Michael Cordray is an American historic-home renovator, real estate developer, preservationist and television personality best known for starring alongside his wife, Ashley Cordray, on Magnolia Network’s Restoring Galveston.
A fifth-generation Galveston Islander, Michael has spent much of his career rescuing old cottages, Victorian houses and other historic properties that might otherwise have been demolished or lost to neglect.
Together, Michael and Ashley run Save 1900, a Galveston-based restoration and real-estate business that has expanded from residential renovations into vacation rentals, hospitality projects and historic commercial properties.
His television career grew naturally from that work. What began as a passion for restoring neglected homes eventually became a nationally distributed renovation series and a collection of businesses tied closely to Galveston’s history.
Readers interested in more profiles of television personalities and entrepreneurs can explore FameMystery.
Michael Cordray Quick Info
| Quick Info | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Cordray |
| Nickname | Mike |
| Date of Birth | March 18, 1982 |
| Age | 44 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Galveston Island, Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Renovator, preservationist, realtor, real estate developer, TV personality |
| Known For | Restoring Galveston |
| Education | Texas A&M University at Galveston |
| Degree | B.S. in Maritime Administration |
| Graduation Year | 2006 |
| Wife | Ashley Cordray |
| Marriage Date | April 4, 2014 |
| Children | Three daughters |
| Daughters | Elle, Emma and Emory |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 11 in (180 cm), according to third-party profiles |
| Business | Save 1900 |
| Other Ventures | Cordray Drug Store, vacation rentals, hospitality projects |
| TV Show | Restoring Galveston |
| Residence/Base | Galveston Island, Texas |
| Reported Net Worth | Roughly $1.5–$3 million combined household estimates online; not independently verified |
Who Is Michael Cordray?
Michael Cordray is a Galveston-based historic preservationist who became a television personality through his work restoring aging homes around the Texas Gulf Coast.
He is best known as one half of the husband-and-wife team behind Restoring Galveston, where he handles much of the construction, structural planning, demolition and restoration work while Ashley focuses heavily on design, layout and styling.
Their work is more than conventional house flipping.
Many of the homes featured in their projects date from the late 1800s or early 1900s, meaning the couple frequently deals with weather damage, unusual construction methods, original architectural materials and decades of deterioration.
Michael’s connection to Galveston also runs deeper than business. The research supplied for this biography describes him as a fifth-generation island resident, commonly known locally as a “B.O.I.,” meaning “Born on Island.”
Michael Cordray’s Early Life and Galveston Roots
Michael Cordray was born on March 18, 1982, on Galveston Island in Texas, according to the biographical research supplied for this article.
Galveston wasn’t simply where he grew up. His family had longstanding ties to the island.
His father, Emil Cordray, owned rental properties and introduced Michael to practical maintenance and construction skills while he was still young. Working around those properties reportedly gave Michael experience with plumbing, carpentry, electrical work and general repairs.
That early exposure later became useful when he began restoring neglected historic homes professionally.
Michael’s father died on August 22, 2007.
His mother, Helen “Bootsie” Cordray, has remained part of the family’s public story and has appeared in connection with Restoring Galveston. One project, known as “Bootsie’s Bungalow,” involved Michael and Ashley working on Michael’s childhood home for his mother.
The Cordray name also has a commercial history in Galveston.
Michael’s family once operated the original Cordray Drug Store, which reportedly served the island between 1918 and 1965. Decades later, Michael and Ashley revived that family name through one of their own business projects.
Michael Cordray’s Education
Michael attended Texas A&M University at Galveston, often abbreviated TAMUG.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Administration and graduated with the class of 2006.
This detail is supported in the research dossier by a Texas A&M Foundation feature, which is considerably stronger evidence than some online biographies that incorrectly describe his college field as journalism.
Texas A&M Foundation’s feature on Michael and Ashley Cordray documents their university connection and early professional background.
His degree also makes sense in the context of his first full-time career.
After university, Michael did not immediately become a television renovator or real estate personality.
He entered the maritime industry.
Michael Cordray’s Career Before Television
Following his 2006 graduation, Michael worked for Kirby Inland Marine, a major transportation company operating in the inland marine industry.
He reportedly remained in the maritime field until around 2014–2015.
The job would eventually affect his personal life as well as his career because Kirby is where Michael and Ashley crossed paths professionally.
Despite having a stable corporate job, Michael continued working on houses.
