Todd and Julie Chrisley Plan to Rebuild in Charleston with Mansion‑to‑Hotel Venture and New Reality Series
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
30 June 2025
Todd and Julie Chrisley are embarking on a bold new chapter after receiving a full presidential pardon on May 28 moving away from Nashville and toward Charleston, their home state of South Carolina, where they intend to purchase a mansion and convert it into a boutique hotel as the centerpiece of a forthcoming television series for Lifetime.
After serving nearly 28 months in federal prison for bank fraud and tax evasion, the couple wasted no time in resuming their televised story: cameras began rolling the moment they stepped back into family life. That footage is shaping a new docuseries tentatively titled The Chrisleys: Life After Lockup, capturing their reintegration and focusing on their adult daughter Savannah’s role as caretaker during their absence.
In a conversation with ABC News Studios, Todd, 56, shared their vision: “We have hopes of acquiring a hotel, a mansion there, that we are gonna convert into a hotel, and we’re gonna create a show around that”. By combining real estate, hospitality, and reality television, the Chrisleys are leveraging their brand in a creative fusion of personal redemption and entrepreneurial vision.
Although Savannah, 27, managed the family’s Nashville estate maintaining their Belle Meade home and caring for her younger siblings, she's now embracing independence. "I'm moving into a condo," she revealed, expressing relief at no longer overseeing maintenance tasks like landscapers and pool upkeep. This move underscores a generational shift, marking her transformation from caretaker to content creator and independent adult.
The couple’s commitment to rediscovering roots in Charleston reflects a personal and strategic choice. Todd noted they've felt a pull back toward South Carolina, even as they plan to maintain a presence in Nashville. The new location offers creative and financial possibilities. A Historic mansion-turned-hotel supports their lifestyle and provides ideal real estate for televised storytelling. Architects and production teams will likely join the renovation process, fueling both narrative and authenticity of the series.
This isn’t the Chrisleys’ first reality venture. Their original series, Chrisley Knows Best, aired for ten successful seasons from 2014 to 2023. Following their convictions, the show ended, but now, with pardons and a fresh storyline, the new Lifetime series represents redemption in both literal and figurative structural terms.
Broadening their brand strategy, the mansion-hotel concept allows the couple to pivot from scandal to sustainability. Hotels rely on careful hospitality, local partnerships, and guest experiences areas aligning with Todd’s former real estate background. They also provide access to new revenue streams such as event hosting and regional tourism, while the show doubles as marketing.
That’s not all. Daughter Chase, 28, who filled his parents' roles as entrepreneur and executive producer during the incarceration period, will likely continue to play a pivotal role. On the ABC conversation, Todd praised Savannah and Chase for their maturity and resilience. Savannah’s condo move and Chase’s business ventures from roofing to a zero-alcohol seltzer line signal a family evolving beyond televised melodrama into active commerce.
Yet the Chrisleys are not without public challenges. Critics may view the new series and hospitality plan as opportunistic or dependent on a scandal comeback. A PR expert cited by CinemaBlend cautioned that "redemption must be earned through genuine effort rather than flashy appearances," advising that humility and hard work must underpin the comeback narrative. Todd and Julie appear to have taken that advice to heart, framing the Charleston hotel project as both business venture and authentic life rebuilding.
The timing and scale of the move are critical. They will involve purchasing a historic property, navigating zoning and hospitality regulations, and filming a renovation all while balancing public perception and family healing. Savannah’s shift to condo living may also influence the series’ tone, as it creates contrast between the couple’s ambitious plans and the children’s drive toward normalcy.
The choice of Charleston, rather than high-profile resort towns like Charleston or Savannah, also signals humility. Though affluent, Charleston offers charm and regional allure without the glare of global tourism hotspots. That may align well with a story about forging new roots, not chasing fame.
If successful, the Chrisleys could expand their post-pardon brand beyond reality TV and hospitality. The mosque-turned-mansion could host retreats, partner with local vendors, or inspire additional spinoffs. Their step into boutique hospitality could signal entrepreneurial ambition that outlasts TV cycles.
At its heart, this is a story of transformation. From reality TV fame to federal convictions, from prison cells to presidential pardon, the Chrisleys are now choosing action over apology. The mansion hotel and Lifetime docuseries may not erase the past but they offer a framework for writing a new chapter: one built on restoration, family bonds, and creative resilience.
Observers will be watching: can the couple navigate the demands of restoration and hospitality while sustaining public trust? Will Savannah and Chase thrive in independence alongside their parents' ambitions? If Todd and Julie succeed, they won't just be characters in a story they'll have authored a comeback built on bricks, cameras, and reclaimed legacy.