The Baker Hotel Preliminary Restoration Walk Through

[GeorginaO89]

So sad

[AceDubsteP]

Ghost at 1:09

[Wrestlemaniagod26]

I would really love to be able to see the inside for myself.

[MrSirlulzalot]

The Baker will never be restored and there's no such thing as ghosts- two natural facts in this world. Hope this helps.

[MsStaplefoot]

I wonder when the restoration will begin and approximately when it will be complete. I am excited to see the hotel up and running. Its beautiful and I would like to go inside.

[benkayla16]

This video has shown a lot. It use to be really nice looking until people stopped going, until it closed, and got damaged. Of course there are ghost (believe it or not), but besides all that, wouldn't you like to see what it would look like if it was repaired?? it cost a lot of money if you're wanting to fix everything up, and it will take a long time, but I would have to say that the Bakers Hotel is the best thing I've ever seen before because it has so many different stories behind it.

[petesflygirl29]

This hotel is truly amazing! My husband's mother has lived in MW all her life and we see it every time we go visit her. She shares so many stores of the great hotel when she was a little girl. We always said to each other that we would like to restore it to its once beauty if we had the money to do so. We are so fanatically excited that it will finally be restored after being closed for so long! Our worst fear, was that at some point it would become condemned due to abandonment and be torn down.

[jeepers2655]

too bad they wait so long ,after roof leaks and vandals ruin it ,then try to restore it for Millions of dollars.....when it could have cost thousands,back when it closed.....or at least the 80`s

[bryan76016]

I sincerely hope that  this building gets restored. It's an historical sight. I remember seeing it as a youngster (65 years ago) and the Crazy Water also.

[jerblaine]

I grew up close to the Baker. I liked thid video. I went to a New Yrs Party that was hekd in the bottom floor of the Baker. It was so fun! it was back in the 90s I dont know if they still do that or not. Nothing beats the Baker as a symnol of a forgotten time

[jerblaine]

I grew up close to the Baker. I liked thid video. I went to a New Yrs Party that was hekd in the bottom floor of the Baker. It was so fun! it was back in the 90s I dont know if they still do that or not. Nothing beats the Baker as a symnol of a forgot time

[drhoffman0222]

This is amazing! Thank you so much for filming this! How could anyone vandalize this place? Some people don't know the value of history! I am so glad that it is going to be taken care of finally!

[Laurisa718]

Such a beautiful place! Restore it, and I'll be a guest there for sure... just to get away. I'll be happy to stay there even with all the ghosts! I'll drink a drink for them all! Ha ha!

[proseinc123]

what ever happend to jane cattrick the queen of the baker hotel she was trying to get it restored over 5 years ago.

miss her

scott from gulf shores

[mnm9709]

0:35 you can see azle on the wall

[kenzie072]

Amazing!! I have only seen the outside and plan on going back soon (I live in Euless) to take more pictures. I would love to see the inside, it is just so sad to see the damage that has been caused by time and vandals. I am in the hospitality industry and love the history behind old hotels. I really hope that she can be salvaged after so many years of neglect.

[blazehorse]

Im from Australia and I live in Weatherford for about 6 months. I was lucky enough to get a tour through the Baker when I visited Mineral Wells. Spent 4 hrs there and it truely is an amazing building. Creepy in places but I would love to visit it again one year

[Mcoates6905]

This place isn't guarded very well. I've been inside.

[asoberprep]

Great and through job!

[ashareetip]

Such a beautiful piece of our history. ive lived in Mineral wells most of my life and ive always wanted to go in there, but being a nursing student now i cant jeopardize my career with a record if the police were to catch me. i want to take a tour so badly. also, WHAT IS UP WITH THE SWASTIKA IN MR BAKERS SUITE? THAT IS SO WEIRD!!

[jaybo2099]

@ashareetip Not weird at all. First off, the swastika you see is not in the traditional sense of a "Nazi" swastika. The Nazi swastika has it's arms bent facing toward the right. The one at the Baker is facing to the left. The symbol has been around for thousands of years in many different cultures. The Nazi's adopted the symbol and forever corrupted it's use. At the time the Baker Hotel was built, the symbol was viewed by many people as a good luck charm.

[drhoffman0222]

@jaybo2099 Also, this plac3 was built before Hitler came into power. I am glad you know what your talking about jaybo!

