Take a Haunted Tour of the Hotel That Inspired ‘The Shining’
This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive commission for purchases made through these links. Price at time of publish date may change.
In Estes Park, Colorado, at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park, there are gorgeous trails; beautiful wildlife and fall foliage; and more ghost stories than you could imagine. In October, when the weather shifts, you might find more than just a chill in the air. For Stephen King, that’s when and where he found the inspiration for a horror story that would go on to become one of the greatest in history: The Shining. If you’re a horror novel or scary movie fan, or you just simply love Halloween and all things spooky, then you should know about the lore behind the hotel that inspired it all.
During a trip to Colorado in 1974, Stephen King and his wife found themselves unexpectedly stranded in Estes Park after a winter storm ruined travel plans. With nowhere else to go, they checked into the Stanley Hotel as the only guests on the property and the last guests of the season before the hotel’s winter closure. The remote location, combined with an eerie winter storm and empty halls, made their stay all the more frightening. A nightmare King had there sparked the idea for The Shining, which went on to become a cult classic in the horror genre. Since then, the historic hotel has gained notoriety for its “spirited” rooms and haunted halls. And in honor of the spooky season, we wanted to explore the history behind The Shining hotel, its haunted backstory, and famous scenes inspired by the Stanley.
What is The Shining About?
Based off the Stephen King novel of the same name, the 1980 film adaptation ofThe Shining follows main character Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall), and his son Danny (Danny Lloyd). Jack is the winter caretaker at the fictional Overlook Hotel in Colorado, where he and his family have decided to spend some time while Jack works on curing his writer’s block. Danny begins having psychic premonitions, and as the movie progresses, the whole family is soon experiencing hallucinations. The movie follows their descent into madness in isolation.
Was The Shining Filmed at the Stanley Hotel?
The movie The Shining was not filmed at the Stanley Hotel. However, it did inspire the story. Stephen King and his wife stayed in Room 217 at the Stanley Hotel in October of 1974. A disturbing nightmare he had while he was there, combined with the spooky atmosphere at the Stanley, inspired him to write the novel that would come out in 1977. However, the Stanley Hotel was used as the filming location for the TV miniseries adaptation of The Shining, which Stephen King wrote and produced himself after his dissatisfaction with Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation.
Other Settings and Locations for The Shining
Though many of the interior scenes at the fictional Grand Overlook Hotel were based on the interior of the Stanley, there were also many clips that took inspiration from other hotels, as well. For example, many exterior shots were taken at the Timberlane Lodge on Mount Hood in Government Camp, Oregon. (Director Stanley Kubrick decided this because of Timberlane Lodge’s more isolated, secluded-looking location.) Likewise, the terrifying elevator scene from The Shining was based on a replica of an elevator at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley, California.
The Hotel Bar Scene
The Gold Room bar is where Jack famously goes mad, hallucinating a vision where he stumbles upon a party from another period of time. The imaginary bartender Lloyd (Joe Turkel) serves Jack his drink, as Jack then realizes that he’s been alone the entire time. The Whiskey Bar at the Stanley Hotel, pictured above, inspired the Gold Room bar scene in The Shining, though it was actually filmed on a set at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England.
The Main Lobby’s Haunted Staircase
Inside the main lobby of the Stanley, the staircase (pictured above) is said to be one of the most haunted places in the hotel. People claim to see ghosts here frequently, and some guests have even attest to have taken photos of ghostly figures on these steps…
Take The Shining Tour or Stay at the Stanley
You can still spend the night in the 420-room Colonial Revival Stanley Hotel if you dare. In fact, if you’re brave enough, you can even take a tour of the historically haunted space. Explore the paranormal allure and take a deep dive into the hotel’s backstory to discover why it’s earned its haunted honor. If you’d rather skip the tour and explore the grounds for yourself, you can also stay in the famous Stephen King Suite 217, where the author originally spent the night back in 1974.
Halloween Ideas
We have everything you need, including decor, pumpkin stencils, and costume ideas. (For you and your pets!)
Get Spooky!
Bree Pulver
Bree is the Senior Digital Editor at DrewandJonathan.com. In the past, she’s worked for publications focused on home improvement and sustainable living. Bree’s Pinterest board is filled with cozy textures; vintage patterns; sculptural furniture; and moody, warm-toned colors. She has a degree concentrated in the intersection of writing and architecture, which influences her passion for exploring creative solutions to unusual home layouts and stylish renter-friendly decor. She’s a self-proclaimed pro at finding the best antique furniture in the most unlikely of places (but her cat Blue can certainly back these claims).
