9. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
History & Hauntings: Perched against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, The Stanley Hotel is a grand Colonial Revival hotel that opened in 1909. While its elegant facade suggests a peaceful retreat, it is famously known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s terrifying novel, The Shining. King himself stayed in room 217, where a vivid nightmare reportedly sparked the idea for his iconic horror story.
The hotel has a long-standing reputation for paranormal activity, with numerous guests and staff experiencing unsettling encounters:
- Room 217: The most famous room, where housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson was injured in a 1911 gas leak explosion, is a hotspot. Guests report objects moving, lights flickering, and sometimes feeling a presence tidying their belongings or sitting on the bed.
- Flora Stanley’s Piano: Flora Stanley, the wife of the hotel’s founder, F.O. Stanley, is said to still play the piano in the music room, with melodies heard even when no one is there.
- Children’s Laughter: Playful children’s voices and giggles are often heard in the ballroom and on the fourth floor, even though no children are present.
- Lord Dunraven: The hotel’s original owner, Lord Dunraven, is said to haunt room 401, where guests report items moving and feeling a cold presence.
- Phantom Guests and Staff: Apparitions of historical figures and former employees are frequently sighted throughout the hotel.
Its beautiful but isolated setting, combined with its literary fame, makes The Stanley Hotel an undeniably chilling and popular haunted destination.