Some people believe in ghosts and some don’t. But the Stanley Hotel is famous for its spooky stories. This big hotel in the Rocky Mountains has a history full of mystery and strange events.
Many visitors and workers have said they hear strange voices feel something touch them when no one is there, and see things they can’t explain. Some of these stories might be true, while others are just guesses.
The History of the Stanley Hotel
Today, the Stanley Hotel is a big, fancy building in Estes Park, Colorado. But long ago before the hotel was built, Native American tribes, the Ute and Arapaho, lived in the beautiful valley.
The hotel was started by a man named Freelan Oscar Stanley. He was very sick with tuberculosis and came to Estes Valley for fresh air. Some people say he thought he would die there in a peaceful place. But after one summer he felt much better. He believed the fresh air and sunshine had healed him.
Stanley and his wife Flora decided to build a big hotel in the valley. They wanted it to look as grand as the fancy hotels on the East Coast but with a cozy Western feel.
The Stanley Hotel opened in 1909. People were amazed! It was surrounded by nature but had electricity, telephones, and modern bathrooms. The workers wore nice uniforms and the hotel was both beautiful and comfortable.
For decades, the Stanley was seen as a posh, exclusive Mountain West destination that provided a restful, rejuvenating break for busy East Coast lifestyles.
But by the 1970s, the hotel had fallen into grave disrepair due to years of neglect and lack of investment and had become a shell of its former self. The Stanley easily could’ve been demolished had it not been for a bizarre and fateful string of occurrences involving a now-seminal author and his famous nightmare that took place in Room 217.
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Haunted History of Room Number 217
How Stephen King Was Inspired by the Stanley Hotel
In the 1970s, author Stephen King was living in Boulder, Colorado, and writing The Stand. One weekend, he and his wife, Tabitha, drove an hour north to Estes Park for a short trip without their kids. When they arrived, the Stanley Hotel was about to close for the season. King later shared on The View that they asked to stay the night.
“It was their last day of the season. Everyone was leaving, and we asked, ‘Can we check in?’” King recalled.
That night, King and Tabitha were the only guests in the huge, quiet hotel. King remembered hearing the wind howling outside. After dinner and drinks at the hotel restaurant and bar, they went to bed in Room 217.
During the night, King had a vivid nightmare. He dreamed that a fire hose in the hotel came to life and chased his screaming son down the hallway. He woke up terrified, lit a cigarette, and stared out the window. By the time he finished smoking, he had come up with the basic idea for his famous horror novel, The Shining.
The History of Room 217
King’s spooky night at the Stanley Hotel is its most famous ghost story, but strange things happened there even before the 1970s, especially in Room 217.
On June 25, 1911, the hotel was only two years old when a flood caused a power outage. To give guests light, Freelan Stanley placed gas lanterns in the rooms. However, gas leaked into Room 217, creating a dangerous buildup.
Elizabeth Wilson, the head chambermaid, entered the room with a lit candle, which caused a huge explosion. Miraculously, she survived but was thrown from the room’s doorway all the way to the dining hall on the first floor.
The explosion destroyed about 10% of the hotel, and one witness claimed they saw a bathtub fly into the air. After waking from a coma, Wilson returned to work in 1913 and stayed at the Stanley until 1950.
Elizabeth Wilson’s Ghost
Many thought that Wilson’s story ended there, but some believe her spirit never left Room 217. Guests have shared stories of waking up to find their room cleaned, their clothes folded, and their bags neatly packed.
One couple even reported that their bed had been made around them while they were still sleeping in it!
However, if you’re not married, you might not have the best night’s sleep in Room 217. Some unmarried couples have said they felt a cold presence lying beside them in bed while they slept.
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Other Ghost Stories of the Stanley Hotel
Freelan Stanley died in 1940 at the age of 91, but some believe his spirit still lingers in the hotel. People say they have seen him at the bar and in the billiard room. His wife, Flora, also seems to be around—many guests have reported hearing the piano play by itself, as if she is still tinkering with the keys.
Some believe a ghostly child with autism wanders the hotel, gently playing with guests’ hair. On the fourth floor, visitors have reported hearing children’s laughter, even when no children are around.
In a 2021 interview, tour supervisor Rachael Thomas said she suddenly became sick while on the fourth floor, adding to the long list of strange events. Because of its spooky reputation, the Stanley Hotel has been featured on ghost-hunting TV shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters.
The Creepiest Places in the Stanley Hotel
The Stanley Hotel has a few spots that guests say feel extra eerie.
- The Pet Cemetery: Some of the hotel owners’ pets were buried here. One ghostly dog, Cassie, is said to still scratch at doors and bring newspapers to guests—even though she passed away long ago.
- The Hidden Caves: Beneath the hotel is a network of caves once used by staff to move unseen between rooms. People claim the ghost of a pastry chef haunts this space, as visitors often smell fresh-baked goods without any explanation.
Haunted Hotel Rooms
Some rooms in the Stanley Hotel have more ghost stories than others:
- Room 401: This may be the creepiest room of all. Women have reported being touched by an unseen presence in the closet. One man even watched as his wedding ring moved by itself from the counter and fell down the sink drain.
- Room 407: Guests have felt someone sitting at the foot of their bed, only to see an indentation on the covers when they turn on the light. Some have even been tucked into bed by an invisible force.
- Room 428: Some guests have seen a cowboy standing over their bed or watching from the corner of the room. Oddly, even though there are no rooms above 428, guests have heard footsteps and furniture moving from the ceiling.
Visit the Stanley Hotel If You Dare
Even without its ghostly reputation, the Stanley Hotel is a beautiful and interesting place to visit. But its history of hauntings brings visitors from all over the world, hoping to witness something spooky for themselves.
If you’re curious about whether the ghost stories are real, book a room and find out! For the best chance of experiencing something paranormal, try staying on the fourth floor—many guests say it’s the most haunted part of the hotel.
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