You remember the episode. It was Season 3, Episode 11 of Fixer Upper. Chip Gaines, in his usual high-energy fashion, introduces us to "Waco’s Most Eligible Bachelor." That was David Ridley Waco TX back in 2016. He was the guy who moved back from the high-stakes world of New York City modeling and real estate to find a slower pace in Texas.
People still search for him. Why? Maybe because he represented a specific kind of dream: the successful guy who realizes the city isn't everything and comes home to build something real. But if you think his story ended when the cameras stopped rolling on that lakefront "bachelor pad," you've only got about 10% of the narrative.
The "Bachelor Pad" That Didn't Stay One for Long
The house itself was a vibe. We’re talking a $272,000 all-in budget for a property near Lake Waco. Chip and Joanna Gaines turned a somewhat dated ranch into a modern, masculine retreat. It had that double island in the kitchen—which was basically the holy grail of Fixer Upper design at the time—and a massive backyard that David’s dad helped turn into an athletic complex with basketball and volleyball courts.
Honestly, it was the ultimate setup for a single guy. But life has a funny way of pivoting just when you think you’ve settled into a routine.
David didn't stay a bachelor. Not even close. Within a year of the show airing, the man who had supposedly "given up on marriage" met Rachel Rich, a schoolteacher from Alabama. They were introduced by a mutual friend, and things moved fast. By July 2017, they were married.
From HGTV Fame to Waco Tours
One of the most interesting things about David Ridley Waco TX is how he leveraged his 15 minutes of fame. He didn't just sit in his nice house; he saw a gap in the local market. Waco was exploding because of the "Magnolia effect." People were flocking to town, and they didn't just want to see the Silos—they wanted to see the houses from the show.
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David co-founded Waco Tours.
He teamed up with Luke and Rachel Whyte (another couple who had their home featured on the show). They started driving fans around in vans, showing them the sights and sharing behind-the-scenes stories. It wasn't just a business; it was a hospitality play. If you ever took one of those tours in the early days, there was a good chance David himself was your guide, wearing the branded polo and smiling through questions about what Chip is "really like."
Why He Actually Left Waco
For someone so synonymous with the Waco revitalization, it surprised people when David moved away. If you look for him in McLennan County today, you won't find him.
The couple moved to Birmingham, Alabama.
It wasn't a business failure or a falling out with the Gaines family. It was simpler. Family. David felt "led" to move to his wife’s home state. Today, he’s a realtor in the Birmingham area, specializing in places like Hoover and Chelsea. He’s essentially taken the skills he learned in New York and the brand he built in Texas and applied them to the Alabama suburbs.
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He still owns that famous Fixer Upper house, though. They use it as a home base when they come back to Texas to visit family.
The NYC Past Nobody Mentions
Before the cameras, before the lake house, David lived a life that felt a world away from central Texas. He spent years in Manhattan. He worked as a model. He did real estate in one of the most cutthroat markets on the planet starting around 2002.
But there’s a deeper layer to that New York stint. David has been open in interviews (specifically on podcasts like How to Fairytale and with faith-based groups) about the fact that his time in NYC wasn't all glamorous. He’s talked about struggling with the lifestyle there—drugs and alcohol were part of the equation. Coming back to Waco wasn't just a career move; it was a recovery move. It was about finding his footing again.
Where David Ridley is in 2026
If you’re looking for the "Bachelor" now, he’s a "Girl Dad." He and Rachel have two daughters, Ayla Rose and Georgia. His social media—once filled with shots of the modern ranch—is now a mix of Birmingham real estate listings and family photos at local parks.
He’s active in the "Faith Driven Investor" community and often speaks about leadership and corporate culture. It’s a far cry from being the guy Chip Gaines joked about on national TV, but it seems a lot more sustainable.
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Realities of the David Ridley Story:
- The Bachelor Pad: It’s still in the family but serves as a secondary residence/legacy property.
- The Business: Waco Tours remains a staple of the Waco tourism scene, though David is less involved in day-to-day operations from Alabama.
- The Career: He is a full-time Realtor in Birmingham, AL, licensed under the name David Ridley (License #144198-1).
Actionable Insights for Fans and Homeowners
If you're following the David Ridley Waco TX story because you want to replicate his success—either in real estate or in getting on a show like Fixer Upper—there are a few takeaways.
- Brand is portable. David proved that being "the guy from that show" is a great icebreaker, but you need the actual expertise (like his 20+ years in real estate) to close deals.
- Market timing matters. He caught the Waco wave at the absolute peak. If you're looking to start a niche tourism business, look for areas with "cult" followings that lack infrastructure.
- The "Fixer Upper" effect is real but expensive. Maintaining a home with that much custom work and public interest requires a budget far beyond the initial renovation.
If you are looking to find David for real estate needs, you’ll want to search for his listings in the Hoover, Alabama area rather than Texas. He has successfully transitioned from a TV character to a local industry expert in a completely different market.
Check out the original Season 3 episode if you want to see the house, but remember that the person on the screen was in a massive state of transition that the editors didn't fully capture. His real "happily ever after" happened about 600 miles east of the Magnolia Silos.
To get started on your own property journey, you can look into the current Birmingham market trends which mirror some of the growth patterns David saw in Waco a decade ago. It’s all about finding the next "undervalued" pocket before the rest of the world catches on.