How Dr Pepper and Magnolia Helped Rewrite Waco’s Story

A fizzy soft drink, a pair of grain silos, and a walkable downtown morning show how Waco, Texas turned history and home design into a destination worth lingering in.

Hotel Herringbone

I woke up in Waco with two letters on my mind: H H. They’re stitched into my hotel blinds, embossed on the coasters, and tucked into tiny design details all over Hotel Herringbone. H H for Hotel Herringbone… and H H for Helen Hatzis? I appreciate a good bit of alliteration. This 21-room boutique hideaway is set in a converted warehouse-and-shipping-container complex wrapped around an open courtyard, it’s playful and polished in all the right ways – bold wallpaper, retro furniture, deep tubs, and thoughtful touches like great linens and generous bath products.

Hotel That Feels Like a Hangout

A brick courtyard at Hotel Herringbone with the tall glass doors of Red Herring restaurant on the left and a dark shipping container labelled “Lucky Buck’s” tucked beneath an exterior staircase on the right. Metal stairs rise to an upper level, and a sandwich board in the foreground advertises Sunday brunch with a “Free Mimosa” sign. Potted plants and low greenery soften the edges of the space. — Street-level Red Herring and upstairs Lucky Buck’s share a sunny courtyard at Hotel Herringbone.

At street level in the Hotel Herringbone complex, Red Herring anchors the space with a coastal Mediterranean–inspired menu of shareable, tapas-style dishes that make it just as tempting to stay in as to go out. A handful of shops and gathering spaces spill off the courtyard, giving the property a lived-in, local feel. Upstairs, Lucky Buck’s bar crowns the top floor, an easygoing perch for a nightcap with views of Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Dr Pepper Museum and more. The hotel itself feeling like part of the destination, not just a place to sleep.

Waco in Three Acts: Before, Bubbles, and Barn Doors

A wide, turquoise wall is covered with a playful mural of cartoon Dr Pepper bottles and cups with arms and legs, dancing and holding signs like “More Fun!” and “More Exhibits!” In front of the mural sits a large red industrial tank on metal supports, with interpretive plaques. Picnic tables and two green bilingual “Soda Fountain” signs stand on the concrete plaza under a bright blue sky. — Colourful murals and a vintage tank mark the playful outdoor area of the Dr Pepper Museum.

Long before Magnolia put its modern shine on downtown, Waco was a hardworking riverside town built on cattle, cotton, railroads, and, eventually, a certain 23-flavour soft drink. In 1953, a powerful tornado tore through the heart of downtown, ripping apart blocks that had to be rebuilt almost from the ground up. For a long time, people outside Texas knew Waco more for moments like that than for everyday life here. Today, more visitors continue to discover the Waco locals know: creative, walkable, and layered with history and quiet resilience.

In 1885, a young pharmacist named Charles Alderton at the Old Corner Drug Store began mixing fruit flavours at the soda fountain, eventually creating what became known as Dr Pepper – America’s “unique flavour” and the country’s oldest major soft drink brand. The drink’s success turned Waco into a kind of early beverage hub, with bottling expanding into a sturdy manufacturing building downtown by 1906. That building now houses the Dr Pepper Museum.

A black-and-white painted sign fills a section of white brick wall. The words read “Welcome to the Magnolia Silos – Home Goods. Baked Goods. All Good.” in simple lettering, framed by a white border. A narrow wooden ledge runs along the bottom of the wall. — A hand-painted welcome sign sets the tone at the entrance to the Magnolia Silos.

Fast-forward more than a century. In 2015, Chip and Joanna Gaines opened Magnolia Market at the Silos on a disused cotton oil mill site downtown, transforming old grain silos and warehouses into a 5-acre destination with a market, bakery, food truck park, lawn, small church, wiffle ball field, and themed shops. Admission is free, and the experience feels part-town square, part-lifestyle set.

The impact has been enormous. Magnolia quickly began attracting over a million visitors a year, and nearby attractions like the Dr Pepper Museum saw their attendance jump significantly as travellers built a full Waco day around both. Walking between these two landmarks, you can almost feel Waco’s story shifting – from “city of tragedies” to a place defined more by creativity, hospitality, and a growing web of attractions that locals and visitors share.

Morning at the Silos: Lawn Games, Lattes, and Lots of Inspiration

A row of cottage-style shopfronts with green shutters and window boxes faces a long strip of artificial turf dotted with metal benches. One shop, with a purple “Weekend” sign over the door, is open; a couple stands in the doorway talking. Mature trees cast dappled shade across the walkway. — Small specialty shops and a grassy lawn invite slow wandering at the Silos.

From Hotel Herringbone, the walk to Magnolia Market at the Silos takes only a few minutes. The silos themselves rise suddenly out of downtown – rusted, towering, and oddly beautiful, flanked by fresh white facades and checkerboard paving.

Inside the gates, the space is designed for lingering rather than rushing:

A 12,000-square-foot retail store in the old grain barn and office building, with Joanna’s signature home goods and décor.
A generous central lawn where families play beanbag toss, couples sit with coffee, and solo travellers (like me) simply watch the world go by.
Food trucks along the edge serving everything from tacos to grilled cheese.
The Silos Baking Co. for those famous cupcakes and biscuits, plus Magnolia Press coffee and other small shops tucked around the perimeter.
A tiny white church moved onto the property and a nostalgic Katy Ballpark wiffle ball field for a bit of play.

