate-related disasters as well as homes and neighborhoods in varying stages of neglect or disrepair.
“A glimmer of optimism came a few years ago with a plan to revitalize, but the endeavor was set back when a tornado struck the town, decimating the police station, a historic church, a number of homes and hundreds of acres of land. But the prospect of hope and progress remained alive, just waiting for sparks to ignite.
“The town itself could be characterized as a sort of diamond in the rough. With its picturesque setting and features, it has served as the location for the filming of several Hollywood productions including ‘The Grass Harp’ (based on the Truman Capote novella), ‘The Rosa Parks Story’ and the fantastical Tim Burton feature, ‘Big Fish’ — three films with central themes tied to and drawing on the historical South.
“In short, Wetumpka is a place steeped in a certain authentic, heritage-rich, easy-pace tradition that’s essentially the perfect landing place for Ben, Erin and crew — not to mention some special surprise guests.”
“Home Town: A Small Town Salute” will air again at 2 a.m. CT on Friday and 8 a.m. CT on Saturday on HGTV.