SCCA Road Rally to circle 80 year old Landmark.

One of the many sights you’ll see if you enter the SCCA sanctioned OPEN ROAD ADVENTURE is the Mineral Wells landmark “The Baker Hotel”. This impressive landmark is the tallest structure, by far, for miles around and was termed a Sky Scraper in its day.

The Baker was designed with the same architecture as the famed Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The hotel was a hot spot in the 30’s & 40’s for Hollywood with names like Clark Gable, Tommy Dorsey, Lucille Ball and many others traveling by car or train to relax and bathe in the mineral spring water. She opened her doors November 9, 1929 and her grand opening was November 22, 1929 just two weeks after the great stock market crash. The Baker Hotel’s front door was placed facing The Bankhead Highway, which was a testament to the importance of both. We’ll give you a few minutes on the Rally to walk the stairs up to the front door, if you’re interested in looking inside.

The hotel closed for the final time in 1972. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. A group has been put together to investigate cost and funding for redevelopment of The Baker as a top meeting and event destination hotel. It would be grand to see it open and be busy again.

You can see this grand old Hotel before the proposed $54 million renovation, while driving on the SCCA Open Road Adventure.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/08...be-reborn.html

Preregister for the rally at tinyurl.com/ORA10msr . Get more information on the rally at www.texasscca.org/ORA10flyer1.pdf .

 

I went on a check-run Sunday, and those rally roads are just as much fun as advertised. It's a lot like being in the Hill Country, but a lot closer to us. It's very pretty and green, hilly, and twisty. You will love it!

www.tinyurl.com/ORA10msr