Take a Haunted Tour of the Hotel From ‘The Shining’
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In Estes Park, Colorado, you’ll find the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park, a variety of wildlife like elk and bears, plenty of hiking trails and foliage to explore—and the inspiration behind the setting for the cult horror classic, The Shining. If you’re a scary movie fanatic, or simply love Halloween and all things spooky, then you should know about the lore behind the hotel from the iconic 1980 film. The movie takes place during a stay at the fictional Overlook Hotel, where the main characters famously unravel into madness inside the walls. But did you know that hotel from The Shining is a real hotel that you can visit to this day?
In the snowy Rocky Mountains, the Stanley stands as a famous landmark for horror fans and nature lovers alike. Based off the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Shining was inspired by King’s real stay at the Stanley Hotel back in 1974. Since the story earned its cult status, the historic hotel has gained notoriety for its “spirited” rooms and haunted halls. In honor of the ghoulish season, we wanted to explore the history behind The Shining hotel, its spooky backstory, and famous scenes inspired by the rooms at the Stanley.
The Shining Synopsis
The Shining follows main character Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son Danny (Danny Lloyd). Jack is the winter caretaker at the remote Overlook Hotel in Colorado, where he and his family have decided to spend some time while Jack works on curing his writer’s block. Danny begins having psychic premonitions, and as the movie progresses, the whole family is soon experiencing hallucinations. The movie follows their descent into madness in isolation.
Settings and Locations for The Shining
Writer Stephen King was inspired to write the horror novel during a family stay at the Stanley just a few years prior to the book’s publishing. And though many of the interior scenes at The Grand Overlook Hotel were based on the interior of the Stanley, there were also many other clips that took inspiration from different hotels. For example, many exterior shots were taken at the Timberlane Lodge on Mount Hood in Government Camp, Oregon. (Director Stanley Kubrick decided this because of Timberlane Lodge’s more isolated, secluded-looking location.) Likewise, the terrifying elevator scene from The Shining was based on a replica of an elevator at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley, California.
The Hotel Bar from The Shining
The hotel bar where Jack famously goes mad, hallucinating a scene where he stumbles upon a party from another period of time. The imaginary bartender Lloyd serves Jack his drink, as Jack then realizes that he’s been alone the entire time.
The Main Lobby’s Haunted Staircase
Inside the main lobby of the Stanley, the staircase is said to be one of the most haunted places in the hotel. Some guests have even said that they’ve taken photos of ghostly figures on these steps…
Take The Shining Tour or Stay at the Stanley
If you’re brave enough, you can even take a tour of the historically haunted space at the Stanley. Explore the paranormal allure and take a deep dive into the hotel’s backstory to discover why it’s earned its haunted honor. If you’d rather skip the tour and explore the grounds for yourself, you can also stay in the famous Stephen King Suite 217, where the author originally spent the night back in 1974.
This year is extra special, as the Stanley Hotel is celebrating the 50-year anniversary of Stephen King’s stay at the hotel. To honor that special night, the hotel is holding a Shining Ball on October 26, 2024, complete with a costume contest, prizes, and live entertainment.
