MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Season 13 of the hit show Barnwood Builders is ready to launch.
Greenbrier County resident Mark Bowe and his West Virginia based crew have become a hit travelling across the country delicately demolishing 100-plus-year-old cabins and repurposing them elsewhere with a completely new lease on life.
“It can be bitter sweet because this was craftsmanship from the 1800s, but we also have to note, the cabins we are taking down, don’t have a whole lot of life left in them. Most of them are abandoned,” said Bowe in a recent appearance on MetroNews Talkline.
The hit WV-based TV Show “Barnwood Builders” is moving from the DIY channel to the Magnolia network. The new season starts Thursday, April 7. @MarkBowe joins @HoppyKercheval to discuss what we should expect from the new season. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/uSBlA4ONIl
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) March 24, 2022
Bowe considers himself a combination of a contractor, builder, and historian. The combination extends to his crew who have a wide knowledge of the 17th Century building techniques and are often forced to improvise when certain parts of a cabin can’t be saved.
“I can’t call the box store and tell them I need a beam from a tree that started growling in the 1600’s, 20 feet long, with a dovetail cut on a 15 degree angle,” Bowe laughed while discussing the predicaments they often find themselves facing.
Through 13 seasons, Bowe and his crew have taken down or put up more than 500 cabins and a lot of those were in West Virginia. This year’s season will include the largest frame build they’ve ever done on a project in Greenbrier County. Two other episodes are shot on the company’s boneyard north of White Sulphur Springs. The rest are on the road in other parts of the country. Bowe said there are some great stories to tell.
“We’re down in Wise, Virginia filming an episode and we found this old button which didn’t seem like a big deal, but we realized the great, great grandfather of the people who own this place his wife had her picture made with a blouse that had that button on it,” Bowe explained.
Another change for this year’s season is the show has moved from the DIY Network to the Magnolia Network. Bowe explained it’s the same network, but the name has changed and so has the ownership. Magnolia offers a wider range of viewing options and platforms. Bowe added the creative style is much different as well.
“They’re really interested in telling stories, and six hillbillies can tell a story. Each of us has our own unique upbringing and what’s really cool about it is this year that is being embraced,” he said.
The show also moves to a new time slot and a new day. It will air Thursday’s at 9 p.m. As always, Bowe can’t believe it all.
“A half a Billion people will have access to the Magnolia channel and we are holding and waving that West Virginia flag baby,” he said.