Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, is famous for three very different reasons: its early-20th-century history, its connection to Stephen King’s The Shining, and more than a century of ghost stories. Opened in 1909 by inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley, the landmark remains an operating hotel, restaurant, event venue and visitor attraction just minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park.
Quick Answer
The Stanley Hotel is a historic Estes Park resort best known as the place that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining after his 1974 stay in Room 217. The hotel was not used for Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie, but it later appeared in King’s 1997 television miniseries.
Key Takeaways
- The Stanley Hotel opened in 1909 and was developed by Freelan Oscar Stanley, the inventor and businessman associated with the Stanley steam automobile.
- Stephen King stayed in Room 217 in 1974, and the experience helped inspire his 1977 novel The Shining.
- Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie was not filmed at the Stanley; Stephen King’s 1997 television miniseries was filmed there.
- Room 217 is also connected to a real 1911 gas explosion involving housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson, who survived the accident and later returned to work.
- Ghost sightings, voices and other unusual experiences are part of the hotel’s folklore and guest reports, not scientifically established facts.
- The hotel is in Estes Park near, but not inside, Rocky Mountain National Park.
History of The Stanley Hotel
The story of the Stanley Hotel began before the building itself existed. According to the hotel’s official history, Freelan Oscar Stanley came to Estes Park in 1903 while suffering from tuberculosis. After his health improved during his time in the mountain climate, he and his wife, Flora, began returning to the area.
The couple were accustomed to the comforts and social life of the East Coast, so Stanley set out to create a grand mountain resort. The Stanley Hotel opened in 1909. For its era, it offered impressive amenities such as electric lighting, telephones, bathrooms, uniformed staff and a fleet of automobiles.
The Stanley was built to bring the comforts of an upscale eastern resort to what was then a much smaller mountain community in Estes Park.
The hotel also became closely connected with the development of Estes Park. Stanley supported improvements including local power and water infrastructure and was part of the community’s transformation into a major mountain destination.
The property’s history was not a simple rise from 1909 onward. By the 1970s, according to the hotel’s own historical account, the property had lost much of its former splendor after years of inadequate care and investment. Later restoration and renewed interest helped preserve the complex.
The Stanley’s historic designation also needs a date clarification. The National Park Service lists the Stanley Hotel District on the National Register of Historic Places beginning in 1977. A later Stanley Hotel District boundary increase was listed in 1985. The 1985 date therefore refers to an expansion of the registered district, not the hotel’s first National Register listing.
Stanley Hotel history at a glance
| 1903 | F.O. Stanley comes to Estes Park while dealing with tuberculosis and begins a lasting connection with the area. |
| 1909 | The Stanley Hotel opens as an upscale mountain resort. |
| 1911 | A gas explosion injures housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson, who survives and later returns to work. |
| 1974 | Stephen King stays in Room 217 and draws inspiration for The Shining. |
| 1977 | The Stanley Hotel District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
| 1985 | A boundary increase to the Stanley Hotel District is added to the National Register. |
| 1997 | Stephen King’s television miniseries version of The Shining uses the Stanley as a filming location. |
The Haunted Legends and Ghost Stories
The Stanley Hotel has built one of the best-known haunted-hotel reputations in the United States. Guests, employees, tour guides and paranormal investigators have reported apparitions, unexplained sounds, doors or objects moving and other experiences that they interpret as supernatural.
Two of the most frequently mentioned figures are F.O. Stanley and his wife, Flora. Hotel lore says guests have reported seeing figures associated with the couple in public areas and hearing unexplained piano music linked in stories to Flora.
These accounts are an important part of the Stanley’s modern identity, but they should be understood as reported experiences and folklore rather than proven paranormal events.
Room 217 and Elizabeth Wilson
Room 217 combines documented history with later ghost lore. According to the hotel’s official account of Elizabeth Wilson, a power outage occurred in 1911 while portions of the hotel used gas lighting as backup. Wilson entered a room without realizing that gas had leaked. An explosion followed when a light was introduced.
Wilson was thrown through the floor but survived. She eventually returned to work at the Stanley and remained associated with the hotel for years afterward.
Later guests have attributed unusual experiences in and around Room 217 to Wilson, including reports of luggage or belongings being rearranged. Those stories form part of the hotel’s ghost tradition; the documented historical fact is the 1911 explosion and Wilson’s survival.
Note: A story can have both a real historical foundation and a supernatural legend attached to it. At the Stanley, the 1911 Room 217 explosion is documented history; claims that Wilson’s spirit still occupies the property are matters of belief and personal interpretation.