The couple’s restoration story began modestly. According to the supplied research, Michael and Ashley purchased their first run-down Galveston property only a couple of months after they began dating in 2011.
They worked on properties outside their normal working hours, gradually building practical experience and confidence.
Eventually, renovation stopped being a side project.
It became their full-time business.
How Save 1900 Began
Michael and Ashley developed their restoration operation under the name Save 1900.
The business focuses on purchasing and restoring historic Galveston homes, particularly cottages, bungalows and Victorian properties at risk of disappearing through deterioration or demolition.
According to the supplied research, Ashley encouraged Michael to leave his stable Kirby Inland Marine career around 2015 so the couple could focus fully on their growing restoration business.
That was a significant decision.
Leaving a predictable corporate job for historic-property renovation carried obvious financial risk, particularly because old houses can reveal expensive structural problems once restoration begins.
But the move eventually opened the door to television.
The company’s name also reflects Galveston history. The research dossier connects Save 1900 with the devastating 1900 Galveston hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Readers can learn more about the company through the official Save 1900 website.
From Saving Galveston to Big Texas Fix
Michael and Ashley’s unusual restoration work eventually caught the attention of television producers.
During roughly 2016–2017, production companies began showing interest in turning their Galveston renovations into a television concept.
An early pilot was developed under the name Saving Galveston.
The program later reached television audiences as Big Texas Fix, which premiered on DIY Network in 2019.
That history explains why viewers occasionally find Michael and Ashley associated with three different television titles.
They aren’t necessarily three unrelated programs.
The project evolved through different names and network branding before becoming the show viewers now recognize as Restoring Galveston.
Michael Cordray on Restoring Galveston
Restoring Galveston follows Michael and Ashley as they rescue neglected houses around Galveston Island.
The program later became part of Magnolia Network, while episodes have also been made available through streaming platforms associated with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Michael is generally the construction-focused half of the partnership.
His work includes:
- Structural repairs
- Demolition planning
- Construction
- Architectural salvage
- Rebuilding
- Restoring historic materials
- Solving practical problems inside old houses
Ashley typically takes a stronger role in:
- Interior design
- Space planning
- Color and finishes
- Vintage styling
- Layout decisions
- Decorative restoration
That division of responsibilities gives the show much of its personality.
Rather than simply replacing everything inside an old home with modern materials, the Cordrays frequently try to retain or reuse historically appropriate doors, flooring, woodwork, windows and architectural details.
The research dossier identifies seven seasons of the series through the 2025–2026 period.
Viewers can also consult episode listings through TV Guide’s Restoring Galveston guide.
Major Projects and Business Expansion
Television isn’t Michael Cordray’s only source of professional activity.
Over time, Michael and Ashley expanded beyond individual residential renovations.
Cordray Drug Store
One of their best-known commercial ventures is the revived Cordray Drug Store.
The project uses the Cordray family name and pays tribute to the earlier family drugstore that operated in Galveston during the 20th century.
The restored business was developed as a family-friendly ice cream and soda-shop concept.
It also represents something unusual about Michael’s career: his historic preservation work increasingly blends real estate, family history, tourism and hospitality.
Vacation Rentals
The Cordrays have also developed restored properties as short-term vacation accommodations.
Instead of immediately selling every renovation, some historic homes can remain part of their portfolio and generate rental income while preserving the buildings.
Historic Event Space
The supplied research also describes the transformation of a 1908 historic wood mill into a commercial event and wedding space.
The project reflects the couple’s move from individual houses into larger commercial preservation projects.
Local Dogs
Another business concept associated with their recent expansion is Local Dogs, described in the research dossier as a casual dining operation.
Together, these projects show how Save 1900 developed from a renovation company into a broader Galveston hospitality and real-estate brand.
Michael Cordray’s Major Achievements
Michael’s most notable achievement is arguably helping turn historic preservation into a viable full-time career.
Restoring homes built more than a century ago is often more difficult and expensive than ordinary renovation. Materials can be difficult to replace, structures can have hidden damage and modern building requirements may have to coexist with historic architectural details.
Through Save 1900 and Restoring Galveston, Michael and Ashley have brought national attention to Galveston’s historic housing stock.
The supplied research also notes recognition from Texas A&M-related publications and local historic-preservation organizations.
Their work has additionally been featured by regional Texas media outlets covering Galveston and the Gulf Coast.
