Why Did Jill Wagner Leave L.A.? Actress Opens Up About Moving to Tennessee With Her Family

Jill Wagner is one of the most famous faces on Great American Family, but the actress has opted to live in a home away from the Hollywood gaze.

Wagner and her family planted their roots at a beautiful property called Scott Mansion Farms in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. It was nearly a decade ago that the Hallmark alum decided to settle in the small town and start a new chapter on the farm.

The “200-acre farm offers a unique blend of history, adventure and rural tranquility,” per the farm’s official website.

Wagner admitted that the property needed some renovations when she first moved in, but she’s been more than happy with the outcome of the project.

“When we bought this farm in 2016 we didn’t know what God had in store for us … we just knew we wanted to be good Shepherds to the land and bring the mansion back to life,” she said in a statement via the farm’s website. “After years of renovations and prayer we have decided to open the farm and invite people to join us in raising money and awareness for different charities through special events that we hold here. We welcome you to our home and hope our farm brings you many good memories with family and friends.”

Keep scrolling for more on Wagner’s move to Tennessee:

Why Did Jill Wagner Leave L.A.?

Wagner was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, but moved to L.A. to pursue a career in entertainment. She began acting in the early 2000s, and, after 20 years of living in Hollywood, she was ready for a change of pace.

“L.A. held a very special place in my heart for my 20s and my 30s. But I’m a small town girl at heart. That’s where I feel comfortable,” the Mystery 101 star told People in August 2025.

Because she grew up in such a small town, Wagner told the outlet she was “starved of the things” she was used to when she lived in L.A.

Jill Wagner Opened Up About Raising Her Kids on the Farm

Wagner and her husband, David Lemanowicz, fell in love with Scott Mansion Farms when they first visited the property around 2016. They decided it was the perfect place to raise a family. (The pair share daughters Army and Daisy, born in 2020 and 2021, respectively, as well as David’s teen daughter, Lija, from a previous marriage.)

“We wanted a family, and I saw my children running around in the front yard,” Wagner told People. “I knew it could be fixed. And I wanted to be the one to restore this piece of history.”

Another thing Wagner loves about living in Tellico Plains is its close proximity to Nashville.

“I feel like country music is in my bones, so I visit Nashville as often as I can,” she told The Tennessean in March 2023. “I love the music scene there.”

A History of Scott Mansion Farms

The farm’s website recalls the story of Charles Abner Scott, who came to Tellico Plains in the 1890s and helped develop the town.

“He sold off or donated vast amounts of his 15,000 acres to expand the town,” the website says. “He recruited the Stokely Company and financed a local school. His progressive experimentation with lime fertilizer, crops and breeds of cattle influenced regional farming techniques.”

The synopsis continues, “And he constructed the stunning Neo-Classical Revival mansion between 1908-1912, which is the centerpiece of the property today. This elegant home, now part of the National Historic Registry, was meticulously rehabilitated over two years by Jill and David, who currently reside on the aptly named, Scott Mansion Farm.”