The Paranormal Activity at The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley’s paranormal reputation has attracted television programs, ghost hunters and visitors carrying equipment intended to record unusual sounds, electromagnetic changes or temperature variations. Reports have included unexplained laughter, music, footsteps, voices, apparent figures and sensations such as being touched.
Electronic voice phenomena, or EVPs, are recordings in which listeners believe they can hear voices that were not noticed when the recording was made. Paranormal investigators also sometimes watch electromagnetic-field meters or temperature sensors for unexplained changes.
Those instruments can record real environmental changes, but a change in temperature or electromagnetic readings does not by itself demonstrate that a ghost caused it. Electrical wiring, electronic devices, air movement, building materials and ordinary recording artifacts can produce unusual readings.
Interestingly, the Stanley’s current paranormal investigation experience describes itself as a “skeptical enquiry into the supernatural,” emphasizing investigation rather than presenting the hotel’s legends as settled scientific fact.
Pro Tip: If you take a ghost tour, enjoy the stories as a mix of history, folklore and entertainment. Ask guides which parts of a story come from documented records and which come from later guest reports.
Famous Guests and Visitors
The Stanley has attracted prominent visitors throughout its history, although celebrity lists circulating online are not equally well documented. The strongest approach is to separate visitors supported by historical reporting from names that appear only in unsourced or inconsistent lists.
| Visitor | Known for | Documentation |
| Stephen King | Author | Stayed in Room 217 in 1974; the visit inspired The Shining. |
| Theodore Roosevelt | 26th U.S. president | Named in historical reporting about notable Stanley visitors. |
| Margaret “Molly” Brown | Philanthropist and Titanic survivor | Identified in historical reporting as a Stanley guest. |
| John Philip Sousa | Composer and conductor | Appears in historical accounts of early Stanley visitors. |
Some published and online lists also name the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Johnny Cash and numerous other celebrities. Older profiles associate Johnny Cash with the hotel, but exact visit dates are often omitted. The original version of this article additionally listed Barack Obama in 2016, Angelina Jolie in 2014, Elon Musk in 2019 and Malala Yousafzai in 2017. Reliable official or archival evidence for those specific stays and dates could not be confirmed, so they should not be presented as established facts. The same caution applies to an unsupported claim that Bill Murray stayed at the hotel.
The Architecture and Design of The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley’s white exterior, red roof, long verandas, symmetrical massing and classical details help give it the appearance of an early-20th-century resort transported into a Rocky Mountain setting.
Descriptions often call the property’s architecture Georgian or Georgian Colonial Revival. National Register documentation for the expanded historic district uses broader architectural classifications and lists F.O. Stanley among the architects associated with the district. For that reason, attributing the hotel simply to an architect named “McDonald,” as some unsourced versions do, is not sufficiently supported.
Inside the main building, visitors encounter historic public spaces, dark wood details, chandeliers, stairways, sitting areas and mountain views. Guest accommodations have been updated over time, so the current experience combines preserved historic character with modern hotel features.
The hotel’s importance is not limited to a single building. The larger property includes multiple historic and newer lodging, entertainment and service spaces that together create the present-day Stanley campus.
The Influence of The Stanley Hotel on Pop Culture
The Stanley’s biggest pop-culture connection is unquestionably The Shining, but three different productions are often confused.
The Stanley Hotel and Stephen King’s novel
Stephen King and his wife stayed at the Stanley in 1974, near the end of the hotel’s season. King stayed in Room 217. The hotel’s empty corridors, isolation and atmosphere helped shape the fictional Overlook Hotel in his 1977 novel The Shining.
The hotel’s current Room 217 accommodation page continues to highlight that literary connection.
Was Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie filmed at the Stanley?
No. Stanley Kubrick did not film his 1980 version of The Shining at the Stanley Hotel. The movie used other locations and studio sets. This is one of the most common misconceptions surrounding the property.
The Stanley itself emphasizes the distinction on its official Shining Tour.
The 1997 Stephen King miniseries
The Stanley did become an actual filming location for Stephen King’s The Shining, the 1997 television miniseries. That production was much more directly connected with the hotel King had originally visited.
Remember: Stanley Hotel = inspiration for King’s novel and filming location for the 1997 miniseries. It was not the filming location for Kubrick’s famous 1980 movie.
Dumb and Dumber
The Stanley has another, much less frightening film connection. The property was used in the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber. The official Estes Park tourism organization specifically notes that while Kubrick’s The Shining was not filmed at the hotel, Dumb and Dumber was.
The Haunted Tours and Events at The Stanley Hotel
The Stanley currently offers several guided experiences covering history, folklore and pop culture. Tours change over time, so travelers should always check the official Stanley Hotel tours page before visiting.