[bvgus]

@ashareetip Before Hitler and the Nazi's the swastika was a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

[brootalmuch]

ive been inside the baker possibly 50 times durrring the day and night and have never had a run in with the police while doing so

no cops watch this place

[brootalmuch]

cops dont watch this place at all i go in it all the time and have never been come a cop going in or out of the hotel

[biankajeg]

We spotted this while driving thru MWells and had to look it up ----- What a fantastic bizarro thing in the middle of nowhere! I don't understand why it isn't restored. (??) Gosh - who owns it now? I saw it was on the national hist. registry

[startoftext]

I would really like to be able to take a tour through this place if at all possible. I have a family history connected with this city. I am named after Doc Milling that ran the Milling Sanitarium also in mineral wells. I am also very fascinated with old abandoned buildings in general and this seems like the jackpot. I guess its like a walk back in time. If any one knows how I could get a tour before its re-done PLEASE let me know.

[cpsm123456789]

the place is actually watched by four cops daily to make sure no one enters or vandalized the place

[9700541]

@cpsm123456789 is it still abondoned, and are there really police cars there?

[cpsm123456789]

@9700541 yea a cop came and told me and my family that it is watched for criminals hobos and vandalizers

[ghostgtx21]

This is very cool I need to drive down to get a look at this place its epic looking!

Im not to far from it.

What's the music in the vid? I like that too!

[mlp739]

@ghostgtx21 silent hill is the music

[poopooharry420]

whats 4:09 my friend went in the and only your head shows it seems pointless

[ktluvsjv]

i go to college in wichita falls, and i live in hamilton. the only way to Midwestern is through Mineral Wells. and i LOVE that hotel. i'm soooooo excited to see it restored to it's former glories... (with a few modern touches) i cannot wait until it re-opens. honestly i want to get married there someday. this is probably the best news i've had all week. the history behind the hotel is what makes it sooo wonderful.

[cocaaaacolaaaa]

Why did they just let this famous hotel just sit and rot? Thats too bad.. especially where it's a landmark right?? .. anyway looks like it was a real nice hotel.. I never even heard of the place until I saw a ghost video clip on it haha..

[whabit]

VISION!!!!

A good book Says, "My people perish without a vision"

Let's get the vision and as Nike says, "Just Do It!"

"It's not about politics, it's just good business"

Rick Bennett (Mayoral Candidate for 2012)

[jsdesignz]

I lived in Mineral Wells when I was growing up it was always amazing to see the Bakers Hotel every time we would drive by it we would just stare at it...It's awesome.

[mcflygirl1977]

Wow what an opportunity to go see this. I'm in San Antonio and I just happened to come across some bogus ghost story episode on tv - but it covered the Baker Hotel and mentioned it was in MW, Tx so I decided to research it.

It makes me so sad to think of it just sitting there rotting away and getting vandalized up and down. I really hope it gets renovated one day soon!

[love4frogs]

What an awesome video!! I have been in love with this place since 2004. I have only seen pictures, so this video makes it more real to me!! I am so excited that she is being restored and I cannot wait to take my family there to see it!! Thank you for this video!!

[featherinmw]

@love4frogs

[love4frogs]

@featherinmw Your message to me is blank. Did you intend to say something?

[clayto1332]

I drove through Mineral Wells when I was driving from Stephenville to Wichita Falls earlier this year. This building immediately caught my interest. I would really like to kick around this old building sometime. Only thing is, you have to sneak in to catch a glimpse of all this beauty. Bravo on the video and I am really looking forward to the next one

[reflectionsofme]

I drove all the way from Arlington Texas with some friends one night to go inside. I was in tat ball room and the bell tower. Place is amazing.

[ZoeInWonderland95]

I've only been there once, but it was at night so we weren't able to see all of the structure. You can tell it was beautiful in it's hayday; still is. Thanks so much for putting this up! I'm excited about seing the end results!

[jdb15bq]

Great video! I love it and the Baker Hotel. I hope they do restore it but it looks like it will take alot of money. Alot of money the investors will want back.

[Bakerhotel31]

As you can tell from my handle I am familiar with the Baker. Yours are the best interior shots I have seen. There are several other Baker Hotel sites which are linked from my Crazy Water site. Also on the site are many old photos of Mineral Wells. Looking forward to seeing your final product Kevin.

[texdad26]

mineral wells is my home town i remember as a boy driving by the hotel wanting to go in a when they finish it i hope it will be made to stay in

[historiclift27]

I am very excited. I discovered the hotel a year ago on the internet. I would love to stay here. I will keep hoping and getting excited. I hope they are able to keep the old elevators perhaps even hire opperators. even if they aren't I still want to stay here. Good luck and thanks for the video.

