REPAIR DESPAIR American Pickers star Mike Wolfe’s remodel of 151-year-old $700k Tennessee home fails inspection after electrical issue

AMERICAN Pickers star Michael Wolfe is restoring a 151-year-old home in Columbia, Tennessee worth $700,000.

Mike, 60, has updated fans through Instagram on the home’s construction with photos of the remodel, as he continues his efforts to restore the sleepy town of Columbia, Tennessee.

But The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal the American Pickers star hit a bump in the renovation process by failing a recent inspection.

The U.S. Sun obtained a building permit on the home filed in April 2024 for a remodel and repair of the tower and front porch.

On July 8, the home underwent an inspection by the city of Columbia.

The inspection failed for “framing and building,” per the inspection record, which noted that new electrical wiring had been installed possibly outside of the proper procedure.

Mike also needed “at least one more rafter tie near the northwest corner.”

Fortunately for the History Channel star, an inspection on July 10 for framing and building passed.

Final building and project inspections remain unscheduled.

HISTORIC HOME
Mike, 60, purchased the 3,166-square-foot house for $700,000 on May 20, 2022.

The brick home features three bathrooms, a basement, a wood deck, a detached carport, a cabana, utility building and more amenities.

Mike began to restore the historic house two years after purchasing the property.

The U.S. Sun obtained exclusive photos of Mike extending the home’s entrance into a turret, which is a small tower typically seen in castles.

Mike also appears to have added an awning to the front porch area.

In September, Mike posted photos of the outside of the home under construction with a newspaper clipping of the original property.

He also gave a sneak peek inside the home, as he showed off the floor-length window and fireplace.

“The 1873 Italianate I’ve been working on for a few yes in Columbia TN is coming together. This house was missing the tower and the porch. The millwork along with the craftsmanship of the masonry has brought it back to its formal glory,” Mike explained.

“Places like this to me belong to the community People come and go we’re all just caretakers. In the end the properties endure if we prioritize their significance to each towns story.”

Mike also wrote on Instagram in June about rebuilding the original tower, saying he was “beyond Excited to finally start the process of installing Cupola on this 1873 Italianate.”

“This very historic part of the house has been missing for decades and I’m honored to be the one that brings it back to its original state,” he added.

“We will keep you up to date on the progress. Columbia has many historic districts to explore come see what the excitement is all about.”

KING OF COLUMBIA
Mike, who lives 40 minutes away from Columbia in a $1 million mansion in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, has been bringing business to the town in recent years.

Mike owns vacation rental Two Lanes and his car garage Columbia Motor Alley just blocks away from the home.

He is also the landlord of several properties rented out by Muletown Coffee, Packard Playhouse, and other local businesses.

Mike also owns a $600,000 property that used to be a wine bar.

For the outside area, he has a stage, fire pit, wooden pergola built, new pavers and greenery.

In photos obtained by The U.S. Sun, the American Pickers star added two vintage red and white gas pumps to the outdoor space.

A source told The U.S. Sun Mike’s project to revamp Columbia is “costing $93 million.”

The insider added, “The town is happy Mike is taking this on to help bring new life to Columbia.”

But a second insider claimed, “It’s kind of interesting because a lot of people don’t want change and some people do, so we’re in that flux.”

In addition to Mike’s business, new companies are opening in the town, including a doughnut shop.

The source continued, “They are building a six-story condo with a restaurant. Next to that is going to be a car place.

“The town is changing rapidly.”

When Mike isn’t working on his properties, he’s traveling around the country picking antiques for American Pickers.

American Pickers stars Mike, Robbie Wolfe, Jon “Jersey Jon” Szalay, and Danielle Colby.

He revealed on Instagram that the show will be returning this fall.