Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network is no stranger to eye-catching unscripted TV, but “Back to the Frontier” might just be their most daring project yet. The series drops three modern American families into the 1880s and strips away every modern comfort—no running water, no electricity, and definitely no quick trips to the store.
“Three American families leave the 21st century behind and attempt to survive as 1880s homesteaders – without running water or electricity,” the official synopsis explains. “They tackle historical challenges and learn the skills that frontier families needed to survive a long winter.”
Inspired by the Homestead Act of 1862, the social experiment highlights how families would have lived more than a century ago—testing their endurance, family bonds, and willingness to adapt. Filmed outside Calgary, Canada, the series blends history with reality TV, and the families left with unforgettable lessons.
How the Families of ‘Back to the Frontier’ Adapted
Three families—the Hanna-Riggs from Texas, the Lopers from Alabama, and the Halls from Florida—signed up to trade in modern life for eight weeks on the frontier. Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs thought the challenge would be a good lesson in responsibility for their 10-year-old twin boys, Ethan and Lucas. But the hardest part ended up being something else entirely: figuring out how to navigate the rigid gender roles of the 1880s.
“In the 21st century, we really divided pretty much everything equally. It’s the way it’s always been,” Joe Riggs explained to PopCulture.com. “So having to say, ‘One parent is responsible for the kids’ was a foreign concept.”
At first, their sons resented the experiment. But as Joe noted, caring for animals eventually gave them purpose: “Once our juices kind of got flowing, then all of a sudden they want a window, they want to make all these little projects … so they want to participate.”
For Jereme and Lina Hall and their three children, adapting was smoother. “We’re handy, so we’re not afraid to take on a project and just figure it out,” Jereme said. Their DIY skills made the transition less daunting.
The Lopers faced a unique perspective as a Black family, reflecting on the struggles and opportunities of Black homesteaders in post-slavery America. Stacey Loper, who runs a therapy practice, admitted the work was a culture shock. “My day-to-day looks like I would wake up and my husband would have my coffee at my bed … The first day, I cried,” she shared. Yet by the end, her resilience impressed everyone.
The Families Dish On the Biggest Challenges and Lasting Lessons
Each family had their fair share of struggles—whether it was moving into half-finished cabins, stretching a tight budget, or learning to live without modern tech. But in the end, they all discovered something meaningful. The Hanna-Riggs twins took to outdoor survival like pros, the Hall kids found joy in crafts and even teaching, and the Loper children loved nothing more than swimming in the river and forming bonds that will stick with them.
Stacey admitted milking a cow became one of her proudest achievements. “By the end of the experiment, she and the family cow, Big Shirley, were two peas in a pod,” she laughed.
Beyond survival skills, the show gave families deeper appreciation for one another and for history. Stacey said the experience connected her to her ancestors’ resilience. “I now understand the healing that needed to take place for those people who were coming out of slavery … I got so much more out of this experience than I expected.”
“Back to the Frontier” is now streaming on HBO Max.
