The Baker Hotel and Mineral Wells, TX

Posted: 02.01.2025 | Updated: 04.16.2025

The Baker Hotel, once a luxurious retreat for vacationers and Hollywood stars, is now an abandoned and decaying structure. But the dark and haunting presence inside can even be felt from outside its historic doors.

Known as one of the most haunted spots in Panola County, the historic Baker Hotel located in Mineral Wells, Texas is a must-see for spritual and spooky enthusiasts.

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Is The Baker Hotel Haunted?

Located around an hour west of Fort Worth, the small town of Mineral Wells, Texas is renowned for two things, its mineral springs, and The Baker Hotel. Several tragedies took place here and now three menacing entities lurk in the dark hallways of historic hotel.

The Healing Waters of Mineral Wells

In 1880, when Palo Pinto Country resident James Alvis Lynch and his wife Armanda drilled a well on their property. They became concerned once they discovered the taste of the water was unpleasant.

Disappointed, they used the water only for their livestock at first but later decided to consume the water themselves. Not long after that, James and Armanda noticed they weren’t experiencing as many aches and pains. This ailment, caused by their rheumatism, had affected them for many years.

The news of this miracle healing water quickly spread throughout the land. People from all over the country soon flocked to the area to see for themselves. Additional mineral wells were drilled once the town was established. The most popularwas given the title of The Crazy Well.

Its name came from an elderly woman who drank from it twice a day and was able to overcome her mental illness. While it seemed like some sort of miracle it was only because the water contained a high amount of lithium. Lithium was still being used to treat many mental health disorders.

While the mineral water could successfully treat mild conditions such as muscle aches and pains, it didn’t cure life-threatening diseases. Unfortunately, the water was promoted as a “cure-all” like many of the elixirs that were sold at the time.

Those claims caused many people to make the voyage to Mineral Wells, hoping to find a miraculous cure for their diseases. Unfortunately, most did not survive and died in town, a large number of them at the Baker Hotel.

Locals believe the scorned spirits of those who died while hoping to receive treatment haunt the grounds of the hotel today. They are still resentful after being misled by the false promotion of this healing water.

The Baker Hotel

In 1929, as farmers and families all over the world were struggling with the aftereffects of the stock market crash. But, the Baker Hotel was thriving. Legendary guests of the hotel include celebrities such as Lawrence Welk, Roy Rogers, and Clark Gable.

It is even believed that notorious bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde once stayed at the Baker Hotel. They even requested that the carpet outside their room be removed so they could hear the cops approaching.

Guests of the Baker Hotel were treated to a luxurious setting. Amenities included a pool surrounded by flowers and spa treatments such as UV light therapy and colonic irrigation.

The hotel’s serene atmosphere was envisioned by owner and entrepreneur Theodore B. Baker, who built the hotel for $1.2 million. The hotel benefitted from the popularity of the local mineral springs. But, as time went on, proven treatment options for illnesses became available in the town.

The Baker Hotel consequently lost a lot of their revenue and closed its doors in 1972.

The Tortured Souls of Former Baker Hotel Guests

During its years of operation, The Baker Hotel bore witness to several tragic deaths within its walls. Two of the most prominent stories you will hear from the locals are about Douglas Moore, a teenage boy who worked as an elevator operator, and Virginia Brown, the mistress of T.B. Baker.

Douglas Moore| The 16-year-old Elevator Operator

On January 16, 1948, 16-year-old Douglas Moore arrived at the Baker Hotel for his shift as an elevator operator. He met up with his friend at the service elevator and the young men started to goof off, jumping in and out of the elevator while it was in motion.

Once while jumping into the elevator, Douglas didn’t fully get his body far enough into the compartment. His friend tried pulling him out by his legs to safety, but it was too late.

Douglas became caught between the doors and the floor as the elevator was rising. Eventually, the force crushed his abdomen. He died over a half hour later at the hospital.

Virginia Brown – The Mistress

Known by locals as The Lady in White, the spirit of Baker’s mistress, Virginia Brown haunts the halls of the hotel’s seventh floor. It is believed that Virginia, distraught by the affair, committed suicide by jumping from the seventh-story window in her room.

She is considered the most restless of all the spirits there. Visitors often hear her high heels against the lobby floor or smell her lavender perfume while exploring upstairs.

It is also believed several people died in the upstairs area of the hotel where the sick were being treated with mineral water. Many feel these poor individuals were being mistreated and experimented on as they were left to suffer and die alone.

Guests Reports of Hauntings at The Baker Hotel

Locals and tourists who have visited the hotel in recent years often leave with tales of similar experiences. They sense a dark energy as soon as they walk inside, feeling eerie or numb while standing near the broken elevator. Many feel extreme unease while visiting the rooms on the seventh floor where it is believed the mistress once lived.

In an episode of the TV show The Haunting of… actor Eric Balfour recounts his visit to the Baker Hotel. He talked about feeling a significant rise in temperature as he and his friends were leaving the hotel. Balfour also said it felt as if there was a great amount of force or pressure over them while descending the stairs.

The Baker Hotel Today

In 2019, a major reconstructive project on The Baker Hotel began. The newly renovated hotel is expected to have 165 guest rooms and modern amenities such as event ballrooms, business facilities, and a coffee shop. The local mineral springs that made the town famous will also be utilized once again.

The question is, will these renovations affect the dark energy that has been prevalent on this property for decades?

Haunted Dallas

The Baker Hotel opens its doors to the public in Spring of 2026. Who knows what tales of horror will be come bursting through the void when it does. The strange truth of the matter is that they would be far from the most grueling ghost stories to come out of the heart of Texas!

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Sources:

• https://thebakerhotelandspa.com/history/
• https://www.texasobserver.org/ghosts-of-the-baker-hotel/
• http://kathleenmaca.com/index.php/2019/10/31/ghostly-residents-of-the-baker-hotel/
• https://occult-world.com/the-baker-hotel/