HGTV has officially expanded its seasonal programming blueprint with a chilling new format that merges home renovation television with the paranormal. Titled A Very Haunted Renovation, the network’s latest project premiered on Tuesday, September 15, instantly setting a high bar for reality competition crossover concepts. The premise drops six elite designers and renovators into the heart of Bihl Manor—a historically infamous, highly active haunted residence located in the small town of Fremont, Ohio. Not only must these contestants completely overhaul the sprawling mansion for a chance at a $50,000 grand prize, but they are also required to live inside the dwelling for the duration of the intense production schedule.
To anchor this high-stakes, spine-tingling premise, HGTV tapped seasoned actress Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect, True Blood, You) to host her very first television series. Camp, a self-proclaimed paranormal enthusiast who admits to owning multiple Ouija boards and actively seeking out the supernatural, brings an infectious enthusiasm to the production. However, even a seasoned horror aficionado found the reality of Bihl Manor’s resident spirits a bit too close for comfort.
Beyond its magnetic host, the series boasts an impressive roster of star power, including design mentor Michel Smith Boyd and celebrity guest judges like Eli Roth, Jack Osbourne, Billy Porter, and Cassandra Peterson (better known as Elvira). As A Very Haunted Renovation makes its bold debut on HGTV and streaming platforms, it establishes an entirely new subgenre of reality television—one where high-end interior design meets genuine, unfiltered terror.
Detailed Chronology: The Haunting of Bihl Manor
The inception of A Very Haunted Renovation began long before the cameras rolled, rooted in the hunt for a location that could authentically terrify both cast and crew. Production scouts settled on Bihl Manor in Fremont, Ohio, a property with a long-standing local reputation for intense paranormal phenomena. Known among regional ghost hunters and paranormal researchers for chilling cold spots, sudden shifts in atmosphere, and unexplainable apparitions, the estate served as the ultimate canvas for HGTV’s ambitious crossover experiment.
When shooting commenced in September, the reality of the location immediately made its presence known. According to Camp, the inaugural day of production set an unsettling tone for the entire season. Every time the host or crew members uttered the word "ghost" or explicitly referenced the property’s supernatural history, critical infrastructure would fail.
"It was the first day of shooting. I found it really interesting that every time I would mention the ghosts or mention hauntings, we would lose power. The control room would lose power," Camp recalled during an interview detailing her time on set. "I had to wear an earwig, and then it would go out, and it was so funny because the producers were like, ‘It’s so interesting. It’s every time you say the word "ghost," things start to go crazy.’"
While Camp wisely negotiated a living arrangement away from the premises—admitting that no amount of financial compensation could convince her to sleep inside Bihl Manor—the six brave contestants had no such luxury. For weeks, the designers lived, breathed, and worked side-by-side with the unseen residents of the manor.
Contestants like Diana arrived fully prepared for the spiritual battleground, equipping themselves with specialized paranormal investigation tools such as dowsing rods and REM pods. Throughout the competition, these tools yielded eerie responses, culminating in physical manifestations like moving objects and control room power failures. Despite the psychological and supernatural toll, the designers successfully completed their work, ultimately transforming the dilapidated, history-laden mansion into a visually stunning modern masterpiece while striving to honor its haunted past.
Supporting Context & Metrics: A Star-Studded Cast and Crew
A Very Haunted Renovation distinguishes itself from standard home renovation competitions by assembling an elite roster of industry professionals and pop-culture icons. The production features a carefully curated mix of design expertise and horror genre royalty, ensuring broad appeal for both lifestyle television devotees and hardcore horror fans.
At the helm of the contestant guidance system is Michel Smith Boyd, a two-time champion of HGTV’s hit series Rock the Block. Boyd served as a mentor and judge, applying his notoriously meticulous eye for detail to the designers’ work. Camp noted that Boyd’s rigorous standards—ranging from saturation levels and crown molding precision to his signature affinity for semi-gloss ceilings—pushed the contestants to elevate their craftsmanship under immense psychological pressure.
