Historic Hotel That Inspired Stephen King’s The Shining

The Stanley Hotel may be best known for its role in Stephen King’s classic horror novel The Shining, which was inspired by King’s first visit to the historic estate next to Rocky Mountain National Park. A winding mountain road leads to the secluded, sprawling property, which was built in 1909 and has housed luminaries such as John Philip Sousa and Theodore Roosevelt—and its share of ghosts. Something sinister lurks in room 217—and that’s what makes it one of The Stanley Hotel’s most popular spots, helping the hotel to land on several lists of America’s most haunted hotels. It’s easy to understand why the old-fashioned, New England–inspired building is a beloved haunt: every inch has been meticulously cared for, decorated with gleaming wooden floors, soaring ceilings, and traditional furnishings.

Up in the classic rooms, stately linens cover pillow-top king- or queen-size beds that sit atop plush carpeting. Decorated to resemble a comfortable, upscale home, most of the hotel’s rooms feature unique accents, from cushy chairs to framed artwork. And you can look out to either the nearby Rocky Mountains or the courtyard through the room’s enormous windows.

Downstairs, Cascades Restaurant serves up regional cuisine made from local ingredients, paired with varietals from its wine list, which won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. The Whiskey Bar & Lounge at Cascades Restaurant boasts over 930 different selections of bourbons, whiskies, and scotches. This deal includes a $15 dining credit at the restaurant. In the morning, you can grab breakfast and a cup of coffee at Steamers Café, also onsite.

Those looking to explore The Stanley’s haunted past can take the approximately 90-minute tour through the hotel’s most haunted spots, including rooms and passages where ghosts have been sighted flipping over Do Not Disturb signs. Tours lead into The Stanley’s underground tunnel and past the notorious room 217.

Estes Park, Colorado: Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park

At an elevation of 7,522 feet, Estes Park is a small mountain town known as the eastern gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Along Elkhorn Avenue, the main drag of downtown Estes Park, you’ll find the usual souvenir, taffy, and ice-cream shops—but also local breweries and independent restaurants. The resort town also has a popular outdoor ice rink, open on the weekends in the winter months.

Each year, more than three million people head into Rocky Mountain National Park to access 300 miles of hiking trails and admire stunning mountain vistas. The park’s most popular hike is the half-mile loop around the flat terrain of Bear Lake, but the crowd thins out somewhat if you continue onto Nymph, Dream, and Emerald Lakes. Park trails are often covered with snow, but you can strap on a pair of snowshoes and make the trek to the alpine lake at The Loch or the summit of Deer Mountain.

Weather permitting, consider taking one of region’s spectacular scenic drives. Trail Ridge Road bisects the national park east to west, bringing travelers up to a maximum elevation of 12,000 feet above the tree line. Trail Ridge Road offers a somewhat direct route to the western half of the park, where you’re most likely to see moose. Another option is the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, which wends past the Continental Divide, offering views of Longs Peak—the park’s highest summit, at 14,259 feet. Before you embark on any drive, be sure to check the road status report.

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