Roughly 50 miles west of Dallas-Fort Worth, history flows in Mineral Wells. In the 1800s, a local woman was called crazy for drinking the mineral-rich waters of a natural spring and claiming it had health benefits. Then when a local businessman drank the water and claimed it cured his stomach ailment, he unleashed a tourism craze. Visitors descended on the town, thirsty for a taste of the supposedly healing waters. Fearing their natural wonder would be exploited by outside interests, locals banded together in 1922 and raised funds to build the Baker Hotel, inspired by the famous bathhouses in Hot Springs National Park. Recent plans to reopen the hotel demonstrate how history mixes with the present in the small, outdoorsy city. "It's just a beautiful place, and people are very, very proud of that," says Kathy Spencer, manager of the Boyce Ditto Public Library. "People love the history." Recently, Mineral Wells was accepted into the statewide Texas Main Street program, helping accelerate the restoration and reinhabiting of Western false-front and art deco commercial buildings in the downtown core. "It was announced that there are about 50 to 60 new businesses in Mineral Wells in the last year," Spencer says. "They have reinvented downtown. It's unbelievable."
Mineral Wells, TX is famous for its rich waters and springs.
Downtown Mineral Wells has seen a recent rejuvenation with the upcoming opening of the Baker Hotel.
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Home and land prices for considerably less than Weatherford
Mineral Wells sees a median single-family price of $237,000, whereas neighboring cities like Weatherford almost double that. A fairly stagnant population has sat around 15,000 for many years, so there aren't many new builds in Mineral Wells.In the early 2000s, custom farmhouses on rural acreage were a popular trend. These days, rehabs of 20th-century slab ranchers and cottages are most common in the city. Land buyers can still expect to pay between $25,000 and $130,000 per acre.
Custom homes of all sizes and styles are popping up in Mineral Wells.
Mineral Wells is abundant in renovated ranch homes .
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Distant interstates and aerospace manufacturers in town
U.S. Highways 180 and 281 are the primary connectors for Mineral Wells. Interstate 20 can be accessed roughly 20 miles east in Weatherford. U.S. 281 offers a closer connection with I-20 roughly 15 miles south of Mineral Wells. The city also has an airport serving military and general aviation needs while also being a major economic force as the home of five aircraft manufacturers, including Genesys Aerosystems. Non-aerospace manufacturers and Palo Pinto General Hospital are also major employers.
Historic mineral spas soon to reopen at the restored Baker Hotel
Ten years after it closed in 1972, the Baker Hotel was put on the National Register of Historic Places. In its almost 50-year lifetime, the hotel saw such famous guests as Judy Garland, Clark Gable and former president Lyndon B. Johnson. In 2018, voters approved restoring the Spanish Colonial Revival high rise to its former glory, choosing to keep its famed mineral spa open. The reinvigorated downtown has grown significantly the last few years while, on the east side of town, residents take care of weekly needs at various supermarkets and big-box retailers.
The famous Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells is under renovation and set to reopen in 2026.
Mineral Wells residents find basic necessities at the local Brookshire's.
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Civic groups and running clubs keep residents active and involved
Public events range from golf tournaments to downtown street fairs. Numerous civic organizations, like Friends of the Library, make it easy to forge connections and give back through volunteering. Running clubs and gardening groups keep residents outside while bars and restaurants hold live music and open mic nights. Sip 'n Shops and a weekly farmers market draw crowds to downtown businesses, and numerous facilities across town offer constant family-friendly activities like story times at the Boyce Ditto Library or no-bake cooking classes at Clark Gardens. "Our summer reading program is a big event. We have a block party that starts it off in the parking lot with free hot dogs and entertainment," Spencer says.
Residents can attend regular events held at at Boyce Ditto Public Library.
The Mineral Wells Let's Grow Crazy Community Garden hosts a weekly farmers market.
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New library parks and former airbases turned rock-climbing hotspots
Outdoor areas also provide a well of history. Fossil enthusiasts can dig into the past at Mineral Wells Fossil Park. Popular camping and rock-climbing spots in Mineral Wells State Park sit on hallowed ground. The former airbase is where nearly every Vietnam War helicopter pilot trained, which is why the National Vietnam War Museum sits across from the park entrance. Cyclists and horseback riders can reach Mineral Wells State Park from the center of town using the 20-mile-long Lake Mineral Wells Trailway, which extends east to Weatherford. Plus, there are additional projects planned for the future. "We are going to be building a walking story trail park in the back of our library," Spencer says. "It's going to be a wonderful park with storyboards in it, gazebos, a bridge and a make-believe trail going through the park."
Families head to Mineral Wells Fossil Park to hunt for unique fossil finds.
Lake Mineral Wells Park is popular for hiking trails, swimming, and fishing in Mineral Wells.
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Individualized instruction through Mineral Wells ISD
Although the city is split between Palo Pinto and Parker Counties, students are zoned for Mineral Wells Independent School District, which has a B-minus Niche rating. The district oversees roughly 3,300 students across five schools, plus a special academy for ninth through 12th graders seeking smaller classes with individualized instruction.
Students at Mineral Wells Jr. High School enjoy a variety of after school activities.
Mineral Wells High School students can cheer for the Rams.
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Natural hazards and crime stats
Routine natural hazards include tornadoes and extreme summer heat. Riverine flooding can also be a concern in some parts of the city, but this primarily affects lesser developed areas surrounding the Brazos River.
FBI data shows violent crime rates in Mineral Wells mostly align with state and national figures. Property crime rates, meanwhile, are a bit above state and national figures, mostly due to a recent uptick in motor vehicle thefts.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Andrea McKinney
Video By
Nathan Allen
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