~ Jessica, Your email address will not be published. Stanley never made a profit on the hotel and operated it more as a pastime, eventually selling it in his later years. Hi Rhonda, Thanks! Isn’t it crazy how much impact a film can have? Inside the Stanley Hotel’s haunted underground tunnel system, known as The Tunnel. I told him about the furniture in the hall, but when we opened the door there was none. It is not surprising that 217 is one of the most popular and requested room at The Stanley Hotel. The Stanley Hotel shows the uncut R-rated version of Stanley Kubrick’s movie The Shining on a continuous loop on guest room televisions. The salesgirl was very attractive and very good. I enjoy the character and story behind places like this. It was the presidential suite (room 217) that Mrs. Wilson, the chambermaid, had entered and fallen through the floor after the gas explosion. The Stanley earned a reputation as a paranormal nerve center long before King’s arrival at the hotel, completed in 1909 as an elite, 420-room retreat by entrepreneur and inventor F.O. In the warmer months, there is The Patio where you dine on the outdoor patio area and there is often live entertainment on Fridays and weekends. During the summer in Estes Park in a rustic cabin, Stanley’s health recovered and he decided to return each year to Estes Park. The entire tour mixed historical information and facts with supernatural information about ghosts and paranormal activity. The hotel at that point had fallen into decline and the success of the novel and film helped to greatly boost bookings for the hotel as well as lead to a fascination with the supposed hauntings at the hotel. The Stanley Event Complex is a Kansas City wedding venue with multiple unique & beautiful spaces to help craft your dream event. As of June 2015, the hotel constructed a miniature maze inspired by the film’s climatic scenes. The bar is perfect for whiskey lovers and we both had memorable drinks from the bar. It’s where female … Before our visit I had no idea about the Stanley Hotel’s history outside of its hauntings. Today the hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. There are a number of lodging options available at The Stanley Hotel and on the hotel grounds. If you have been to The Ahwahnee (now The Majestic Yosemite Hotel) at Yosemite, the interiors for the film were based loosely on that hotel, especially the Great Lounge area. A Bit of History About the Stanley Hotel Photo Credit: Stanley Hotel. To do this, we store the data as outlined in our privacy policy. You can visit the hotel in a few different ways, with most people visiting to take a day or evening, We spent two nights at the Stanley Hotel and during that time we did a hotel tour, ate two meals, visited the gift shop, and had drinks in the lounge, ensuring we had the full Stanley Hotel experience! The home will be an enduring reminder of the evolution and development of Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. I went to the bathroom and when I came out I heard noises coming from the hall like bumping against the wall. I was awoken in the middle of the night with an uneasy feeling as if I had been shaken awake. Years later, when I read that story about Steven King and his very similar story about, end of the season and staying there alone before it shut down and having a strange experience, a shiver went up my neck. [*] In the 1920’s a bordello was built in the hotel where liquor was sol… Learn more at BohemianBabeTravels.com Hi Keith, The main architects were Freelan Oscar Stanley and T. Robert Weiger, but I don’t know where you can find the crew information. In 1980, Stanley Kubrick would direct the film version of King’s novel, choosing to film the vast majority of the movie on a film set, and using the, King was generally disappointed with Kubrick’s adaptation of his novel and in 1997, Stephen King wrote a teleplay and produced a three-part, The hotel also served as a filming location for other films and TV shows, notably the 1994 film, The Stanley Hotel has been regularly visited by. Parking is complimentary for all guests with existing Tour, Restaurant, and Hotel reservations. We also briefly explored the main staircase, the second floor guest hallway, and the supposedly haunted fourth floor of the hotel. The Stanley Hotel is located 5 miles (15 minute drive) east of Rocky Mountain National Park and is about 40 miles (1 hour drive) from Boulder and 70 miles (1.5 hour drive) from Denver. In 1903, the Yankee steam-powered car inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley (1849–1940) was stricken with a … We were in Room 219, which I believe was a King Deluxe room. The Stanleys and their grand hotel quite literally helped put the town on the map. The Stanley Hotel inspired the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's 1977 bestselling novel The Shining and was a filming location for the related 1997 TV miniseries. Estes Valley was once a wild, lonely parkland known only to wandering tribes