10 Facts About the Real-Life Hotel That Inspired The Shining

In 1903, the inventor of the steam-powered car, Freelan Oscar Stanley, became afflicted with tuberculosis. The most recommended treatment was fresh, dry air and sunlight, so Stanley naturally headed to the Rocky Mountains with his wife, Flora. As his health improved dramatically, he decided to turn Estes Park into a resort town for people looking to regain their health and for the elite of the East Coast just looking for relaxation in the mountains. And just like that, The Stanley Hotel was born.

King mostly relied on fictional inspiration and did not actually have an experience with the spirit world at The Stanley Hotel, but reports of paranormal activity at the property started as early as right after the 1911 explosion. In fact, Ms. Elizabeth Wilson was actually hurled down from room 217 – the same room King and his wife stayed in.

Apart from sightings of the hotel’s founders, every single room in the hotel has experienced a spooky, sinister event. Reports include clothes being mysteriously unpacked, lights going on and off, and objects moving on their own. Guests have even reported hearing children’s laughter or the sound of someone running down the halls on the famously “spirited” fourth floor. The Stanley Hotel employees assure guests that their ghosts are “happy ghosts,” but I’d prefer not to risk it. That’s just me, though!

Because of its fame as a haunted resort, The Stanley Hotel offers the opportunity to book specific rooms on the “active” fourth floor. What does it mean by “active,” you ask? Guests have most frequently reported paranormal activity there, particularly in rooms 401, 407, and 428. Another “spirited room” (and the most requested on the property) is the Stephen King Suite 217. Fun fact: the hotel actually estimates that the “217” number plate on the door gets stolen once a week. At least possible perpetrators can blame it on a ghost?

Although The Shining is a critically lauded film with a performance by Jack Nicholson that will go down in history, Stephen King was actually not happy with the way Stanley Kubrick directed the movie version of his book. Particularly, Kubrick’s decision not to film at The Stanley Hotel, which inspired the story. Kubrick made the decision to film in Hertfordshire, England, with some scenes in Montana and Oregon, since The Stanley lacked sufficient snow and electricity. Still, King was not pleased with the final product of the film and made it clear in several interviews.

After being so dissatisfied with Kubrick’s film, King decided to write and produce a television adaptation of The Shining in 1997. This time, it was filmed at The Stanley Hotel, which was always King’s wish. However, modern critics’ consensus is that the TV version pales in comparison to Kubrick’s classic film.

With ghosts, moving objects, and a paranormal past, The Stanley Hotel was just missing one thing: the hedge maze from The Shining that appears in its famous chase scene. To celebrate 20 years of owning The Stanley Hotel, John W. Cullen decided to build the maze for his spirit-hunting guests, or just visitors in the mood for an intense game of hide-and-seek. Either way, I’m both scared at the thought of it and truly intrigued.