[lindapugh444]

To Kevin Pruitt, thanks so much for the beautiful clip of the interior of the Baker. She may be a little faded & much need of repair...but her charm is a sparkling as ever. I, too, grew up in MW & my dad's photo shop was across the street. I visited the Baker almost daily back then, eating lunch in the sandwich shop, going to the bowling alley in the basement with my dad & even riding the elevator to the top & back for fun as all the staff knew me,

[jtownkilla84]

thank you for the video ive always wanted to see the inside of the baker.

[Endellion20]

i agree with the fact that theyve had tons of plans to restore and never followed through, i just wanna say that i would like a chance to walk through it once b4 they restore it and you couldnt pay me to stay there over night

[KevinWPruitt]

To all the naysayers, please see busboy's comment below...why so much skepticism? Some people just don't like to entertain the notion of progress...

[barrykooda]

I know a lot of the skepticism comes from the fact that this could be another of the many scrapped plans for the Baker throughout the years and. That being said, I know there are a lot of us who would love to see her restored to her former glory and wholeheartedly put my support behind the current attempt. I spoke with a friend who did a modeling shoot there a few days ago and she assures me that she met the people formulating this renovation and that they are serious and very well funded.

[texdad26]

i cant wait till this is done i wanna stay in it for a night its from my home town of mineral wells

[dngrdave2000]

It is an amazing building with a rich history, and I really hope to be able to stay there one day, but I too have doubts about it being economically viable.

Maybe retirement condos like Trinity Terrace in Ft Worth, but I just can't imagine what could be done to sustainably draw enough business to be profitable.

[leagacy23]

ive been to bakers before at like 2am..scary as fuck...but truly is a beautiful building...

[busboy207]

The group doing the proposed work to open it back to a resort hotel/spa have done at least 3 financial studies on the area, plus countless other inspections to gather info on cost versus income potential. Every one of the studies have come back positive. These guys know what they are doing and have done it before.

[thepope2010]

to close to a church

[7KC9]

all this talk about a casino is bull crap.. casinos are illegal in texas, so i think its highly unlikely of that possibility. i think it would be neat to reopen it as a hotel, or maybe even make it into apartment homes.

[achillesbelle]

Okay so here is what I was told. The Choctaw tribe bought land about 25 minutes from mineral wells but according to tx law they have to own the land for something like 5 years before they can build a casino on it. Now if that is true and in the next 5 years a huge casino goes up only 25 miles from mineral wells then if the hotel was restored to a hotel it might stand a change of staying open. I hate to see casinos go up all over the place but this would prolly be the best bet for the building.

[whataboutmenow]

my sister got married in the baker hotel in 2001 :) no joke... it was very interesting

[GrimblGrumbl]

Man I live some where else now, but when i was a kid i use to run around that place. I loved the Baker Hotel. The useful of it restored is none tho last time i was there to put a reef on my dads headstone the place was way way dead. the Wal-mart looked like ours does here at 3 am

[traindude70]

I think it would make one of the best haunted house buildings ever

[jeepinbanditrider]

Turning it back into just a motel won't make sense. To be honest there really isn't anything in this town that warrants a stay in a place like that at all.

IMO it's only hope is to be turned into a casino of some kind. I know they talked about tearing it down years ago but from what I heard it's too sturdy and they would have to destroy many of the surrounding buildings in the process. But that's just what I heard.

[nicholaseevans02]

No way on the casino, its in Texas. And you are probably right about tearing it down. The whole building is solid concrete. Its really a beautiful building, and it has such an incredibly rich history. And the view from the cloud room is amazing

[smalltownkid2004]

Wth A casino is NOT what this town needs I f'n hate when people say to make it into a casino. The only way to do it justice is to turn it back into what it once was and stood for.. Damn casino that's such BS.  turning it into a hotel makes perfect sense.. especially for all the people who want to experience what it really is and stay in it and enjoy it.. How many regular ppl are going to use a casino? NONE. That's ridiculous

[jeepinbanditrider]

@smalltownkid2004 Then please tell us how turning it back into a hotel makes sense?? If there's something in this town that I don't know about that would draw in enough tourists to make it a profitable venture then I don't know about it. The simple fact of the matter is either the building would have to be turned into a tourist attraction itself or something VERY BIG would have to come to town if neither of those happen taking on this place for a motel would be financial suicide.