of Ute and Arapaho. Inside, we were taken through the lobby, music room, billiards room and MacGregor dining room. Now that we have those out of the way, we can look back and wonder why the Stanley Hotel may be so haunted. See our Historic Hotels, all at once. As I lay in bed I could hear a strange scratching noise coming from the window which my father had left open a crack. The day fee of $10 is payable to the Guard Gate attendee upon arrival. We have nothing but good things to say about the room itself; however, there were two minor issues we had during our stay. The room number was changed to 237 in the film, something the Timberline Hotel requested as it did not relate to an actual room number at the hotel as they were afraid guests would not want to sleep in the room featured in the horror film (they were wrong!). In 1908, it would actually be Lord Dunraven who would sell F.O. But we were especially impressed with our dinner at the Cascades Restaurant. Created by F.O. Indeed, back then the Hotel was no where near the condition it is in today and they were closing the Hotel after that weekend for the winter. Find Old World charm with the spacious rooms with flat screen TVs, complimentary wireless Internet and a morning paper to keep you abreast of the news. My buddy and I visited Estes park in the summer of 1979. The fact that Stephen King stopped at The Stanley Hotel was very fortuitous for the future of the hotel. I have never seen the movie but my curiosity is piqued now. It is not uncommon for ghosts in old fashion styles to appear in haunted places, and room #413 is no different. Book tours and meals in advance to save on parking! I always wondered what became of that effort to repurpose The Stanley. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of replies to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise! Stanley. The Stanley Hotel is best known for being the inspiration for Stephen King’s bestselling novel The Shining and the subsequent film starring Jack Nicholson as the slowly driven mad overseer. Some of your wide angle and oblique view photos look like they could be “stills” from the movie. this is an amazing article on the Stanley Hotel. Room 401. Here in this mountain wilderness, surrounded by the rustic haunts of the hunter and homesteader, was an edifice that withstood comparison to the posh hotels “back east.” Electric lights, telephones, en suite bathrooms, a staff of uniformed servants and a fleet of automobiles were at their disposal. Hi Seana, The photo was not really intended to be creepy haha, but I can see how it might be. A large bed located where the one in your picture is and another smaller one (or maybe a rollaway on the other side of the connecting door to 217. The park was founded in 1915 and Estes Park was incorporated in 1917. The Stanley Hotel is famous for its old world charm. He reported that by the time he left the hotel, he had the basic plot of, The novel quickly became a bestseller and remains one of King’s most popular novels. I am sure if you call or email The Stanley they can provide more information about that specific rooms and if it is has changed since your stay during the 1970’s or not. The display cases include both historical pieces related to the Stanleys and the hotel, as well as pieces related to, Most of the rooms on the tour are generally closed off to the public and only used for tours and special events. In addition to its regular hotel tours, The Stanley Hotel also regularly has live entertainment on weekends throughout the year at its Stanley Live venue. If you are interested in the haunted history of The Stanley Hotel, I’d suggest considering the evening Ghost Tour, the Ghost Adventure overnight package (includes a K2 meter! Most visitors to the hotel do one of the offered tours. Freelan Oscar Stanley was a person of many talents, trades and interests. It's a momento medallion, one side displays the Rocky Mountain National Park Centennial logo and the other exhibits our Historic Stanley Hotel. The Stanleys would arrange an array of summer activities for their wealthy guests, from concerts and picnics to bowling and horseback riding. and children under 8 years of age are not permitted on the tours. The restaurant is known for its steaks (we didn’t get a chance to try them) and their Colorado inspired dishes so we’d recommend focusing on those dishes. This travel blog is very nice and the hotels are very beautiful in Colorado, thanks for sharing this blog. The guy working the desk gave us a great rate on a big room at the end of the hall on the second floor. They can also provide information if you are interested in holding a wedding or event here. This post may contain affiliate links. I guess King’s genre is not my favorite. There wasn’t anybody here moving furniture last night, you were the only two people up there. We were told the most haunted hotel room is 401, but rooms 217 (Elizabeth Wilson), 407, 428 (kissing cowboy), and 1302 are also said to have a fair amount of