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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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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 - Ghosts of the Baker Hotel
›
Page 3 - History
of the Baker Hotel › |
Page
1 | 2 | 3
»
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 |
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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