The Stanley Hotel

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, opened in 1909 and has been associated with supernatural activity almost since its beginning. The hotel inspired Stephen King’s “The Shining” after he stayed there in 1974 and experienced strange phenomena.

The Inspiration

Stephen King and his wife were the only guests at the Stanley Hotel on a late October night in 1974. King dreamed of his son being chased through the hotel’s corridors by a fire hose. He woke with the outline of “The Shining” in his mind.

The Ghosts

The hotel is reportedly haunted by its original owners, F.O. and Flora Stanley. F.O.’s ghost is seen in the billiard room; Flora’s ghost plays the piano in the ballroom. Staff and guests have heard piano music when no one is in the room.

Room 217, where King stayed, is particularly active. Guests report their belongings being moved or packed for them. A ghostly figure is sometimes seen in the room.

Room 401 is reportedly haunted by Lord Dunraven, who owned the land before Stanley. Indentations appear on the bed as if someone is lying there.

Modern Activity

The hotel embraces its haunted reputation, offering ghost tours and paranormal investigations. It was featured on the television series “Ghost Hunters,” where investigators claimed to capture a table moving on its own.

Assessment

The Stanley Hotel combines documented history, literary fame, and persistent paranormal reports. Whether the ghosts are real or the hotel’s reputation creates expectation, it remains one of America’s most famous haunted hotels.