The Heirloom Hotel in downtown Laurel, Mississippi, is a boutique hotel created by HGTV’s Home Town stars Erin and Ben Napier, along with their business partners. The massive restoration transformed the historic 1930s Kress department store into a 29-bedroom hotel. Unfortunately, a devastating accidental electrical fire in August 2025 heavily damaged the property, leaving the insurance claim and rebuilding process ongoing. The entire restoration and ultimate demise of the building were featured on the HGTV series Home Town: Inn This Together, starring the Napirs and the vested families, Joshua and Emily Nowell, and Jim and Mallorie Rasberry.
Since the June 2026 series finale of HGTV’s Home Town: Inn This Together, the public has been aware of the stalemate in the insurance claim. Nearly a year later, the insurance provider has still not approved the claim, causing significant delays in the rebuilding process. The local Laurel community, along with fans across the country, has rallied behind the team with immense support. Amos Sledge, an 11-year-old, took it upon himself to write a letter of support to Liberty Mutual to help his family’s friends and the state of Mississippi.
“My parents met Ben and Ering a couple of years ago, and became good friends,” shared Sledge. “I’ve been on a couple of the Home Town episodes, too.”
Sledge learned that the Heirloom Hotel had been destroyed in a devastating fire while visiting Laurel with his family.
“We were going to Laurel for Mrs. Erin’s birthday, and my mother told me that they were working really, really hard on this hotel, but it had burned to the ground,” shared Sledge.
The impact of the fire didn’t resonate with Sledge until he watched the project unfold on Home Town: Inn This Together with the rest of America.
“At first, I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was, but watching the episodes, it is just heartbreaking seeing how hard they worked and what they did,” shared Sledge. “They put it all on the line for Laurel to have a hotel downtown, and then it just went to nothing.”
Like so many others, Sledge felt frustrated to hear that the insurance claim was stalling the hotel’s rebuild. With his mom’s help, he decided to write a letter to the head of the insurance company, pleading for them to “do the right thing.”
“I wanted to explain to them that if they would do the right thing, it would show that they are a different insurance company,” explained Sledge. “And I said, the show and the hotel are a beacon of light for our state and nation, because our country has been going through a rough time right now. But this show and the hotel show what true friendship and hard work can do.”
Sledge and his family mailed the original handwritten letter to Liberty Mutual’s Board of Trustees and CEO, and reserved copies for sharing. While they haven’t heard back, the conversation Sledge has created online is keeping the project in the spotlight. And while Sledge wanted the letter to snag the insurance company’s attention, he didn’t want to see any backlash from the public.
“The purpose of this was not to put Liberty Mutual under a ton of pressure,” explained Sledge. “I don’t want people to quit using them. I just wanted to ask respectfully, would they consider the claim and please accept it, to do the right thing.”
Despite the holdup on the claim, the team remains focused, working to “keep building” as much as possible while waiting out the insurance company.
