TexasStar Posted October 25, 2006 Posted October 25, 2006 Sometimes you find some interesting things on weekend roadtrips. Just a short 60-mile drive west of Ft.Worth on US Hwy 180, is the tiny town of Mineral Wells (pop. 8000). There stands what must be the largest structure of any kind in a city that small. http://TexasStar.smugmug.com/photos/105333039-L.jpg The Baker was built by hotel magnate T. B. Baker. He already owned the Baker in Dallas and the Saint Anthony in San Antonio. http://TexasStar.smugmug.com/photos/105333080-L.jpg The Baker was modeled after the Arlington Hotel which still operates in Hot Springs, Arkansas - also built by Wyatt Hendrick. The Baker opened it's doors just two weeks after the stock market crash of 1929. It filed for bankruptcy in 1932, but new owners kept the building open. It served as military dependent quarters from 1941 to 1944 and remained open until 1963. http://TexasStar.smugmug.com/photos/105333100-L.jpg It reopened briefly from 1965-1972 but the doors have been shut since then. http://TexasStar.smugmug.com/photos/105333103-L.jpg Historical Source: TexasEscapes.com 1
sevfiv Posted October 25, 2006 Posted October 25, 2006 (edited) great pictures - i found it randomly on a road trip, as well!as you approach mineral wells, all you see in the sky is the enormous hotel!i know there were efforts to revitalize it, and there were fundraisers and tours scheduled when i was there (from postings in the windows) - did it look like anything had been going on there recently?there is also a lot of folklore associated with it: http://www.spiritofthebaker.com/http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasPanhandle...HotelGhosts.htmi took some really neat pictures of the inside - it certainly was a fancy hotel!____________________also, having been to the arlington in hot springs, they are mighty alike (fortunately the arlington is still in business, though - and i didn't run into any apparitions while staying there, either!) Edited October 25, 2006 by sevfiv
houstonfella Posted October 25, 2006 Posted October 25, 2006 That is a beautiful old hotel. I had no idea Mineral Wells had a gem like the Baker. Thanks for the photos and information.
ricco67 Posted October 26, 2006 Posted October 26, 2006 I went by there in the late 90's visiting a girlfriends parents in brekenridge. The courthouse is a spectacular site during the christmas season. As far as the hotel goes, it was a major resort at one point. in the basement is a spring that refills their pool with mineral water.
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