 |
| The haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado was the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining and it is actually haunted by many ghosts. |
The year was 1903 when Freelan Stanley and his wife Flora moved to Estes Park, Colorado. He stayed there to take in the clear mountain air of the Rocky Mountains because he was suffering from tuberculosis. The Stanley name may sound familiar because Freelan Stanley was the inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile. Freelan's health improved and he like the area, so he decided to stay. In the process, he made many improvements to the town and wanted to give visitors to the town lush accommodations to stay at so he began construction in 1907 on what would become The Stanley Hotel. When it was completed, he shuttled guests to the hotel via his Stanley Steamer automobiles which was a first for a hotel to do so.
 |
| The Stanley Hotel is haunted by many ghosts include the founders, a housekeeper, a thief and phantom children who run and play in the hallways. |
Ghost of Ms. Wilson
Many of the guests were greeted with the services of Ms. Elizabeth Wilson the head housekeeper of the hotel. Ms. Wilson encountered a nearly fatal accident in 1911 when a gas lighting system which exploded, throwing her to the level below severely injuring her. Today that area of the hotel is Room 217 and is thought to be haunted by the ghost of Ms. Wilson. Staff had reported that the linens in the room had been changed before they had a chance to do so. This is the room that Stephen King chose to stay in while he spent the night in the nearly deserted hotel. It is said that he was wandering the maze of hallways and had gotten lost. It was from this stay over that he got the inspiration for The Shining.
The apparition of a woman in early 20th century maid attire has been seen wandering the hallways and she also haunts other parts of the hotel. Many believe this is the dedicated head housekeeper Ms. Wilson carrying on her excellent service in the afterlife.
The Phantom Thief
One particular room at The Stanley Hotel is thought to be haunted by a thief. Some guests say they have awoken in the night to find a stranger standing in their room and sometimes over their beds. He would then disappear into the closet. Many say that personal affects such as jewelry have actually turned up missing after a night in the room with no other possible place to lose it. Other guests have reported furniture in the room moving about on it's own including the bed, with eyewitness still in it!
 |
| The lobby of the Stanley Hotel is said to be haunted by the hotel founder Freelan Stanley, inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile. One is actually on display in the lobby. |
Ghost of Freelan Stanley
The apparition of a man dressed in stately turn of the century gentleman's attire has been seen walking the lobby area of The Stanley Hotel. That is where one of his vintage Stanley Steamer automobiles is kept. He has also been seen in the billiard room, perhaps taking in a game or two to pass his time in the netherworld.
Ghost of Flora Stanley
Flora Stanley loved to play the piano. So much so that her husband bought her a Steinway Grand Piano which she played to her heart's content. Many of the staff and visitor alike have heard the resonating sound of a piano being played within the hotel. The sounds seem to come from the ballroom. However, when anyone has ever entered the ballroom to investigate, the piano music stops immediately. It is thought that this is the spirit of Flora Stanley enjoying her piano still.
 |
| The ballroom of the Stanley Hotel is thought to be haunted by the spirit of Flora Stanley who liked to play the piano. You can still hear her tunes echoing through the halls of the Stanley Hotel to this day. |
Phantom Children in the Hall
One of the most compelling hautings within The Stanley Hotel is the children in the hall. Staff and guests have often heard the sounds of children giggling and playing outside of the rooms in the hallways. However, when the doors to the room are opened and the hallway checked out, nothing is there and the sounds are gone. Paranormal investigators at the hotel have even heard this phenomenon, the sounds of children running through the hallways upstairs when there wasn't even a single child staying at the hotel! This is probably the closest haunting that was actually in Stephen King's book The Shining.
The ghosts of The Stanley Hotel will welcome you if you choose to venture there. You can hear all about the hauntings with complete ghost tours of the famous hotel. Without a doubt, The Stanley Hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in America if not the world!
Location:
40°23'0"N 105°31'6"W
333 Wonderview Avenue
Estes Park, CO 80517
info@stanleyhotel.com
www.stanleyhotel.com
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stanley_Hotel
http://www.stanleyhotel.com/about/haunted-history#sthash.DaMPXdHj.dpuf
http://voices.yahoo.com/haunted-stanley-hotel-estes-park-co-575868.html?cat=37
No comments:
Post a Comment