Most Haunted Places in America: The Baker Hotel

Less than an hour west of Fort Worth Texas, Judge James Lynch dug a well in an area he settled in 1877. He found the well had mineral water, which was believed to have healing powers. He named the valley Mineral Wells. Fast forward to 1929 and this small town of 6,000 had a luxurious resort hotel and spa, The Baker Hotel. Officially opening the day after the great stock market crash, some say this resort was cursed from the beginning. Though some debate the validity of a curse, most will agree that the Baker Hotel is one of the most haunted places in America.

The Baker Hotel swamps the landscape of the small town of Mineral Wells. The 14 story 450 room resort had, for its time, luxurious amenities such as air conditioning and the first hotel in Texas to have a swimming pool. The hotel and its mineral waters, was home to many of the rich and famous such as Judy Garland, Will Rogers and Marlene Dietrich. Yet it faltered and went bankrupt in 1932. It reopened shortly in the 1940’s as homes to WWII families and again in 1965 as a hotel but closed its doors for a good 7 years later.

How could a mineral spring resort and spa be haunted? Apparently there is tragedy attached to this luxurious location. The first comes from what some say was the mistress of the hotel manager. She was apparently upset over the relationship and jumped from her 7th story room. Her spirit is thought to roam the floor as well as the rest of the building.

People have reported smelling her perfume and if she happens to find a male to her liking, her spirit has been known to be a little flirtatious. A maid at the hotel has claimed that she has found glasses in the room with lipstick stains on several occasions even though no one has stayed in the room. Footsteps sounding like high heels and apparition sighting has been attributed to this woman.

Others have claimed that they have seen windows open on different floors throughout the hotel. After paying closer attention they noticed that it would be different windows at different times. Deciding it must be the person taking care of the building airing it out, they dismissed the phenomena. There has, however, never been anyone in the building since it closed for the last time.

Other spots with high paranormal activity include the ballroom, 6th, 8thand 10th floors as well as the Brazos room. Some of the phenomena reported have been voices, noises of plates clanging together, the smell of chocolate and the sound of a band.

Now the hotel is in need of repair and is closed to the public as of this writing. So if you are ever in Mineral Wells Texas, maybe you can walk around and see if you see any windows open.

Related posts:

1. The Haunted Crescent Hotel
2. The Haunting of the St. James Hotel
3. Haunted Goldfield Hotel
4. The Haunted Mount Washington Hotel
5. The Haunting at Otesaga Resort Hotel