The Crazy Water Hotel
The ballroom at the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells is well past its prime.
But in its prime, the Baker Hotel was grand, and folks came from far and wide to “take the waters” the town was famous for. Now, I think Mineral Wells is largely famous for having once been famous.
The great songwriter Tom Russell has a song about the place, and the ghosts that haunt it. Reading the lyrics doesn’t convey Tom’s talent, and there’s no video of it that I could locate. So instead – and pardon this abrupt digression, but he got in my head and wouldn’t leave until I agreed to post a link – here’s Tom Russell and Andrew Hardin with The Ballad of Edward Abbey. (Here’s his website.)
Mineral Wells, Texas
photographed 8.15.2010
Posted on October 20, 2013, in architecture, Photography and tagged 365 photo project, abandoned buildings, architecture, black and white photography, melinda green harvey, one day one image, photo a day, photography, texas, tom russell. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
One Day | One Image 
The Crazy Water Hotel has a nice sepia tone. I like that but I’m not fond of mineral water.
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Your comment reminded me of a vacation to Yellowstone, when I took a long drink from a fountain, not realizing that it was mineral water. My parents thought it was funny, but I do not recall sharing in the hilarity!
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There is a park in NY, Saratoga Spa State Park, that has mineral water, free for the taking, and has various level of minerals in the water depending on where in the park you get it. Some folks swear that the higher the mineral content in the water the better it is for you (if you can get past the smell and taste). When I was there I left empty handed.
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What a crime to allow a building like this slowly decay away.
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The last time I was there, the place was for sale, which I mention in the event you are looking for investment property in Texas….
Seriously, though, it is a shame that there hasn’t been any restoration done on this building. Even with the graffiti and collapsed ceiling, you can tell it was once a very grand place.
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This was a nice place. I hope you dodged falling plaster. I like the toning too.
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I wasn’t in any danger, as I took this through a window. I wish I could have gone inside, though, dangerous falling plaster or not. I bet the really good stuff was further in.
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I like that Tom Russell song quite a bit, almost went looking for the place last time I drove west out of Dallas, but it didn’t happen. Thanks for providing a visual!
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I can’t even THINK about this hotel without thinking about the song…
If you are ever around Mineral Wells, the Baker Hotel is easy to find: it’s the tallest building in town.
Thanks for stopping by the blog, and for taking time to comment!
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It’s beautiful even in its state of disrepair. Your choice of sepia suits it very well. Beautiful shot, Melinda.
Oops! I nearly called you Melanie! That made me wonder if I’ve done it before. Please forgive me if I have, I know you’re Melinda but some names I tend to confuse eg Richard and Robert; Susan and Linda (!); Natasha and Natalie: Savannah and Sienna . . .
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Thanks, Ashley!
Melinda seems to be a named that’s often heard as Melanie or Melissa, but as far as I know you’ve always said Melinda. Some of my friends call me Mel, and one even calls me Melvin, though neighbor of us can recall why. My first name is Evelyn, which is never used, except by one kid from 10th grade English (which was a LONG time ago!) – and he still calls me that. I guess what I am saying is that you don’t need to worry, because I will answer to almost anything!
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