Media Contact: Sherry Wallace
Eddy Alexander
New Magnolia Network Television Series with Local Eureka Business to Begin Production This Fall
A sneak peek preview of The Craftsman, featuring Eric Hollenbeck of Blue Ox Millworks, to be released Friday, September 3 on discovery+
Eureka, Calif. – August 30, 2021 – The City of Eureka, California, Visit Eureka, and the Humboldt Del Norte Film Commission join with Blue Ox Millworks and the Hollenbeck family in celebrating the upcoming release of a preview episode of The Craftsman, a new TV series from Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network that will feature their custom millworks business and the local non-profit Blue Ox Historic Village. The show’s pilot episode will be made available this Friday, September 3, 2021 streaming exclusively on discovery+ and the Magnolia app. The Craftsman will begin production in Eureka in fall 2021. The rest of the nine-episode season is scheduled to air in 2022 on Magnolia Network.
“This is an exciting development for both Blue Ox and the City of Eureka,” said Viviana Hollenbeck, who along with her husband Eric, owns Blue Ox Millworks. “Eric’s tremendous knowledge about so many traditional arts, combined with his incredible story-telling talent is going to make a very fun series. Our personal commitment to craftsmanship and community are key aspects of the series. We are looking forward to sharing our gorgeous town with the world, including our unique and wonderful architecture, outstanding natural beauty, and the strong artisan community.”
Blue Ox Millworks was founded in the early 1970s by Eric Hollenbeck, who had the vision to construct a Victorian-era mill in the City of Eureka, California. He wanted to preserve the tools, craftsmanship, and traditions of the Victorian-era trades and saw an opportunity to produce quality custom woodworking that would help maintain the area’s unique historic buildings and to help preserve the national historic trust.
Over the last nearly fifty years, Blue Ox Millworks has offered custom woodworking solutions for clients all over the country. After operating a school program for 30 years, the Hollenbecks formed the non-profit Blue Ox Historic Village and School in 2014 to take over all educational aspects of Blue Ox, including the school programs, tours, workshops, and the radio station. Blue Ox continues to offer traditional arts classes and workshops which are offered to the general public and include woodworking, blacksmithing, bookbinding, and ceramics.
“We specialize in quality woodworking and keep a deep respect for our community and our environment at the front of everything we do,” said Founder Eric Hollenbeck. “We are thrilled that the Magnolia Network was able to see the importance of craftsmanship being a part of the future.”
To learn more about how to watch The Craftsman premiere, go to www.discoveryplus.com.
For more information on Blue Ox’s millwork projects visit www.blueoxmill.com and to learn more about Blue Ox tours, classes, and workshops, visit www.blueoxvillage.org.
To learn about other films, shows, and popular productions that have been filmed in Eureka, CA and the surrounding areas, visit https://hdnfc.org/mapofthemovies or download the “Map of the Movies” app now available on IOS.
To discover all there is to see and do in the City of Eureka, California on your next visit, check out www.visiteureka.com
ABOUT THE CITY OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA
As the county seat of world-famous Humboldt County, California, The City of Eureka (Pop. 27k) is the heart of the US Redwood Coast. Eureka is the market and cultural center of a beautiful region filled with iconic redwoods, the world’s tallest trees, and stunningly beautiful, rugged, and remote ocean landscapes. Eureka is the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland and a frequent stopover point for road trippers exploring the Pacific Northwest.
Culturally protected by the ‘redwood curtain,’ the city is most famous for its unique Victorian architecture, one-of-a-kind shops and artisanal businesses, and its rich, authentic history. Learn more at visiteureka.com.