The Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas, is a historic landmark that has long been the subject of fascination and speculation due to its eerie reputation as one of the most haunted buildings in the state. The hotel was built in 1929 during the height of the Roaring Twenties, and was known for its luxurious amenities and lavish parties. It was a popular destination for wealthy visitors who sought the healing powers of the mineral waters that flowed through the area’s many springs and wells.
The Baker Hotel was designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style by the prominent Texas architect Wyatt C. Hedrick. It boasted 14 stories and 450 guest rooms, making it the tallest building in Texas outside of Dallas and Houston. It was also one of the first hotels in the state to feature air conditioning, which was a luxury at the time. The hotel’s amenities included a ballroom, a rooftop garden, a bowling alley, a swimming pool, a beauty salon, and a spa.
Despite its initial success, the Baker Hotel suffered financial troubles during the Great Depression and was forced to close its doors in 1972. Over the years, the building fell into disrepair and became a haven for vandals and squatters. However, the hotel’s eerie reputation persisted, with reports of ghostly sightings and strange sounds emanating from the abandoned building.
One of the most commonly reported paranormal occurrences at the Baker Hotel is the ghostly apparition of a woman in a white evening gown, who has been seen walking through the hotel’s ballroom. Legend has it that the woman was a guest at the hotel who was murdered by her jealous husband, who then disposed of her body in the hotel’s basement. There have also been reports of strange noises, including unexplained footsteps and the sound of doors opening and closing on their own.
Another popular ghost story associated with the Baker Hotel is the legend of the “woman in the red dress,” who is said to haunt the hotel’s ninth floor. According to the story, the woman was a hotel employee who had an affair with a married man and became pregnant. When her lover’s wife found out about the affair, she confronted the woman and pushed her down an elevator shaft to her death. Visitors to the ninth floor have reported seeing the woman’s ghostly figure, clad in a red dress, wandering the halls and disappearing into thin air.
Other reported paranormal activity at the Baker Hotel includes the ghostly voices of children laughing and playing in the hallways, as well as the sound of an old-fashioned elevator moving up and down the building’s empty shaft. Many visitors have also reported feeling a sense of unease or being watched while exploring the hotel’s abandoned halls.
Despite its eerie reputation, the Baker Hotel remains a popular destination for ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts. In recent years, there have been efforts to restore the historic building and transform it into a luxury resort and spa. Whether the hotel’s ghosts will continue to haunt the halls remains to be seen, but the legend of the Baker Hotel is sure to endure for years to come.