The Stanley Hotel, Historic resort hotel in Estes Park, United States
The Stanley Hotel is a resort hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, with white Colonial Revival architecture, red roofs, and 140 rooms offering views toward Lake Estes and Longs Peak. The building spans several floors with verandas, turrets, and a central entrance defined by columns and large windows.
Freelan Oscar Stanley, inventor of steam-powered cars, opened this hotel in 1909 as a mountain retreat for wealthy guests seeking the altitude and air of the Rocky Mountains. The building quickly became a social gathering point for American high society before later gaining fame as a film location.
The hotel's name comes from Freelan Oscar Stanley, who suggested "The Dunraven" until 180 residents signed a buckskin petition asking him to use his own name. Stephen King stayed in room 217 the night before the winter closure in 1973 and set The Shining there; the 1997 miniseries was filmed on site, and Kubrick's 1980 film plays continuously on channel 42 in the guest rooms.
The hotel sits about 5 miles (8 km) from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, so a stay can be paired with hikes in the park. On-site there is a restaurant, a spa and a bed-and-breakfast. The resort only opened in summer until 1983, so winter visits meet a building run for year-round use.
The original electric lighting and steam heating were cutting-edge technology at opening time in a remote mountain area without regular power supply. Many guests report hearing unexplained sounds in the corridors and rooms, especially in room 217, which is often fully booked.
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