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With
so many sightings in such a landmark, it was time to see if any of it could be
proven. In October 2000, two Paranormal Investigation teams, "DFW Ghostwatchers"
from Dallas and "Lone Star Spirits"
from Houston were contacted to perform
a full-scale investigation.
With about $100,000.00 worth of high tech
scientific instrumentation, the teams began a full-scale research mission on the
Baker that took three visits to complete.
Investigator Dusty Rainbolt, of DFW, using a digital camera, photographed
hundred's of orbs. Orbs, according to some experts, are actual spirits
of the dead. Orbs were photographed throughout the building with the largest concentration
being in the basement, and on the fifth, seventh and fourteenth floors. Dusty
also captured an orb partially hidden behind a door which she said was most unusual.
She also captured, what appeared to be, two very distinct "ecto mist"
apparitions in the 14th floor ball room. Another photographer/investigator, Weems
Hutto, was taking still shots with a 35 mm camera at the same time and captured
what appeared to be another ecto mist above the first photographer. Another psychic
who accompanied the team reported "seeing" an old woman in a wheelchair in the
southeast corner of the ballroom who kept saying, "I can't do it", "I can't do
it".
On one night the fifth floor was the most active. Donna, the psychic
with the group, felt hesitant and nauseous as she moved toward the west end of
the fifth floor. She said someone was trying to make the team "sick" so they would
leave. She refused to go any farther in that direction. Later, members of Lone
Star Spirits who visited the area began to choke and cough at the same spot, unaware
of Donna's earlier experience.
Donna was then drawn to a room on the
north end of the fifth floor where she sensed a young woman making rustling sounds
with her dress. Donna reported the young girl to be moving to and fro, making
sure her makeup was just right. She said the spirit would move around the men
in the group and was especially attracted to a certain one. She went on to say
she sensed a man about to knock on the door to escort her to a dance in the Sky
Room.
Another psychic named Wayne, later joined the group on the fifth
floor, and confirmed Donna's findings. He added that he had picked up on "disgust
and discomfort" on the west end and said the area was occupied by a large disgusting
man who wanted everyone to leave. Wayne said he found suffering and disease in
the area.
A time-lapse video camera was placed in the first floor Brazos
room and over a four-hour period various objects appeared moving. 151 objects
- to be exact. The room had been closed off to the party and entrance was not
allowed by anyone "living". The objects could have been dust motes reflecting
light, but some were moving orbs.
An audio of the basement elevator
area captured the distinct sound of a man screaming in agony. A different group
recorded the same sound on another investigation in June 2001. It would have been
difficult for anyone in the team to mimic the sound since the area had been locked
to keep everyone out.
One of the expedition members gets nauseous whenever
she gets around haunted places. At the Baker
she was unable to stay more than a few minutes before she was forced to leave
- very ill.
In May 2001, nine journalism students from Weatherford High
School spent a Saturday night in the hotel, not really putting much interest in
the ghost stories. The group, of course, thought differently after their visit.
(See Forum below)
A picture
taken of the students on the fourteenth floor ballroom shows them enveloped by
hundreds of orbs, which they never actually saw. Another picture taken by the
only female in the group captures, what appears to be the profile of a blond woman's
head. No one in the group had blond hair, let alone, long blond hair. The picture
was taken in a darkened room.
With so much activity in the building it
may be one of the most haunted places in Texas if not in the country. One psychic
claimed to have counted at least 49 different spirits in the building. The investigations
are not complete and are currently being continued by "Dagulf's Ghost", another
professional paranormal investigating team. With so much paranormal activity,
the Baker has become a hot spot for investigators. It is hopeful that in time,
more proof of the restless spirits will be documented.
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Wells Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here &
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Afterword:
In 1982 the Baker's owners auctioned the hotel's furniture and most original
fixtures. The hotel remains a grand old structure, though, containing thousands
of stories of the people that stayed there - some during their last days as they
sought cures for terrible illnesses. Once the playground for cattle barons, oil
tycoons, Hollywood celebrities, and military and political leaders, the decaying
grand hotel sits reminding us of an era long gone. Like the mighty RMS Titanic
on the bottom of the ocean fading into time, the Baker
sits in the middle of the Texas Cross Timbers Region, slowly wasting away. Gone
are the starlets, the proud men in uniform, the big bands, the conventions, and
others who made the Baker a memorable part of their lives. Perhaps some never
left at all or have returned to forever experience a time when Mineral
Wells was one of North Texas' finest cities. So, if you get the chance to
visit the beautiful old hotel, please have respect for those who may still be
there - the Baker's patrons who refused to check out.
A new attitude
is emerging that may rekindle the spark of old Mineral Wells and the Baker.
According to expert, the Baker is
still structurally sound, but, a complete renovation could cost 30-55 million
dollars. Tours of the Baker are conducted
weekends during warmer months. For more information - contact the Mineral Wells
Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-252-MWTX. And if you happened to visit the seventh
floor, don't be surprised if you catch the faint scent of a young lady's perfume
as she lurks the old halls - lost in time. ... next
page
- The
stories of ghosts and hauntings began in the Baker long before it ever closed.....
Page 1 - Back to Ghosts of the Baker
Hotel
Page 3 - The Baker
Hotel Story
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Wells Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
Author's
Note: I
am a professional Firefighter with a degree in Fire science and a certified Fire
Investigator, therefore, I believe just about everything can be explained if one
looks hard enough. That was before I began to research a few north Texas ghost
stories that are difficult to explain.
I have researched about 30 north
Texas haunts, many of which have never before been documented or researched. They
range from the hauntings of the old Baker and Crazy Water hotels in Mineral Wells
to a haunted plantation near Tyler. I have researched each as to the best of my
ability for authenticity and historical accuracy. I would be more than happy to
share some of my research with (your readers). Thank you very much. - Bob Hopkins,
Weatherford.
©
Bob Hopkins, Weatherford, August 2002
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Forum
Subject: Mineral Well, Baker Hotel
Dear TE, My name is Luther Himes
and I was one of the high school students from Weatherford who spent the night
in the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells
back in 2001. I was reading your stories of the Baker
Haunting's and came across the account of our stay where it reads we were
"not really putting much interest in the ghost stories". I just wanted to point
out, without any sort of rancor, that this is incorrect. The entire focus of the
documentary that we filmed there was, from the first idea formation, the abundant
ghost stories that we all had heard growing up in Weatherford. We did a hearty
amount of research, including interviews with Mr. Bob Hopkins (included in the
documentary) who I believe wrote the account, and even went so far as to research
the protocol in interacting with spirits, and having our base camp blessed by
a priest (because, yeah, we were pretty damn scared once night came). We tried
to be even handed with the history and legend involved in such an old building,
but we were definitely there for the ghosts. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure
that you were informed on the situation. I enjoy your site, and it's abundant
and interesting articles. Thanks. - Luther Himes, October 31, 2006
Just about
every weekend my boyfriend and I go to the downtown video store and rent movies.
On several occasions we've witnessed stranged lights coming from windows.The lights
that we've seen are'nt like the kind of light you see coming from a flahlight
or a lamp. It does'nt reflect on the window as the light from a flash light does.
We've also seen people looking down at us from many of the windows. I waved to
the figure without hesitation, the figure waved back and when we looked back up
it was gone. - Mineral Wells, 10/Nov/2002
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Wells Hotels - Book Your Hotel Here & Save
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