[smalltownkid2004]

The hotel itself is enough to draw tourist alot of people as it is every year pass through here just to see this hotel.. and SO many want to be able to go inside and see this place working.. and on top of that with so many rumors or it beings haunted, and the deaths ect that have happened inside it is one that will draw a big crowd as well.. You may not see it how I do but believe me alot of people would come even if it was just for that fact to "experience" what they say might happen.

[smalltownkid2004]

Now granted all we can do is sit here and argue what we THINK it will do I think it will be good.. you think it will be pointless... I say whats the harm in trying? You could be proven to be right... Or I could be proven to be right nobody knows until those doors open.

[smalltownkid2004]

This is mineral wells history.. and this town has enough problems without trying to get it passed to bring in casinos.. Casinos especially in this town would be for people up to no good... anyone person who lives or who was born here it makes me mad to hear them talk such crap and nonsense about such a beautiful hotel.. Theres always nay sayers but... I just don't get it we've tore up so much history in mineral wells... I think this piece deserves to stay around and shine again!

[jtownkilla84]

@smalltownkid2004 hell yeah.

[smalltownkid2004]

you know and I hate to come off as a dick about the whole thing but... Come on Shes a grand hotel and deserves to be fixed up... Without the Baker this town is nothing.

[TiggerPooh87]

wow i have to say i am from millsap and i know of the Baker Hotel and would be lieing if i said i have never been in there. It is so much more beautiful in the light then i thought. I have never broken anything or vandalized anything when inside i just love everything about it and have for many years. i would love for MW to finally use this marvelous building to bring life back into the town!

[robinnnnnnnnnnnn]

I used to be a tour guide for Jayne Catrett 1995-2003. Forgive me if I find it hard to believe someone actually plans to restore the Baker, when I have heard this so many times before. We can wish fo rit, but it is not likely to happen in this town before the old hotel degenrates to a collapsable state.

[wdjacobson]

She's a beautiful old gal. But I can't imagine how anybody can get it to make financial sense to renovate.

[seadragon13]

MW needs to act FAST

Vandals (high school punks) are destroying her daily.

I am an explorer and would be lying if I said I haven't been in there several times but I have never broken or defaced anything. Unfortunately I have watched her slowly die and unless something is done to at least secure the building then there is no way by the time any plan comes to fruition it will be too late.

I would rather see it locked down then not see it at all.

I seriously pray for the Baker.

[cloudharborgirl]

Was in TX working this summer and passed through MW this summer and fell in love with this place. Got out and took pictures. So glad it's being restored! Saw the for sale sign and was scared it would be torn down. I can't wait to stay in it when it is complete!

[jg4liberty]

Hmm? I was just in Mineral Wells this past weekend (Sunday-Dec. 13) and there was a For Sales sign on the building, is this project still on?

[my3sons77]

Wow. I am so glad to see that this beautiful building is going to be restored back to it's full glory.

[glitterteaz]

I am so jealous I drive by the baker everytime I see my mom. I am totally enchanted by it. I would love to go in and first hand see the before and the after. I am painting the beautiful bridge as I am typing. Long Live The Baker Hotel!!!!

[lothartheterrible]

What is the time frame looking like for the project to get off the ground?

[busboy207]

This came out really nice. Thanks for actually putting me in part of it, lol. Ready for the project to get started.

[diveproducer]

Nice video tour. Years ago, my team and I scouted the Baker Hotel as a possible location for Gestapo HQ in a WWII film. It would have been PERFECT. Unfortunately, the film was never produced. I definitely plan to stay there when it is restored. Good luck!

[billfowler10]

A Beautiful Hotel that is crying out to be restored to its grandeur. The potential beauty is easily envisionaged.

[svolore]

my grandmother and her 2 sisters (in their 90's now) used to tell me stories about staying at the Baker and I grew up in MW so this is exciting!! My family and I are definitely going to stay there whenever it is finally ready. It is such a great idea considering this day and age seems to be all about health and wellness and I hope they bring it back as what it was all about in the beginning with the famed mineral water and it's mysterious healing and wellness capabilities... KUDOS!!!!

[svolore]

~Tiffany Key, class of '99

[kellybrynn9]

I've been in the lobby and the elevator, like 2 years ago. Please keep the old appliances, to keep it's old memories? :)

[littrek104]

I love this!

[tinrian]

What luck you got to go see the old hotel. Thank you for posting and sharing it with us. It would be awesome if they really do restore it.

I loved some of the shots you got. You have a good camera eye. Very nice video! Thanks again for sharing it with us.