Guest Post by: The ROAMies – Rory and Alexa James Partin
The first time we heard about Mineral Wells, Texas, it caught our attention. A small town calling itself the Wellness Capital of Texas? That immediately hooked Alexa. Then we heard about Crazy Water, and suddenly this unassuming town moved straight onto our must-visit list. So that’s why we decided to record a few podcast episodes here. We wanted to inspire our current and future listeners to discover, alongside us, this unique destination for wellness.
And while we wanted to be the expert inspirers… we found that we were the inspire-ees (and yes, we’re allowed to make up our own words when writing a blog post ).
With its hidden gems, quirky charm, and a strong sense of place, Mineral Wells is a town already worth visiting, but it’s clearly becoming something even greater. You can feel it in the air, in the conversations, and in the energy of the people. Mineral Wells is blooming with creativity, resilience, and fierce hometown pride.
Our First Stop: Crazy Water
We started our adventure with our priority: The Crazy Water Hotel’s Water and Coffee Bar. There, we got a proper water tasting (yes, that’s a thing!) and learned the backstory of this legendary “crazy” water. As a newly certified holistic nutritionist, Alexa has long been fascinated by the idea that food is medicine. Years ago, she dove into the world of alkaline water for her “day job” and learned how it contributes to a healthier, less acidic environment in the body.
When Rory was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, alkaline water became part of the regimen Alexa reinforced as Rory’s primary caregiver. That same year, Rory was declared cancer-free (and still is!). So when we heard there was mineral water in Texas with similar benefits?
Easy sell.
After the tasting, we headed straight to the Famous Mineral Water Company to stock up on some big ol’ jugs to take home. Alexa had so much fun requesting different water combos for different jugs. Thankfully, it was a road trip for us, and not a flight (gigantic jugs of water are not necessarily TSA or overhead bin friendly, just sayin’).
The Baker Isn’t the Story. The People Are.
As we explored the town, we kept driving by a massive, unfamiliar building. A towering relic with a glamorous, ghost-whispered past that seemed to loom over Mineral Wells. We had no idea what it was. An old hospital maybe??
As the day went along, the Baker Hotel kept coming up in conversation – like it was the centerpiece of the town’s story. With all the mentions from our interviews and conversations, why wasn’t it on our itinerary?
We finally got the scoop from our local guide, Rose (listen to the full story in Episode 241 below), and realized that the enormous edifice we kept passing was THE Baker Hotel! A currently unoccupied, unrenovated historic hotel.
Mystery solved.
There was a time when people were waiting on The Baker to be restored, hoping it would bring life and attention back to the community. But after years of delays and unknowns about its renovation, the question shifted to: “Why wait? If the Baker reopens… then what? Why would people stay? Why would they come back? Judy Garland stayed there. The Three Stooges walked its halls. And rumor has it, so did a ghost or two. But isn’t there more to this town than just this historic celebrity hotel?”
So the people of Mineral Wells stopped waiting.
With or without The Baker, they decided to build a town worth living in and worth visiting.
That’s when things really started moving. Artists, entrepreneurs, shop owners, chefs, and musicians began opening doors, starting markets, dreaming boldly. The heart of the town started beating louder than ever before. And that heartbeat? It’s stronger than any hotel.
Mineral Wells isn’t hoping for revival.
It’s living it. Right now.
Locals began to joke that The Baker would reopen “when pigs fly.” So someone built a literal flying pig statue, and now it stands proudly downtown like a wink from the town itself saying, “told you we could do it.”
And we’re witnesses to that truth.
And now, The Baker is under renovation. Finally.
The Beauty Beyond Downtown
We wandered Clark Gardens, a once-private passion project turned public oasis. We loved the winding paths, koi ponds, shady nooks, and wild peacocks that strut like they own the place. It’s peaceful, lush, and full of stories. We could’ve spent all day there.
(You should.)
Add it to your itinerary. Seriously. But don’t stop at just Clark Gardens.
We soaked in a healing mineral bath at the Crazy Water Bath House. If you’ve listened to our episodes, you’ll have learned that Alexa is a bath girl. So getting to stop and enjoy a mineral bath in the middle of the day was idyllic, especially because it was in a beautifully restored space that felt both modern and timeless. It gave us a slow-down, deep-breath moment we didn’t know we needed.
Speaking of baths, here is where we won’t mention that Alexa got a second bath that afternoon when she fell off her paddle board into Lake Mineral Wells while cat-walking to model her new outfit for the rest of us kayaking with her.
And since we didn’t mention that, we’ll highlight the other peaceful moments we experienced on our hike through Penitentiary Hollow at Lake Mineral Wells State Park, one of the few natural rock-climbing spots in Texas. The views were stunning. The lake shimmered in the late sun. Adventure and stillness met us in the same breath. Calm, quiet, and life-giving.
Soaking in (pun intended) the nature experiences in Mineral Wells further reinforced its Wellness Capital title in our book.
A Town for Foodies and Shoppers Alike
As for food? Let’s just say we were surprised in the best way.
We loved the seasonal menu at City Meats & Market, and the locally sourced, comfort-forward magic at Second Bar + Kitchen by renowned chef David Bull. It’s sophisticated without being stuffy. Fresh, full of heart, and absolutely delicious. And you MUST try their fire cider.
Now, if you’ve been tracking the ongoing Cajun vs. Vegan debate between Rory and Alexa…
Mineral Wells is the Wellness Capital of Texas – so you’d think that delicious vegan finds would be aplenty. But Rory gets to call this one a win for Team Cajun, because – well, Texas is also known as the land of brisket and barbecue, and Mineral Wells makes no exception (they just up the game and use fresh and local).
Alexa held her own, though, able to find a few plant-powered options, especially at Second Bar + Kitchen, where the vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free dishes are as delicious as they are thoughtful.
If you travel to shop, you’re in for a treat. Boutiques curated with care. Vintage treasures. Handmade goods. And not just for the ladies. This is one of those fun towns not taken over by chain stores. Rory especially loved Uptown Man, tucked inside the newly revived Crazy Water Hotel. Since the shops are locally owned and run, and The Market at 76067 features tons of goods by locals, shopping was a great way to meet, learn, and hear about the strong sense of community, and that’s what sealed the deal for us.
What We’ll Remember Most
We did a lot. We ate well. We explored. We laughed. We rested. But what we’ll remember most? The people.
Strong people. Visionary people. People who love their town fiercely and are building something beautiful. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it.
That’s what Mineral Wells gave us. If they can make pigs fly, maybe we can, too.
So yes. Visit for the crazy water. The wellness. The trails. The nature. The food. The gardens. The history. The charm. The creativity. But more than anything?
Come for the people.
You’ll leave more inspired than when you came.
Just like we did.
Crazy Water: Mineral Wells’ Healing Secret Episode 240
When Pigs Fly: How a Small Texas Town Reinvented Itself Episode: 241
Pedals, Paddles & Parks: Enjoying Nature in Mineral Wells, Texas Episode 242
Meat Markets, Fire Cider, Purple Potatoes AND SHOPPING! Episode 243
