The historic Baker Hotel has been a fixture of Mineral Wells for nearly a century, and an ongoing restoration project hopes to continue the legacy.
For many years, from the roaring twenties to the mid-century, the Baker Hotel served as a centerpiece of North Texas, boasting some of the most lavish accommodations of the time.
Chances are, if there was a famous person around the Dallas area in the mid-1900s, they would have taken a room at the Hotel Baker. Ronald Reagan, Judy Garland, Will Rogers, and countless others spent the night, and stars such as Laurence Welk performed in the upstairs “Sky Room.”
After a 1925 fire destroyed Mineral Wells’ Crazy Water Hotel, a man named T.B. Baker conceived of his grand vision for the Baker Hotel.
At the time, much of Mineral Wells’ allure was its renowned “Crazy Water,” or alkaline mineral water, which some claimed had beneficial health effects. T.B Baker wanted a hotel that would capitalize on the town’s “healing waters” and attract big names, much like the famous Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
In 1929, construction was completed on the $1,250,000 resort.
After weathering the Great Depression, the Baker Hotel began gaining traction as a tourist destination, becoming known for its spa services and live entertainment that rivaled hotels in Chicago and New York. The Baker had 460 rooms, two spas, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. During WWII, the hotel served military guests from the nearby Fort Wolters.
The Baker effectively shut down during the 1970s, in limbo between investors and owners. According to The Dallas Morning News, a group of real estate investors called the Baker Team purchased the property in 2019 for $2.2 million.
A $73 million restoration has since begun at the Baker Hotel, including removing asbestos and modernizing the architecture. Although the end result will be a four-star hotel and spa destination, the team plans to keep as much historical relevance as possible.
One of the early investors in the project, Chad Patton, said that the Baker Hotel always provided a place for people in the midst of “renewing themselves — mentally, physically and emotionally.” He stated that they are “going forward with that same plan, but will have a more modern design that provides all the same comforts.”