As of July 2026, the main options include:
| Tour | Length | Standard price* | Focus |
| Historic Day Tour | 60 minutes | $25 | F.O. and Flora Stanley, architecture, history, folklore and pop culture |
| Stanley Ghost Tour | 60 minutes | $30 | Haunted locations, reported experiences and hotel folklore |
| The Shining Tour | 60 minutes | $30 | King’s novel, Kubrick’s film and the 1997 miniseries |
*Prices and availability shown are current as of July 2026 and can change.
Children under eight are currently not permitted on the main hotel tours. The Historic Day Tour and Ghost Tour are listed as wheelchair accessible, while the Shining Tour currently is not. Tour routes can also change with building availability, weather and events.
One expectation is especially important: guided tours do not take visitors inside occupied guest rooms. The Historic Day Tour may visit hotel floors, but not guest rooms; the Ghost Tour does not enter guest floors.
The property also offers other experiences, entertainment and paranormal-themed events throughout the year. Advance booking is strongly recommended because tours can sell out.
Warning: The hotel notes that tours can involve significant walking, stairs or outdoor sections depending on the route. Estes Park is also at high elevation. Hydrate, pace yourself and review accessibility information before purchasing a tour.
The Luxurious Accommodations and Amenities
The Stanley today offers several different lodging experiences rather than one uniform room type. The historic main hotel provides classic rooms as well as specialty “spirited” accommodations, including Room 217. Other options on the property include The Lodge, Aspire Hotel & Spa and The Residences.
Historic rooms combine older architectural character with modern conveniences such as Wi-Fi, televisions, coffee makers and renovated bathrooms. Travelers who prioritize newer facilities, air conditioning or apartment-style amenities should compare the different buildings instead of assuming every Stanley room has the same features.
Aspire, for example, offers contemporary rooms and suites, some with kitchens, laundry facilities and balconies. The property also operates The Spa at Aspire, with treatment rooms, fitness facilities and additional wellness amenities.
As of 2026, guests may also notice construction fencing or temporary route changes around parts of the grounds. The hotel says enhancements are underway in preparation for the planned Stanley Film Center, currently expected in early 2028.
Note: If historic atmosphere is your priority, compare rooms in the original Stanley building. If air conditioning, kitchens or newer spa-oriented facilities matter more, review the other Stanley lodging properties before booking.
The Surrounding Natural Beauty and Outdoor Activities
The Stanley Hotel is surrounded by Rocky Mountain scenery, but it is important to describe its location correctly: the hotel is in Estes Park, not inside Rocky Mountain National Park. The Stanley says the property is about a 15-minute drive from a park entrance.
That location makes the hotel a convenient base for hiking, wildlife watching, scenic drives and other outdoor activities in the Estes Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park.
The national park contains environments ranging from montane valleys to high alpine terrain. Weather can change quickly, and elevations within the park range from about 7,800 feet to more than 14,000 feet. Visitors should check conditions before leaving the hotel and carry suitable layers and water.
2026 Rocky Mountain National Park timed entry
Visitors traveling in 2026 should not assume they can simply drive into every part of Rocky Mountain National Park at any time.
According to the National Park Service’s 2026 timed-entry information:
- Regular Timed Entry: reservations are required to enter applicable park areas between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. from May 22 through October 12, 2026. This option does not include Bear Lake Road.
- Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road: reservations are required for the Bear Lake Road Corridor between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 22 through October 18, 2026.
- A valid park entrance pass or entrance fee is still required in addition to any timed-entry reservation.
Trail Ridge Road is seasonal and can close because of snow or rapidly changing mountain conditions, so check National Park Service road information before planning a high-elevation drive.
The Culinary Experience at The Stanley Hotel
Dining is a major part of the modern Stanley experience. Current dining options include Cascades Restaurant, the Whiskey Bar at Cascades, 217 Wine Bar, The Post Mountain House and Colorado Cherry Company.
Cascades serves American fare with a Colorado influence, while the adjoining Whiskey Bar is known for an extensive whiskey and single-malt selection. The Post Mountain House occupies the historic carriage-house building and offers Colorado-style food, beer and weekend brunch.
Because restaurant hours, menus and reservation requirements can change with seasons and events, check the hotel’s current dining page before your visit rather than relying on an older menu.
Tips for Visiting The Stanley Hotel
1. Book rooms and tours early
Room 217 and other specialty rooms attract strong interest, and popular tour times may fill in advance. Booking ahead is especially sensible during summer, fall and holiday periods.
2. Choose the right tour
Take the Historic Day Tour if your priority is architecture and documented history. Choose the Ghost Tour for folklore and reported paranormal experiences. The Shining Tour is the clearest choice for visitors interested mainly in Stephen King and the differences between the book and screen adaptations.
