The Baker Hotel is a deserted 1900 hotel in North-Western Texas. The hotel which was the first in Texas to have a pool has been vacant for 5 decades since it was abandoned.

Rise of the Baker hotel

Residents of mineral wells in 1922 raised 150,000 us dollars to build a hotel owned by locals. This came after they raised concerns about others taking advantage of their Mineral water. Theodore Brasher Baker, a local hotel owner, was convinced to spearhead the construction of the 450-capacity hotel. Baker, who had vast experience in hotels, financed the remaining amount of money and the construction of the hotel started shortly afterward. A pool that was never part of the initial plans was introduced later in the project. This was all Baker's idea who was trying to ape a hotel he visited in California. After 3 years of construction, the hotel was opened in November 1929, having cost 1.2 million US dollars.

Glory days of the Baker hotel

Baker hotel, being one of the 5-star hotels in Mineral Wells, received an influx of tourists and guests who came to enjoy health spas at the hotel. Its elegant finishes attracted several celebrities and high-end businessmen. In 1940, Fort Wolters military base which was home to the largest infantry opened nearby. The popularity that came with Fort Wolters benefited Baker hotel as the population of Mineral Wells skyrocketed to nearly 30,000 from 6000. Thought-out World War II, the Baker hotel was ever full as many researchers and journals made it their temporary home.

 What led to the Baker hotel being abandoned?

The Baker hotel started to tumble after World War II when fort Wolters was closed. To add insult to injury, Theodore Brasher Baker had gone bankrupt and was not in the position to maintain the hotel. He passed the hotel to his nephew Earle Baker who managed it and was able to revive it for a short period when fort Wolters reopened in 1951. After a decade of turbulence, Earle Baker closed the Baker hotel in 1963. Two years later, a group of local investors leased the Baker hotel and reopened it. This did not take long as it was officially shut down again in 1972 after the death of Earle Baker.

Hazards at baker hotel 

The Baker Hotel is an old building built in the era where asbestos was used in thermal insulation on pipes and floor tiles (vinyl floor tiles). Asbestos has toxic fibers that when inhaled may cause respiratory illness.

Is Baker hotel open to the public?

After years of rejection, the Baker Hotel was bought by an investor who is in the process of reviving it to its former glory. It is not open to the public due to the construction process taking place at the hotel. The restoration process began back in 2019 and the hotel is estimated to be completely renovated and open to guests by 2024.