For some people, there’s no greater thrill than being scared. In fact, when traveling, many seek out haunted restaurants and haunted bed and breakfasts because they can’t get enough of being spooked. If you’re looking for a good scare, many believe that the most haunted hotel in America is the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. It has a rich, storied history and SO many recorded encounters with spirits.
You might be thinking, Huh. I’ve never heard of the Stanley Hotel. But even if you don’t recognize the most haunted hotel by its name, you’ll definitely recognize it in popular culture. The Stanley Hotel was the inspiration behind Stephen King’s novel (and eventually, Stanley Kubrick’s film) The Shining. Yeah. That’s the level of haunted we’re dealing with here. We have the shivers just thinking about it.
As the story goes, King and his wife Tabitha stayed at the Stanley Hotel in 1974. The hotel was about to close for the season and they were the only guests. They stayed in — yup — Room 217, the room that rose to fame in King’s terrifying novel. Room 217 is legendary. According to Mapquest, in 1911, a housekeeper was electrocuted in the room. And ever since, strange things have happened there.
Paranormal activity of all sorts has been reported at the Stanley Hotel through the years.
Mapquest also reports that many believe the spirits of the late Mr. and Mrs. Stanley never left the hotel. Employees have reported feeling Mr. Stanley hovering behind them at the reception desk, while others say you can still hear Mrs. Stanley playing the piano in the hotel’s music room. Additionally, guests have reported their clothes being mysteriously unpacked, objects moving of their own volition, and lights flickering on and off. Uh, no WONDER it’s considered the most haunted hotel in America.
The hotel’s 4th floor is apparently another hotbed of paranormal activity.
That’s where the nannies used to look after the children. Many guests have reported hearing kids laughing and running down the halls. They’ve also reported the feeling of being “tucked” for the night. One such person is paranormal investigator Callea Sherrill.
“I heard footsteps come down the hallway,” Sherrill told Food & Wine of her stay in room 407. “They stopped outside the door. I waited for a knock, but nobody knocked. Just then I felt someone sit down next to me on the bed — I even saw the mattress dip.” Sherrill believed the presence could have been one of the nannies, there to tuck her in for the night. If you think that’s creepy, wait until you hear what her friend, who had been asleep during the eerie moment, asked the next morning: “Who sat down on the bed with us last night?” Um, we’re full-on freaking out now.
The Stanley Hotel takes pride in its haunted history.
In fact, they even offer a Night Spirit Tour for those who aim to chase the paranormal. The tour visits the quieter, darker parts of the hotel where you’re more likely to encounter spirits. So if you’re up to the task, the next time you’re in Colorado, we dare you to spend a night at the Stanley Hotel, the most haunted hotel in America. It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience!
