Finding a place for five is harder than it should be. Plenty of rentals sleep four, and hotel rooms rarely fit five without booking two. At Mirador's Texas Shire, the answer is the Baker House: the one house behind the round yellow door that's set up for five guests.
Here's how the Baker works for a family of five, what to know before you book, and how to plan two easy days around it.
Why the Baker is the house for five
Mirador has three hobbit-inspired Texas Shire Houses near Mingus, Texas. The Gardener and Writer Houses each sleep up to four. The Baker House sleeps up to five, and it's the only one of the three that does.
What's inside, as listed on Mirador's Texas Shire Houses page and the Baker's booking listing:
- A queen bed, built-in bunk beds and a sleeping nook
- One bathroom
- A kitchenette with a stovetop, oven, microwave, air fryer, sink and refrigerator. The oven is useful for families: the Gardener House doesn't have one.
- Starlink Wi-Fi, air conditioning, heating and a fireplace
- Free parking on the property
If you're still weighing all three houses, our guide to the Baker, Gardener and Writer Houses compares them side by side.
How five people fit
There's no single right way to sleep five, but the Baker's layout makes the most common arrangement simple:
- Parents: the queen bed
- Two kids: the built-in bunks
- The fifth: the sleeping nook, often the most coveted spot in the house for a young reader
A few honest notes:
- Five is the maximum. The house rules allow registered guests only, up to five. If you're traveling with a baby, ask Mirador before booking how an infant counts toward that total.
- There's one bathroom. With five people, stagger showers in the evening and keep mornings unhurried. Checkout isn't until 11 a.m.
- Tall teens or adults in the nook. If your fifth guest is a teenager or an adult, message Mirador before booking to confirm the nook suits them.
- Need another bed? The Add-ons & Experiences page lists a rollaway bed ($100, with a fitted sheet, blanket and pillow). It doesn't change the five-guest maximum, so ask whether it suits the Baker when you request it.
Have your nights in mind? Check open dates for the Baker House on its live calendar.
Meals for five, without the fuss
Mirador is intentionally tucked away, and grocery and dining options nearby are limited, so the FAQ recommends arriving with groceries, snacks and drinks for your whole stay. With a stovetop, oven, microwave and air fryer, the Baker handles kid-friendly basics well: a sheet-pan dinner, frozen pizza, pancakes, or leftovers from home. The listing includes kitchen utensils, a baking sheet and coffee.
For a night off from cooking:
- White Chicken Chili ($45): a slow cooker of white chicken chili with toppings for an easy meal during your stay
- Smokestack Restaurant in Thurber: a family restaurant serving travelers since 1971, open daily from 7 a.m. (until 9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday–Saturday)
Little extras for kids
Mirador offers three kids' activities, which you can request after you book:
- Storybook Studio ($25): an interactive storybook with coloring pages, prompts and fill-in-the-blank adventures, so kids can write a tale of their own
- Cookie Creations ($35): a ready-to-decorate kit with two premade cookies and decorating supplies
- Green Thumbs ($30): paint a flower pot, then plant the included seeds
- Little Adventures Bundle ($75): all three together, which saves $15
The Fishing Kit ($50) includes two basic rods, tackle and catch-and-release instructions for time by the water. The hosted Top Drive Cruise is a 60-minute sunset drive around the property, priced at $250 per group of four, so ask about your fifth guest when you request it.
To add any of these, contact Mirador with your reservation details. They'll confirm the arrangements and send a payment link.
Two easy days nearby
You don't have to leave the property for a good stay, but two family-friendly outings are close by:
- Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, near Strawn, opened in March 2026. Entry is $7 for visitors 13 and older, and children 12 and under are free. The accessible Raptor Ridge Trail is about a mile round trip with overlooks, and the park lends fishing gear for Tucker Lake, with no fishing license needed inside the park. Kids can pick up a free Junior Ranger Activity Journal and earn a badge. Our guide to staying near Palo Pinto Mountains State Park covers planning a park day.
- W.K. Gordon Museum in Thurber tells the story of the coal-mining company town that once stood here. It's open Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday 1–4 p.m. (closed Monday). Admission is $2.50 for children 5–12 and free for children 5 and under.
For more ideas and hours, see Things to Do Near Mingus, Texas on a Weekday.
Getting there
Mirador is in the hills near Mingus, about 75 miles west of downtown Fort Worth by way of I-20. Plan on roughly an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes from Fort Worth, depending on where you start. The last stretch is on slower country roads. Mirador sends exact directions and arrival details before your stay. Check-in is at 3 p.m. For groceries, house rules and a packing list, see our guide to planning your Texas Shire stay.
Book the Baker House
Stays have a two-night minimum. Weekdays are often the easiest time to find open dates, and they make a good fit for families with younger kids, homeschoolers or a school holiday. Dates and rates change, so check the live calendar for the nights you want. Before you book, read the payment and cancellation terms on the listing.
Check dates for the Baker House
Traveling as four instead? The Gardener House and the Writer House each sleep four. Check dates for the Texas Shire Houses to see all three.
Sources (checked October 28, 2026)
- Mirador: Texas Shire Houses, FAQ, Add-ons & Experiences
- Mirador booking site: The Baker listing (capacity 5, 2 bedrooms, 4 beds, 1 bath, check-in 3 p.m., checkout 11 a.m., house rules and amenities) and its live calendar (two-night minimum)
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, Trails, Entrance fees
- W.K. Gordon Center, Tarleton State University: Plan Your Visit
- Smokestack Restaurant: Hours
- Drive estimate: OSRM routing, downtown Fort Worth to the property (about 74 miles); Mirador FAQ ("about an hour and a half")
Add-on prices are as listed on Mirador's Add-ons & Experiences page on October 28, 2026, and may change. Attraction hours and fees are from each venue's website on the same date; confirm before you go.