Michael Cordray’s Personal Life
Michael’s professional and personal lives are unusually connected because his wife is also his business partner and television co-star.
Michael met Ashley Youngblood, now Ashley Cordray, while the two were working for Kirby Inland Marine.
Both had also attended Texas A&M University at Galveston.
According to the supplied research, they began dating around 2011.
Only about two months into their relationship, they purchased their first historic fixer-upper together.
That decision became an early test of both their relationship and their ability to work as a team.
It apparently worked.
The couple continued renovating properties together and eventually turned those projects into Save 1900 and Restoring Galveston.
Who Is Michael Cordray’s Wife?
Michael Cordray’s wife is Ashley Cordray, née Ashley Youngblood.
Ashley is a designer, businesswoman, renovation expert and television personality who works alongside Michael on Restoring Galveston.
The couple married on April 4, 2014, according to the research dossier.
By 2026, they had been married for more than 12 years.
Their working relationship has become central to their television identity.
Michael generally concentrates on construction, structural issues and hands-on restoration, while Ashley develops the visual direction and interior design.
Michael and Ashley Cordray’s Children
Michael and Ashley are parents to three daughters:
- Elle Cordray, born in 2019
- Emma Cordray, born in 2021
- Emory Cordray, born March 18, 2023
Their youngest daughter, Emory, reportedly shares Michael’s March 18 birthday.
Coverage of the Cordray family and their children has appeared in entertainment publications, including Closer Weekly’s profile of Michael and Ashley Cordray’s children.
The children occasionally appear in family-oriented television or social-media content, although they are not the primary focus of the couple’s public work.
Michael Cordray’s Age and Birthday
Michael Cordray was born on March 18, 1982, according to the research material supplied for this biography.
That makes him 44 years old as of August 2026.
The research notes that one reason the March 18 date has stronger support than conflicting same-name records is that Michael publicly shares his birthday with his youngest daughter, Emory, who was born on March 18, 2023.
An unrelated online genealogy record reportedly lists a Michael Cordray born in 1958, but the research dossier identifies that record as belonging to another person with the same name.
This is an important distinction because Michael Cordray is not an uncommon enough name to assume that every public-record result refers to the television personality.
Michael Cordray’s Height
Third-party profiles commonly place Michael Cordray at approximately 5 feet 11 inches, or around 180 cm.
The research dossier also mentions a reported weight of approximately 168 pounds.
However, these physical measurements do not appear to come from an official Magnolia Network or Save 1900 biography.
For that reason, the 5-foot-11 figure is best treated as a reported estimate, rather than an officially confirmed measurement.
Michael Cordray’s Net Worth
Michael Cordray’s precise net worth isn’t publicly documented through audited financial statements or another authoritative financial disclosure.
Several third-party celebrity and entertainment websites estimate Michael and Ashley Cordray’s combined household net worth at roughly $1.5 million to $3 million.
Those figures are plausible estimates rather than confirmed financial facts.
The couple does have several publicly documented potential income sources, including:
- Television work
- Save 1900
- Real-estate renovations
- Property sales
- Vacation rentals
- Commercial properties
- Cordray Drug Store
- Hospitality businesses
- Event-space operations
But knowing that someone owns businesses or real estate does not reveal their true net worth.
Net worth requires knowing the value of assets minus debts and other liabilities.
No reliable source in the supplied research provides enough financial documentation to make that calculation.
For that reason, FameMystery treats the commonly reported $1.5–$3 million range as an unverified online estimate, not a confirmed figure.
How Much Does Michael Cordray Make From Restoring Galveston?
Michael’s exact television salary has not been publicly disclosed.
Some entertainment websites estimate that hosts of cable renovation programs can earn roughly $15,000 to $35,000 per episode, but the supplied research does not contain a Magnolia Network contract or statement confirming that range for Michael or Ashley.
Therefore, it would be misleading to multiply a guessed episode salary by the number of episodes and present the result as Michael’s income.
Television is also only one component of the couple’s business model.
Their real-estate, renovation, vacation-rental and hospitality operations may represent significant additional income, although exact figures remain private.
Interesting Facts About Michael Cordray
- Michael is a fifth-generation Galveston Islander.
- Islanders sometimes use the term B.O.I., or “Born on Island,” for native Galvestonians.
- He learned practical construction and property-maintenance skills through his father’s rental properties.
