Erin Napier links Laurel Mississippi hotel fire to insurance wait

laurel mississippi’s Heirloom Hotel caught fire on Aug. 26, 2025, just before the 29-room boutique project was expected to open. No one was hurt because the building was empty. The fire left the former Kress department store with significant fire and water damage.

Heirloom Hotel Fire

Erin and Ben Napier had spent years turning the vacant downtown landmark into what they described as Laurel’s gem. The former Kress department store had stood empty for 40 years, and the hotel renovation became their biggest project to date.

The fire department fought the blaze for nearly two hours before calling in reinforcements from the Ellisville Fire Department. Later, investigators determined the fire was accidental and caused by an electrical issue.

Downtown Laurel Project

The hotel was part of the Napiers’ work to restore a long-vacant building in a town of approximately 18,000 people in Jones County. The project also included a store downstairs and a cooking school prepared for events.

Before the fire, the property had been nearly ready for guests. After the damage, the timeline for repair and opening for guests is not available.

In a trailer for the first episode of the four-part series, Erin Napier said, “It doesn't matter how much progress we see in downtown Laurel. As long as its most iconic building stands vacant and empty and dilapidated, we will not feel like we've really done something,” and the show’s finale will air soon.

Insurance Wait

In October, the Heirloom Hotel’s Facebook page posted, “If the Lord’s willing, we will keep building!” On Sunday, May 10, Erin Napier replied that “There is nothing but waiting now to see what happens with insurance,” leaving the next step tied to the claim process rather than a reopening date.