The owners of the Heirloom Hotel, the historic Laurel, Mississippi property featured in HGTV's "Home Town: Inn This Together," have shared an encouraging update on their rebuilding journey, revealing that a fan-driven initiative to support the recovery effort has been met with an overwhelmingly successful response.

Jim and Mallorie Rasberry and Josh Nowell, who partnered with HGTV stars Erin and Ben Napier on the renovation project, announced that the Heirloom Photo Rails—crafted from the building's original flooring—have officially sold out. The update, posted on the product page of the Laurel Mercantile website, expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support .

"Wow, what an unbelievable display of support and encouragement you have shown to us and our whole team!" the owners wrote in their message. "We have been absolutely overwhelmed with orders and need time now to catch up on fulfilling them" .

The hotel sustained severe damage in an August 2025 fire, just as the property was nearing completion . The HGTV spinoff, which concluded its four-episode run on May 31, documented both the painstaking renovation process and the heartbreaking aftermath of the blaze that delayed the hotel's official opening. Viewers watched as the Napiers and their friends transformed the former Kress department store—a building that had stood vacant for four decades—into a 30-room boutique hotel .

A Meaningful Way to Contribute

Rather than setting up a GoFundMe campaign, the owners chose a more personal approach to involve supporters in the rebuild. The photo rails, made from salvaged maple hardwood floors from the original building, were offered as tangible keepsakes allowing fans to own a piece of the hotel's history .

"What was lost was more than a building and something that so many people had poured into only for us to get SO close, yet never even get to open our doors," the owners previously shared on Instagram. "Most everything was not salvageable but we couldn't see these floors, that have seen so many generations, just be thrown in the dumpster too" .

The rails, priced at $29.99, feature The Heirloom logo and a removable note reading "keep building." Each piece carries unique markings from its previous life, including nail holes and other signs of age .

A Community-First Approach

The owners' decision to forgo direct financial donations was addressed on the May 30 episode of The Heirloom Podcast. Josh Nowell explained that while they appreciated the offers of support, they wanted to encourage fans to direct their generosity toward those in their own communities facing hardship .

"Find someone in your community who has suffered with fire or loss and fund them, help them. We are grateful for that, and I think that would go a lot further in your own community," Nowell told listeners. "Give it to people in your community who went through fire, charities, or churches that you trust in your community" .

Jim Rasberry emphasized the importance of supporting those who work quietly to improve their towns. "Somebody in your community is doing something that isn't paying them, that isn't building up their image in the community," he said. "I want you to find them and give them an encouraging word" .

Moving Forward

Despite the setback, the team remains committed to rebuilding. In a recent podcast episode, they shared that they have been "doing some planning" and have "ideas" in the works . The owners noted that while the timeline for reconstruction remains uncertain, their vision for the property and their community continues to drive them forward.

"We have been working for 20 years to make our town shine like we know it can shine," Nowell stated. "I know that for the next 20 years, Lord willing, we will continue that work" .

The owners have assured supporters that once they catch up on fulfilling the current orders, they plan to restock the photo rails as materials allow. Fans can sign up to be notified when more become available .

The response to the photo rail initiative has exceeded all expectations, with the owners noting that the emails, calls, and messages they have received have been deeply moving. "So many have brought us to tears," they shared. "We can't thank you all enough, and hope you'll follow along as we work to Keep Building" .