What I Loved Most

A row of white picnic tables stretches down a brick pathway, each covered by a black-and-white striped canopy. Neatly trimmed artificial turf fills the spaces between the bricks, and young trees frame the scene. A small potted plant sits on the nearest table, and the whole area is empty, waiting for visitors. — Striped canopies and white picnic tables create shaded gathering spots at Magnolia.

The sense of choreography. Despite the crowds, the site never felt chaotic. Seating is plentiful, pathways are clear, and there are pockets of shade where you can catch your breath. This is thoughtful placemaking – and as a traveller, it felt welcoming rather than overwhelming.

The free admission. You can simply wander, people-watch, and soak in the design inspiration without spending a dollar if you choose. That is increasingly rare for “must-see” attractions, and it keeps the experience accessible.

The sustainability-lite moment. I carried my own reusable water bottle, stuck to one treat instead of sampling everything in sight, and admired more than I acquired. Responsible travel can live comfortably alongside a bit of retail therapy; it is about choosing consciously rather than mindlessly filling a shopping bag.

Practical Tips for Magnolia Silos

A low, white-brick building with black awnings and large glass windows stretches along a clean sidewalk. The sign “Magnolia Home” spans the top in simple black letters. Through the windows, soft furnishings and greenery are faintly visible. A cell tower and blue sky with scattered clouds rise behind the building. — The crisp white façade of Magnolia Home anchors one side of the Silos district.

Hours: Most Magnolia entities are open roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with Magnolia Press coffee opening earlier, and everything is closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
Free parking: Look for free street parking along 6th and 8th Streets and Webster Avenue, or free lots nearby.
Best time to go: Aim for morning on a weekday if you can. You’ll dodge the heaviest crowds and Texas heat.
What not to miss: Even if you skip shopping, linger on the lawn, step inside the little white church, and peek into Silos Baking Co. (even just to enjoy the smell).
Website: magnolia.com/visit

Pouring the Past: A Walk Through the Dr Pepper Museum

Inside the museum, a full-scale recreation of the Old Corner Drug Store features green and red brick walls, vintage painted signs, and a glass display window. The entrance is open, revealing a marble soda fountain counter inside. To the left, a life-sized mannequin of a suited man stands behind a small lectern, as if addressing visitors. — A recreated Old Corner Drug Store brings Dr Pepper’s pharmacy origins to life.

The museum occupies the 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building, a handsome brick structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the “Home of Dr Pepper.” Just being inside a repurposed industrial space like this feels like a nod to circular thinking: instead of demolishing history, Waco has chosen to interpret it.

The experience unfolds over multiple levels, mixing nostalgia with genuine social history:

Origin story exhibits tell how pharmacist Charles Alderton experimented with flavours at Waco’s Old Corner Drug Store in 1885, creating what was first called “Waco” before becoming Dr Pepper.
Displays trace how the drink grew into the nation’s oldest major soft drink brand, outlasting changing tastes and competitors.
Vintage advertising – including the famous “10, 2, and 4” and later “I’m a Pepper” campaigns – shows how soda became part of pop culture, for better and for worse.
A reconstructed soda fountain and bottling exhibits help you imagine early customers taking that first curious sip.

Depending on the ticket you choose, you can also enjoy tastings or hands-on experiences. Check current hours and admission online before you go: drpeppermuseum.com.

Why It Matters

A mustard-yellow, Romanesque-style building with arched windows and stone trim stands on a corner across from a crosswalk. A sign above the door reads “Dr Pepper Museum.” To the right, an iron gate leads into a courtyard where people are lined up to enter. The sky is partly cloudy, and a few pedestrians cross the street in front. — The historic Dr Pepper Museum occupies a distinctive yellow-brick building in downtown Waco.

For me, the Dr Pepper Museum is more than a brand shrine. It is a story about innovation in a small city, about how something created for local customers can bubble up into a global icon. It also reminds us that many products we now take for granted were born from a specific place and moment in time.

Travelling Kindly in Waco

A cosy outdoor courtyard with a gravel floor features two long, carved wooden daybeds under simple four-post frames, each piled with soft cushions in muted colours. A weathered wooden coffee table and a small round stool sit between them. Overhead, a metal roof with string lights provides shade. Lush green plants line the low brick planter along a tall red-brick wall, and in the background a long wooden table with slim black chairs offers extra seating. — A tucked-away courtyard at Hotel Herringbone invites guests to sink into cushioned daybeds and linger under the shade.

Even in a city built around big brands and beloved TV personalities, there are gentle ways to travel with care:

Walk when you can. Downtown Waco makes it easy to leave the car parked – whether in those free spots near the Silos or at your hotel.
Support local beyond the big names. Use Magnolia and Dr Pepper as anchors, then look for nearby independent cafés, bookstores, or makers to round out your day.
Tread lightly. Bring a reusable water bottle, skip unnecessary packaging where possible, and respect staff and fellow visitors doing their best to manage busy days.
Pause for context. Waco is more than its attractions. Take a moment to read local history plaques, learn about the Brazos River, or chat with a resident about how the city has changed.

Responsible travel is not about perfection; it is about presence.

The Takeaway

In one morning, Waco offered me a sparkling little narrative arc:

A heritage drink born at a local pharmacy that helped put the city on the map.
A pair of grain silos reborn as a lifestyle playground that now draws visitors from around the world.
A walkable downtown where you can move between the two without turning a key in the ignition.

I am here for another day with my Waco Adventure Pass in hand, ready to meet mammoths, rangers, and perhaps a few local stories that do not yet have their own TV show. For now, though, my first impression is clear: Waco is a place where past and present share the same street grid. Stay tuned – there is more Waco to wander.