Road Trip

Took a short road trip today, went to Mineral Wells Tx to check on the Baker Hotel.

It's an old hotel, built in 1929, closed in 1972.

It has been sitting in terrible disrepair ever since. Ravaged by a leaking roof, vandals, thieves, and the homeless.

Been several owners, all had intentions of restoring it, but turned out to be more than they could handle. This owner seems serious, hope so, it's teetering on the edge of no return.

The place has quite a history. Built during prohibition, it was used as a safe place for the elite to get away with pretty much what ever they wanted. Mob members, outlaws, noted as Bonnie and Clyde and their associates were known to stay there. Though they registered under false names, the staff knew who they were. They had enough clout to have their own special rooms, set apart with the carpet removed from the hall so they could hear if anyone was coming!

The Hollywood elite frequented there, both as performers, and as guests looking for the healing effects and the "fountain of youth" the mineral baths and drinking the mineral water were promised to offer.

There was another hotel a few blocks over, The Crazy Water Hotel. It was smaller, catered to a more budget minded clientele. It is also being refurbished, further along and was in less disrepair.

While there we went walking through part of the old town district. Lots of small shops, second hand shops... Picked one and went in.

Jeffcat, I thought of you, you would have been overwhelmed by this place! Unbelievable how much stuff was in there! And the nicest people, the owner was running around giving away ice cream sandwiches. You didn't dare turn down the offer, he would track you down and offer until you surrendered!

Then I discovered the basement!!! That's where the good stuff was! TOOLS!!! By the millions! I literally had to climb over piles of tools spilling out on the floor, mostly hand tools, but some power tools. Sockets and end wrenches were 50c a pound, I ended up with a Stanley ratchet for $3. Need to go back and spend a day!

All and all a good day. Got to get away from the kids and grand kids, just the wife and me this time.

We'll be going back to check on the progress.
Baker Hotel

Sorry, I meant to put this in Tales.

Neat video. Just for comparison it would have been neat if they had inserted some color pictures of those rooms from back in its glory days. Especially the large lobby and ballroom.

We will forgive you, this time!

On a family trip a few years ago we stumbled across the Baker Hotel, which we had never heard of. Intrigued, we sneaked into the place and had a look around. The aura of the place was palpable, just knowing how back in the day it must have teemed with well-heeled pilgrims coming to avail themselves of the effects and benefits of the town's mineral water. Among other minerals the water contained a high concentration of lithium, which undoubtedly contributed to the sense of well-being that the visitors enjoyed.

That is pretty much the same story as Harder Hall in Sebring FL. I checked it out probably twenty years ao when in the area.