Across the United States, there lie a myriad of abandoned and haunted locations. From tuberculosis sanitoriums, to former hotels and hospitals - many of these places remain home to some residents not quite yet ready to move on.
One such location is a former hotel in Mineral Wells, Texas, which is now undergoing renovations in the hopes to reopen. However, during its time lying empty, many paranormal investigator visited and had some shocking experiences.
The main attraction which drew people to the hotel, including the likes of Bonnie and Clyde, the Three Stooges and Judy Garland, was what was believed to be a magical health secret lying underground. The area is home to mineral-rich water, which was dubbed Crazy Water after a woman apparently cured her mental illness by consuming it regularly.
People in the 1800s would travel from across the country to experience the healing powers of the water. They believed it could cure anything from dementia, to physical illnesses.
The Baker Hotel was built in 1926 for a cost of $1.2m, opening in 1929. The 14 floor hotel consisted of 450 rooms, a lavish pool and spa which were filled with the mineral-rich water which drew people to the area.
However, it faced many difficulties, including bankruptcy in 1932 following the stock market crash. The hotel, though, was saved by new owners who kept it alive for severla more years.
During World War Two it changed hands once again, becoming a military dependents quarter from 1941 to 1944. The space finally reopened as a hotel in 1963, remaining in operation until 1972 and having been closed since then.
Today, paranomal investigators and ghost enthusiasts still visit the location 51 miles west of Mineral Wells, encountering some spooky former residents. The hotel is said to be occupied by the spirits of people who were sick and came to the hotel in hopes the mineral water would help them, but ended up dying any way.
People have reported being poked, scratched and bitten and ghostly smells associated with the spirits linger where they are often encountered.
One of the most famous resident ghosts is TD Baker himself, who built the hotel, along with his mistress. He's believed to haunt the Baker Suite, found on floor 11.
It's said he died in his suite, and now roams the hallways of the masterpiece he built endlessly. He is believed to be such a strong presence that tour guides offering ghost walks will, in fact, always knock on the doors of the Baker suite before entering in an effort to not anger the ghost of TD Baker.
One of the most perculiar hauntings is not apparitions seen in the corner of someone's eye, or a disembodied voice, but a scent. Witnesses have said the entire 11th floor smells like cigar smoke - with TD Baker having enjoyed smoking cigars in his life leading many to link the smell to him.
Along with Baker, it's said his mistress still roams the hotel - where she was kept by Baker on the seventh floor. The story is that she jumped from the window of the seventh floor, falling to her death.
Some say she jumped because the affair simply became too much for her, though the true reason is still unknown. Along with the smell of cigar smoke, countless witnesses have reported smelling a lavender perfume.
An apparition of her has also been spotted. With red hair, piercing green eyes and the unmistakable lavender perfume - people are sure they're seeing the mistress. A maid of the hotel even found broken glass scattered across a room on the seventh floor, stained with the same shade of red lipstick that the mistress' ghost had been seen wearing.
But she doesn't confine herself to the seventh floor, or to just sights and scents. People also apparently hear the mistress roaming the different floors in her high heels, and have even reported she will poke and touch male guests she takes a shine to.
Owner Kathy Estes told the Texas Bucket List of the ghosts that “It’s their world. I’m just living in it."
She said: “Some spirits will do things that are harmful because they’re seeking attention. They need help. And you’re not paying attention to them and that’s the only way they can get our attention is by throwing things and scratching and biting.
"And then that’s what makes you say, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ And you stop in your tracks and you try to communicate. ‘What can I do to help you?’.
"Then there are some that are just angry that they’ve suffered a traumatic life. They’re trapped. They’re angry. They’re in misery. They don’t want to be there or they don’t want you in their home. They don’t like you. They don’t want you in their space. They want you to get out."
It's not just former residents and their lovers who are said to haunt the hotel. One of the most gruesome stories associated with the property is that of a young bellhop.
The story goes that he was in an elevator accident in the 1950s, which saw him chopped in half. People have seen his apparition, but only the top half of his body.
There are historical records which have confirmed the death of the elevator boy, matching descriptions of the legless ghost seen haunting the hotel.
Another resident spirit is that of a young boy and his dog. It's believed he died around 1933 from leukemia, having sought treatment from the mineral springs.
Local mediums have said he's one of the few spirits who communicates with them for help, and that most the spirits who haunt the hotel do not, in fact, want to be helped.
With renovation work now underway, maybe some of the spirits will move on and be at peace. Or, who knows, maybe it will just agitate more?