3. Do not expect a tour of Room 217
The hotel’s tours do not enter guest rooms. Booking a tour is therefore not a substitute for booking Room 217 itself.
4. Plan for parking
As of July 2026, the Stanley lists parking at $10 from May through October during posted daytime/evening hours. Payment is card-only. Hotel policies and parking rates can change, so confirm them when making your plans.
5. Consider seasonal public transportation
Driving is the most flexible way to reach Estes Park, but it is not the only possibility. The official Estes Park visitor organization reports that Bustang provides weekend and select-holiday bus service between Denver and Estes Park from May 23 through September 27, 2026.
Once in town, Estes Park also operates free seasonal shuttle routes. Service dates and routes vary, so check the current schedule before relying on a shuttle.
6. Separate the hotel from the national park in your itinerary
A stay at the Stanley does not include automatic access to Rocky Mountain National Park. Check entrance fees, timed-entry requirements, road conditions and trail information separately.
7. Bring layers and water
Mountain weather changes quickly, and the elevation can be noticeable to visitors arriving from lower elevations. The Stanley specifically recommends hydration for tour participants.
8. Expect a working hotel, not a horror-movie set
The Stanley remains an active hotel with weddings, restaurants, concerts, private functions and overnight guests. Certain spaces can therefore be inaccessible during events, and professional or wedding-related photography may require advance coordination.
Fans hoping to see the hedge maze should also remember that the hotel’s present-day maze was created long after King’s original stay and should not be confused with a surviving set from Kubrick’s movie.
Pro Tip: For a balanced one-day visit, take a morning historic or Shining tour, have lunch on the property, then use the afternoon or evening for Estes Park. Give Rocky Mountain National Park its own dedicated time block rather than trying to squeeze a major hike between hotel activities.
If you’re preparing for a longer Colorado trip, organizing luggage before leaving home can make frequent hotel changes easier. This guide to 5 Must-Have Packing Cubes for Your Spring 2025 Getaway covers one approach to keeping travel gear separated and accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Stanley Hotel?
The Stanley Hotel is a historic resort in Estes Park, Colorado, opened in 1909 by F.O. Stanley. It is known for its early resort history, Rocky Mountain setting, ghost folklore and its role in inspiring Stephen King’s novel The Shining.
Where is the Stanley Hotel located?
The Stanley Hotel is at 333 Wonderview Avenue in Estes Park, Colorado 80517. It is in the town of Estes Park near Rocky Mountain National Park, not inside the national park.
How do I get to the Stanley Hotel?
Most visitors reach Estes Park by car from Denver, Boulder, Loveland or other Front Range communities. During the 2026 summer season, Bustang also operates weekend and select-holiday service between Denver and Estes Park. Free seasonal Estes Transit routes help visitors move around town once they arrive.
What attractions are near the Stanley Hotel?
Rocky Mountain National Park is the largest nearby attraction, with hiking, wildlife viewing and scenic drives. Downtown Estes Park also offers shops, restaurants, riverfront areas and seasonal events. The Stanley itself has tours, dining, entertainment and spa services.
Can I visit the Stanley Hotel without staying overnight?
Yes. Day visitors can book hotel tours and visit public dining and entertainment venues when available. Because the Stanley is private property and an operating hotel, access to some spaces can be limited by guest privacy, weddings, construction or private events.
Is the Stanley Hotel haunted?
The Stanley is famous for ghost stories and guests have reported apparitions, voices, footsteps and other unexplained experiences. Those reports are part of the hotel’s folklore and paranormal-tour tradition; they do not establish scientifically that the property is haunted.
Was The Shining filmed at the Stanley Hotel?
Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie The Shining was not filmed at the Stanley Hotel. The Stanley inspired Stephen King’s novel, and the hotel later served as a filming location for King’s 1997 television miniseries adaptation.
Can you stay in Room 217?
Yes. Room 217 is currently offered as the 217 Spirited Grand King, subject to availability. It is one of the property’s best-known rooms because Stephen King stayed there and because of the room’s connection to Elizabeth Wilson and Stanley ghost lore.
Sources
- The Stanley Hotel — About and History — opening history, F.O. Stanley and early hotel amenities.
- The Stanley Hotel — Hotel Tours — current tour policies, parking and visitor requirements.
- The Stanley Hotel — The Shining Tour — distinction between King’s novel, Kubrick’s 1980 film and the 1997 miniseries.
- National Park Service — Colorado National Register Listings — Stanley Hotel District National Register dates.
- National Park Service — Rocky Mountain National Park Timed Entry — current 2026 park reservation requirements.
- Visit Estes Park — Getting Here — seasonal public transportation and travel information.