paranormal activity. History. I thought this was a good way to show visitors these rooms since you don’t see any room interiors on the tour. It provided employment and training opportunities for local residents and it helped improve local services. Our room was not ready but the reception called housekeeping and told us that it would be given priority and we would be called when it was ready. I don’t know if it still exists but there was a door in the room which connected to 217. The second evening at the hotel, we watched Kubrick’s The Shining on the hotel TV (it plays all day) as Laurence had never seen it before! The Stanley Hotel has a storied history that begins well before Stephen King stepped foot on the property, and the hotel once hosted guests like Molly Brown, John Philip Sousa, and Theodore Roosevelt. The Stanley Hotel is famous for a few reasons. This area of the hotel was destroyed in the explosion and the large presidential suite was separated into 3 rooms. First for its historical place in the history of Estes Park and the development of the area. If you are standing outside of the hotel facing the front entrance, the infamous Room 217  is the second floor room with the white balcony on the left side of the hotel. Built in 1910, The Lodge was originally called the Stanley Manor, built as a 2:3 scale replica of the main hotel. The legendary Stanley Hotel is famous for its charm and history; located in beautiful Estes Park, CO. We offer four different Estes Park accommodation experiences including:. Best, Jessica. The Stanley Hotel. Tours do sell out, so it is best to book in advance if you know the date and time you want to visit. Hi John, What an eerie but memorable stay at The Stanley Hotel with your father, thank you for sharing it with us and our readers! It is unclear why he refused, but it seems he got spooked by something. Is this true? For us, it was a perfect base for exploring the lovely town of Estes Park and the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado is not only famous for its old-world charm and excellent service, but it is also known for its “active” paranormal phenomena and spirit folklore. Located in the heart of historic downtown Lee's Summit. Yes, if you go on one of the Stanley Hotel tours, especially the night tours, they will talk about potential hauntings and ghosts. Your e-mail will not be published or used for any other reason other than those outlined above. ~ Jessica. Most of the rooms on the tour are generally closed off to the public and only used for tours and special events. I finally fell back to sleep ,but not before once again feeling uneasy and a little bit scared maybe about the bed moving and things going on next door. I have not visited yet. However, the hotel did serve as the inspiration for Stephen King’s third novel, The Shining and was used in the later TV mini-series. Rooms rates range from about $200 to $750 per night, with the Stanley Classic standard queen rooms in the main hotel and the standard queen rooms in The Lodge being the lowest priced. ~ Jessica. Yes, there are many beautiful lodges and hotels in Colorado. The Stanley Hotel is located in Estes Park Colorado, the gateway to one of the most visited national parks in the United States: Rocky Mountain National Park. I was a student in Ohio and my friend was between semesters in CT. Well as you might guess it was a time share pitch. Parking for those without an advanced booking is currently $10 per vehicle. Tours can be booked in advance online or by phone (+1 970-577-4111) and the current price (as of February 2020) for the regular History Day Tour is USD $23.00 per person and it is $28 per person for the evening tours. Today both the film and the mini-series are played on a loop on one channel at The Stanley so guests can enjoy the films while staying overnight at the hotel. the  “Unsinkable Molly Brown” of Titanic fame), composer John Philip Sousa, and Theodore Roosevelt. and Flora Stanley. Also send me the latest blog posts by e-mail, Independent Travel Cats Monthly Newsletter, Logos, images, and content all protected by copyright. Then we all headed outside and visited the Concert Hall, passing The Lodge on the way. We covered all other expenses during our stay. Hi Robert, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. The Stanley Hotel is a 105-year-old piece of history still open today If you want to request a certain room number or get a certain type of room (e.g., on the fourth floor, away from the tour path) you should book by phone directly with the hotel. Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign-up. They had a bit of an eerie and surreal experience being the only guests in the large resort hotel and that night King had a nightmare about his son being chased by a fire hose in the hallways of the hotel. The day fee of $10 is payable to the Guard Gate attendee upon arrival. I did visited another haunted hotel in Old Town and the stories were spooky. The answer to this is a definite yes. Both include a discussion of Stephen King and The Shining. Parking is complimentary for overnight hotel guests as well as those with advanced hotel tour or dining reservations, so have your booking confirmation ready for the gate attendant. The Stanley Hotel would host a number of wealthy and famous people in its heyday, such as socialite Margaret Brown (i.e. [*] The location always seemed cursed. Naturally, Stanley had also done much to develop the burgeoning town. I didn’t get the chance to stay overnight, but it sounds wonderful! The novel quickly became a bestseller and remains one of King’s most popular novels. The tours covers the history of the hotel, the Stanleys, and the haunted aspects of the hotel. It was some sort of pineapple, berry, lime, and mint concoction that tasted delicious and I wish I would have asked the exact ingredients to be able to replicate it! Stanley the land on which he built The Stanley Hotel. The 100+-year-old hotel, located about five miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, offers panoramic views of Lake Estes and the Rocky Mountains, and especially Long’s Peak. Please scroll to the end to leave a comment. We inquired how much it would be to stay there and they said it would be for only the one night since they were closing the next day. This was before Steven KIngs story the shinning had come out. © Copyright 2013 - 2020, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park Colorado: History, Hauntings, & Whiskey, The Stanley Hotel is best known for being the inspiration for Stephen King’s bestselling novel, Basic Information about The Stanley Hotel, For best prices, check the hotel website for discounts and you can also check and compare prices, There are several food and drink options. Which I now know was Room 219. 1858 - In April, Hungerford sells the hotel to John Tonkin. Both include a discussion of Stephen King and, The Stanley Hotel has an excellent informative. The tours are quite interesting, you can do the regular day tour or the evening ghost-oriented tour! Interestingly, a hedge maze (although much smaller in scale) was planted at the Stanley Hotel in 2015 because of its connection with the film. Then we had the Colorado elk loin and the beef short ribs, and while both were great, we highly recommend the elk loin as it was the stand out dish for us during our time in Colorado. The Stanley Hotel sits grandly in the Estes Valley, a valley rich in history since the 1800s. The Shanleys lost three children (Kathleen, James, William) in the home, all died before their 1st birthday. The lives of the Stanley brothers who began their first business together at age 10 was very interesting and quite inspiring, making significant contributions to the photography and automobile industries. The hotel stands today as a beautifully restored testament to its glory days, when it served as a holiday retreat for wealthy urbanites. Stanley, the genius behind the Stanley Steamer Motor Car, the 1909 hotel inspired horror writer Stephen King in 1974 to write his blockbuster book, The Shining, which later spawned two movie versions. The Stanley was a model mountain resort of a kind that had previously existed primarily in the Colorado Springs area, complete with a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, lawn and indoor bowling, croquet, and billiards. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Stanley, who moved out to Colorado hoping that … The Haunted Shanley Hotel Timeline. Note that the rooms in the main hotel and the lodge do not have air conditioning, but that the Aspire and Residences rooms do have A/C. Hi Ruth, Yes, I also really love hotels with interesting stories and histories. One of these is a former employee named Paul who worked as a handy man in the 1980’s. If you are going to be visiting Estes Park, I’d take one of the tours and see for yourself. Sadly, the Estes Park Hotel would be destroyed by fire in 1911. Other ghosts include the Stanleys, Lord Dunraven (original landowner), children, and a kissing cowboy. It was opened in 1909. The Stanley (primary hotel) for the classic historic rooms. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. Can I Visit the Stanley Hotel without Staying Overnight? Best, Jessica. Hi Jessica, My daughter lives in the Boulder area and we have been to The Stanley. Please check your e-mail to confirm your sign up. The Shining gives me chills. Plum Guide Review: A New Alternative to Airbnb? I feel it now. When we got up in the morning and were getting dressed my Dad asked how I had slept, and I related to him not well and that the movers had kept me up. Click here to see our current giveaway and enter! It was so informative and took me right back to Estes Park. There is reported to be a vortex, often referred to as “The Vortex” near the 2nd floor stairs as well as a few other areas of the hotel, including in the service tunnel. The Stanley is a shining example of how – and where – to make you look. 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