Archive # 126 The Stanley Hotel

🏨 The Man Behind the Hotel: F.O. Stanley Freelan Oscar Stanley, inventor and tuberculosis survivor, founded the Stanley Hotel after relocating to Estes Park for its healing climate. Known for the Stanley Steamer and photographic innovations sold to Kodak, Stanley built the hotel as both a luxurious resort and a wellness retreat in gratitude for his restored health. 🏨 A Hotel of Innovation and Elegance Opened in 1909, the Stanley Hotel featured cutting-edge amenities like electricity, indoor plumbing, and a fleet of Stanley Steamers. It attracted elite East Coast vacationers and offered cultural refinement with Flora Stanley’s piano performances. A gas accident involving Stanley hinted at future danger. He sold the hotel in 1926 and again in 1930. 🕰️ The Shift in Atmosphere: History Darkens As decades passed, the hotel declined and rumors of paranormal activity increased—phantom music, unexplained door movements, and eerie presences filled its empty halls. By the 1970s, it was in disrepair and at risk of demolition. 📚 The Shining Moment: Stephen King's Stay Stephen King stayed one night in 1974 during the offseason. He and his wife were the only guests. The isolation and strange energy inspired his bestselling novel The Shining, cementing the hotel’s place in horror history and reviving public interest. 🏨 The Stanley Hotel Today Now fully restored, the Stanley Hotel is a blend of historical charm and modern luxury. Guests can explore its haunted reputation, enjoy fine dining and spa treatments, and immerse themselves in the ambiance that once inspired Stephen King. 👻 The Hauntings of the Stanley Hotel The Stanley is home to numerous ghost stories, including sightings of F.O. Stanley himself and unexplained noises throughout the building. The hotel is a favorite among paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers. 🔑 Room 217 – The Hotel’s Most Haunted Suite Stephen King stayed in Room 217, which later featured prominently in The Shining. The room has a violent history—a gas explosion in the 1920s nearly killed chambermaid Elizabeth Wilson. Since her death, guests report strange activity, including bags being packed by unseen hands. Actor Jim Carrey famously fled the room mid-night and has never explained why. Paranormal teams like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters have documented the room as a supernatural hotspot. 🎹 Flora Stanley and Her Phantom Piano Flora Stanley’s spirit reportedly lingers in the Music Room. Guests hear ghostly piano music, and some see her apparition at the keys. Her 1906 Steinway is tied to the legend of John Philip Sousa’s signature—later debunked by a technician who claimed the markings were from a local piano tuner, not the famous composer. Still, many believe Flora is the one behind the phantom performances. 🛎️ The Fourth Floor: Ghost Children, Cowboys, and the Angry Irishman Originally a cavernous attic turned living quarters for women and children, the fourth floor is infamous for ghostly children’s laughter, self-opening closets, and mysterious candy movement. It is said to have inspired the Grady twins in The Shining. Room 407: Haunted by Lord Dunraven, a hostile Irish spirit blamed for flickering lights, object movement, and an oppressive energy. Room 428: Allegedly visited by the spirit of Rocky Mountain Jim, a cowboy and outlaw who appears at the foot of beds—often kissing female guests on the forehead.