- Michael earned a degree in Maritime Administration rather than construction or design.
- He worked for Kirby Inland Marine before becoming a full-time renovator.
- He met Ashley through their maritime-industry careers.
- Michael and Ashley bought a fixer-upper only a short time after beginning their relationship.
- Their television concept was associated with the names Saving Galveston, Big Texas Fix and eventually Restoring Galveston.
- The couple’s youngest daughter, Emory, reportedly shares Michael’s March 18 birthday.
- Michael is particularly interested in architectural salvage and preserving original materials.
- The family has also been associated with beekeeping and backyard chickens.
- Their business interests now extend beyond residential renovation into food, hospitality, rentals and events.
Where Is Michael Cordray Now?
As of the latest 2025–2026 information contained in the supplied research, Michael remains based in Galveston Island, Texas, where he continues working with Ashley and their Save 1900 team.
His current activities include restoring historic properties, operating commercial projects, managing hospitality ventures and remaining associated with Restoring Galveston.
The couple’s work continues to center on Galveston rather than moving their business primarily to another television market.
That connection to one location has become part of their appeal.
Instead of traveling across America renovating unrelated houses, Michael and Ashley have built their brand around one city and its architectural history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Michael Cordray?
Michael Cordray is an American historic-home renovator, real estate developer, preservationist and TV personality known for co-hosting Magnolia Network’s Restoring Galveston with his wife, Ashley Cordray.
How old is Michael Cordray?
Michael Cordray is 44 years old as of 2026, based on the reported birth date of March 18, 1982.
Where is Michael Cordray from?
He is from Galveston Island, Texas, and is described as a fifth-generation Galveston native.
Who is Michael Cordray’s wife?
Michael is married to Ashley Cordray, formerly Ashley Youngblood. The couple married on April 4, 2014.
How did Michael and Ashley Cordray meet?
They met while working for Kirby Inland Marine after both attending Texas A&M University at Galveston.
Where is Michael Cordray from?
He is from Galveston Island, Texas, and is described as a fifth-generation Galveston native.
Who is Michael Cordray’s wife?
Michael is married to Ashley Cordray, formerly Ashley Youngblood. The couple married on April 4, 2014.
How did Michael and Ashley Cordray meet?
They met while working for Kirby Inland Marine after both attending Texas A&M University at Galveston.
How many children do Michael and Ashley Cordray have?
They have three daughters: Elle, Emma and Emory.
What did Michael Cordray study in college?
Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Maritime Administration from Texas A&M University at Galveston.
What is Save 1900?
Save 1900 is Michael and Ashley Cordray’s Galveston-based restoration and real-estate business focused on rescuing and rehabilitating historic properties.
What happened to Big Texas Fix?
The television concept associated with Michael and Ashley evolved through several names. An earlier pilot was known as Saving Galveston, the program aired as Big Texas Fix, and it later became known as Restoring Galveston.
Is Restoring Galveston still active?
The supplied research identifies Restoring Galveston as an active Magnolia Network title with a seven-season catalog extending through the 2025–2026 period.
How tall is Michael Cordray?
Third-party profiles commonly report his height at approximately 5 ft 11 in (180 cm), although no official network measurement was identified in the supplied research.
Where does Michael Cordray live?
Michael and his family are publicly associated with Galveston Island, Texas, where they operate their restoration and hospitality businesses. This article does not provide a private residential address.
What is Michael Cordray’s net worth?
Third-party websites commonly estimate Michael and Ashley’s combined net worth between $1.5 million and $3 million, but no authoritative financial source confirms that figure.
Final Thoughts
Michael Cordray turned a lifelong connection to Galveston into a career built around preserving the city’s history.
His path wasn’t the typical television-host story. He earned a maritime degree, took a corporate job, restored houses on the side and eventually left that stable career to build Save 1900 with Ashley.
Television followed later.
Today, Restoring Galveston is the most visible part of Michael’s work, but the couple’s activities extend much further—from historic houses and vacation rentals to commercial buildings, food businesses and event spaces.
Perhaps the clearest theme running through Michael Cordray’s biography is preservation.
Rather than leaving Galveston to build a television career somewhere else, he has made the island itself the center of his work, business and public identity.
Sources and Further Reading
Texas A&M Foundation — Galveston, From the Ground Up
TV Guide — Restoring Galveston Episode Guide
Closer Weekly — Ashley & Michael Cordray Family and Children