On our trip from Bear Lake we stopped in Estes Park to have lunch and see the sights. One of the main sights is The Stanley Hotel which sits high overlooking the town of Estes Park. F. O. Stanley, of the famed Stanley Steamer, came to Colorado in 1903 for health reasons.
It is said that although he was thrilled by the mountains he missed the luxury of the east. In 1909 Stanley purchased 140 acres of land, designed a hotel, and had it built paying a half million dollars cash for the structure. Besides the hotel, the property housed a power plant, a manor house, casino, tennis courts, 9 hole golf course, trap shooting area and an airfield.
Many famous guests have stayed at The Stanley including J. C. Penney, John Phillip Sousa, and Harvey Firestone. Probably the most famous and intriguing has been Stephen King. King used The Stanley for his inspiration in “The Shining”. We were told that room 217 is haunted and that is the room King stayed in. Supposedly there are three ghosts in The Stanley — Mr. and Mrs. Stanley and a hotel maid.
Today the hotel is a National Historic Landmark. If you are not a registered guest and want to visit The Stanley, there is a cost of $5.00 per vehicle.