The guest judge lineup reads like a who’s who of the horror and entertainment industries:
- Eli Roth: Famed horror auteur and director.
- Jack Osbourne: Paranormal investigator and television personality.
- Billy Porter: Emmy-winning style icon and actor, who guest-starred in an episode transforming the manor’s attic into a luxurious, high-concept speakeasy.
- Cassandra Peterson: The iconic mistress of the dark, Elvira.
- Lulu Wilson & Hannah Beachler: Acclaimed creative talents lending their critical eyes to the renovations.
For Anna Camp, stepping into the hosting spotlight for the first time was a deliberate choice. Despite fielding numerous hosting offers throughout her career, none had previously resonated with her personal interests. "When I got approached by HGTV to do A Very Haunted Renovation, I was like, ‘I would watch that show,’" Camp explained. Her genuine affinity for Halloween, the macabre, and architecture—bolstered by her ownership of a mid-century home in Palm Springs, California—provided an authentic foundation for her role.
Official Statements & Industry Perspectives
The convergence of cozy home improvement and bone-chilling terror has sparked considerable industry chatter. Camp’s transition from scripted drama and feature films into the unscripted hosting sphere highlights a growing trend of cross-genre talent integration on cable networks and streaming services.
Reflecting on her interactions with the guest judges and contestants, Camp emphasized the universal unease generated by Bihl Manor. "Everybody has the same [reaction] when they walk in. There’s just an eerie presence and feeling as soon as you walk in… There’s something there, for sure."
Beyond her duties with HGTV, Camp is concurrently capitalizing on a massive wave of momentum within the horror and thriller genres. Her recent career milestones include a celebrated, scene-stealing dual-role performance in the fifth and final season of Netflix’s psychological thriller series You, where she earned widespread acclaim as the internet’s choice for series MVP alongside star Penn Badgley.
Furthermore, Camp checked off a monumental item on her professional bucket list by joining the cast of Paramount Pictures’ Scream 7, where she stepped beneath the iconic white mask to play the legendary Ghostface killer. Describing the experience as an absolute surreal moment, Camp recalled her first costume fitting: "I’m standing in my first costume fitting and I just was looking out through the eyes of the mask and I was like, ‘This is absolutely surreal that I’m getting to do this.’ I had such an amazing time shooting it and loved working with Neve Campbell."
Camp is also set to return to the stage in New York City, starring in an intimate off-Broadway run of the supernatural thriller play 2:22 – A Ghost Story at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in the West Village, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to storytelling rooted in the paranormal.
Future Outlook & Franchise Potential
With the debut episode of A Very Haunted Renovation now streaming on HBO Max and new episodes airing weekly on HGTV, industry analysts are closely monitoring whether this spooky hybrid format can sustain long-term ratings growth. Given the immense popularity of true-crime, paranormal investigation, and home renovation programming individually, their fusion under a single narrative umbrella presents a lucrative path forward for Warner Bros. Discovery.
When asked about the potential future of the franchise and where a hypothetical second season might take the production team, Camp offered ambitious geographic suggestions rooted deeply in American folklore and paranormal lore. "Well, we were in Ohio. How about New Orleans? I mean, talk about a haunted city. I’m from Charleston, South Carolina, another very haunted city. So somewhere like that I think would be really, really, really cool."
As for her own career trajectory, Camp remains open to future hosting opportunities under the right creative conditions, though her primary focus remains rooted in complex character work across film, television, and theater. Whether she is dodging spiritual interference in an Ohio mansion, terrorizing Woodsboro as Ghostface, or commanding the stage in a West Village ghost story, Anna Camp has firmly solidified her status as the reigning queen of genre-spanning entertainment.
A Very Haunted Renovation airs new episodes on Tuesdays at 8/7c on HGTV, with streaming availability on HBO Max.
