Halloween has passed and now everyone is waiting for the New Year. These days, people are making plans to visit different places to make the end of the year memorable. Generally at such times people prefer comfortable or luxury hotels only.
But if you like adventure, then staying in one of the most famous haunted hotels in the world can be a different experience for you. The special thing is that inspired by this hotel, famous author Stephen King wrote his famous horror novel ‘The Shining’. After which Stanley Kubrick converted it into a superhit film with the same name.
Mysteries and unknown things sometimes attract people, and the same fully applies to the Stanley Hotel located in Estes Park, Colorado state of America. This hotel was built in 1909 by inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley as a luxurious mountain resort.
At that time, facilities like electricity, telephone and attached bathroom made this hotel very modern. Today people come to this hotel not just for a place to stay or general hospitality, but for experiences which are said to be to mysterious and supernatural events. An experience that goes beyond ordinary hospitality.
The Stanley Hotel is counted among the scariest hotels in America. Many guests staying here have spoken of strange experiences, such as sometimes feeling an invisible presence, sometimes feeling suddenly cold, and sometimes feeling as if someone has placed a hand on the shoulder.
Strange noises in corridors, rooms and tunnels, objects moving on their own and malfunctioning electronic equipment are said to be common in this hotel. Due to these incidents, this hotel has become a favorite destination of many paranormal shows and ghost hunters. The hotel itself has adopted this identity, due to which it has even come to be known as ‘The Disneyland of Ghosts’.
Many people believe that the fourth floor of the hotel is the most active. The most famous spirit here is said to be that of Elizabeth Wilson, who was a maid. In the year 1911, there was a gas explosion in room number 217, in which she was badly injured. Despite this, he worked in the hotel for many years. It is said that even after his death, his presence is felt in the same room.
Guests staying in Room 217 have claimed that their luggage opens automatically, clothes are folded, lights turn on and off automatically and shadows are seen moving on the walls. Some people say that unmarried couples feel a strange uneasiness in this room, which is linked to the spirit of Elizabeth.
The founder of this hotel F. O. The stories to Stanley and his wife Flora are also famous. Stanley is said to be seen strolling the corridors and billiard room, while Flora’s spirit is heard playing the piano in the concert hall.
Apart from these, stories of many souls have also been coming to light. These include a shepherd in room number 428, a mechanic named Paul in the basement, a woman named Lucy, children playing on the fourth floor and an aggressive male spirit in room number 401.
In 1974, when the hotel was about to close due to winter, Stephen King stayed here with his wife Tabitha. At that time he was among the very few guests of the hotel. The empty corridors and quiet atmosphere had a deep impact on King’s imagination. He stayed in room number 217, which is the most famous. It was from here that he got the idea of Overlook Hotel and the horror story of The Shining. Although the film was shot elsewhere, the atmosphere and setting of the Stanley Hotel clearly reflects the spirit of the book.
Ghost tourism is becoming increasingly popular in America and many other countries. The Stanley Hotel fully embraces this trend. Haunted tours, paranormal sessions and theme based programs are organized here. One of the most special experiences is the midnight séance called ’13’, in which Victorian-style stories are told by candlelight. This event is for a limited number of people and focuses on the stories of the hotel rather than contact with individual spirits.
Apart from this, the ‘Stanley Spirited Night Tour’ which takes place at night is also very popular, in which a guided walk of about an hour is conducted. Tickets cost around $30 and small children are not allowed to attend. The hotel also offers historical and theme-based tours during the day, allowing tourists to choose experiences as per their interests.
