Col. Edward J. Baker envisioned a luxury hotel, a resort and escape for the community of St. Charles, and an icon to the world for what big things were happening there.

He and his niece Dellora Norris inherited the fortune of the founder of Texaco Oil, Col. Baker's brother-in-law John Gates.

[5] The Hotel Baker was built on the site of the old Haines Mill, which had been destroyed by fire in 1918 and was then used as a dumping grounds for seven years.

Col. Baker believed that a garbage dump should not be the focal point of his hometown,[3] so he bought the land and construction commenced on what was to be "the World's finest small hotel."

The Hotel Baker Gardens originally extended further than they do today, featuring a fishing pond and nine-hole miniature golf course.

The floor originally could display patterns such as stars, an American flag, Christmas tree, or Valentine's Day heart.

As long as Col. Baker was there, he continued to run the Hotel providing the funding for all its luxuries at the inexpensive price he sold.

[3] Dellora Norris operated the hotel until 1970, when she donated the building to the ownership of the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

Faced with aging and health issues, Mrs. Norris looked to find a suitable buyer because no one in the family showed an interest in the building.

Compared to the newly opened Pheasant Run Resort east of town, the Hotel Baker was outdated.

[8] In 1996 two local St. Charles businessmen, Craig Frank and Neil Johnson, purchased the hotel and began a renovation costing a rounded sum of $9,000,000.

Hoping to re-establish the tired and worn retirement home back as Hotel Baker, Frank and Johnson spent two years cleaning, furnishing, and upgrading the utilities of the long-neglected property.