Our research is editorially independent but we may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
The historic Stanley Hotel has been famous in Colorado and beyond for over a century. Opened back in 1909 by the inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobiles, Oscar Stanley, it sits at the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park in the beautiful town of Estes Park. The jaws were said to drop of those early guests, who pulled up in stylish Stanley-designed steam cars to see this spectacular hotel in the mountain wilderness, complete with telephones, electric lights, en-suite bathrooms, uniformed servants providing exceptional service and even a fleet of automobiles at their disposal.
It rivaled even those luxurious hotels “back east,” or so they say.
Today, it’s just as stunning, providing the chance to experience some of the best of yesteryear while being just minutes from one of the most scenic parks in the country. It offers quite a bit more than luxury and breathtaking mountain scenery, however.
Known as one of America’s most haunted hotels, it reportedly spooked horror master Stephen King so much that it became the inspiration for the setting of “The Shining.”
Mr. Stanley and his wife are said to frequently walk through the lobby. Mrs. Stanley can sometimes be heard playing her piano in the music room, while a former housekeeper who died here in 1911, is said to frequently assist guests in Room 217 by unpacking and storing their belongings, while the sounds of children running and laughing down the halls seem to be common occurrences, reported on the 4th floor.
The hotel also offers fine dining in its Cascades Restaurant as well as massage therapies and facial treatments at its Parlour Spa.
The 138 guest rooms include a living room area, 42-inch flat-screen televisions and king-sized beds. Some also include a private balcony to take in those breathtaking mountain views.
While you’re here you can also take advantage of the many activities in Rocky Mountain National Park, just minutes away.
Just some of the opportunities include hiking the miles and miles of trails, guided horseback rides, fly-fishing beautiful streams, and embarking on one of the most stunningly scenic drives in the entire nation.
On Trail Ridge Road you’ll have the entire sweep of the Rockies before you in every direction. The 48-mile paved road stretches from Estes Park to Grand Lake at the park’s western edge. At its peak, it winds across the tundra to the high point at 12,183 feet in elevation, offering extraordinary views and wildlife sightings, including elk, moose, bighorn sheep, marmots and more.
