Debunking and Unraveling the Truth Behind it All
Nestled deep in the mountains of Estes Colorado lies a hauntingly beautiful hotel just waiting for guests to grace themselves with her presence. Becoming a beacon for socialites and the wealthy due to its incredible views, this alluring establishment was blessed with extravagant parties, boisterous guests, and eventually guests of a whole other kind…the spooky kind.
With books and movies making this hotel more famous than it already was, curious onlookers from around the world have checked in to see if the rumors are true and to have an experience that many say has been eye-opening to the entire world of the paranormal. Whether you believe the speculation and numerous tales from the guests who’ve stayed there or prefer to rely on only the historical facts, this hotel gives everyone an eerie feeling from check-in to check-out!
Table of Contents
The History Behind The Stanley Hotel
The Founder Freelan Stanley
When it comes to the history of the Stanley Hotel, we immediately draw recognition to the man who it was named for, Freelan Oscar Stanley. Freelan himself had a colorful history of being an extraordinary entrepreneur from Maine. His twin Francis was also an inventor like him and they even designed the now-famous Stanley Steamer Automotive. With their countless inventions, these brothers had a bright future ahead of them.
Unfortunately in 1903, the unthinkable happened to Freelan and he was faced with making a very tough decision when it came to his health. Tuberculosis can be life-threatening for many, especially before the medical advances we have today for treatment. Sadly, Freeland was stricken with it and was told to not make plans past 6 months of his life. With a bleak future ahead, Stanley and his wife Flora were heartbroken and knew they had to act quickly.
The treatment recommended in the 1900s by his doctor Sherman Bonney (like many others) involved eating healthy and lots of direct sunlight until the disease passed through the body, if you were one of the very lucky ones. With this in mind, Mr & Mrs Stanley headed from the forests of Maine to the Rocky Mountains of Estes Colorado to stay in a friend’s cabin. The truth was, Stanley planned on this being his last and final trip and he wanted to have his final breaths taken in a place that was breathtaking in and of itself.
In the blazing sunny month of June, summer came with its sunshine days and quickly passed by to gloomy dark winter nights as Freelan miraculously began becoming the picture of health once more. This inspired the Stanley family to return yearly in celebration, even building a gorgeous rustic cabin to return to. Wanting to accommodate more friends, guests, and family, Freelan and Flora wanted to build something IMPRESSIVE beyond compare to make an even bigger name for themselves. This new lease on life lead to the construction in 1907 to begin and Estes Colorado was evolving into a picturesque destination for travelers already.
By 1909 the Stanley Hotel was complete with some of the latest technological advances for guests to enjoy. With steam laundry, telephones for personal use in each room, a hydraulic elevator, electric and gas heating for comfort, and even mountain wagons to conveniently transport patrons from the train to the hotels, guests felt like royalty. To top it all off, a beautiful concert hall was built for his adored wife Flora so everyone could hear her incredible piano-playing skills to add to the entertainment value of it. If you wanted fancy accommodations, this hotel seemingly had it all. Every wooden detail was carved by hand and the Colonial Revival style seemed to stand out among the other structures nearby.
Now, I know what you are thinking…well this doesn’t seem spooky or paranormal at all! Stop talking architecture and get to the good stuff lady. Start talking about ghosts. Be patient friends because this tale of beauty, healing, and fanciful living takes a seemingly dark turn just around the bend.
The Tuberculosis Sanitarium
As we already said, tuberculosis was especially deadly back in the early 1900s. With Mr. Stanley fully recovered in this picturesque environment, the Stanley Hotel became a beacon for “lungers”, as they were called, to come to recover from what ailed them. Although in theory, this was a seemingly helpful idea since it worked so well for Freelan, gathering multiple people in one hotel with highly contagious diseases didn’t always have the results everyone would hope for during a deadly epidemic.
At this time, without a vaccine or antibiotic treatment, nearly 1 in 3 Colorado residents were stricken with the “white death” and the outcome was not generally good. With higher altitudes generally halting the TB bacteria from spreading through the lungs, the wealthy fled to the mountains of Colorado to find resorts and sanitariums like the Stanley Hotel to help them increase their chances of survival. Although many considered this refuge a sanitarium, the hotel was not officially listed as one. It purely was through word of mouth that this was a place of healing for TB sufferers due to its ventilation, elevation, and freshwater pumped in from the mountain streams filled with healing elements.
Although we couldn’t actually find any records of people who died here from the disease itself since it wasn’t officially listed as a hospital or sanitarium, I personally would find it hard to believe that all who came here with such a deadly illness would make it back home safely. I’ve personally heard stories from friends who have stayed here who claimed to have heard hospital gurneys being wheeled down the halls, only to walk out of their room and find the halls completely empty. Other staff has reported even seeing impressions deep into the beds without a guest or anyone even being present. I don’t know about you, but that’s enough to raise suspicion for me!
“The Shining” Saves the Day
Stephen King’s Novel Inspiration
Now we get to some of the good stuff and something I’m pretty sure you’ve heard A LOT about! The Shining! The year was 1974 and Stephen King had a horror novel hit known as Carrie which made the hair on your arm stand up with each chilling chapter. He and his wife knew the winter seasons were approaching so they chose to stay at the Stanley Hotel for a night even though it was seemingly in need of repairs. Seeing that they were the only overnight guests, Stephen felt it would be a great opportunity to enjoy the tranquility even though the eeriest feelings overcame him upon checking in to the Presidential Suite.
While many run from horrors and nightmares, Stephen King embraces them and turns them into works of art in his novels. As he and Tabitha checked into the now famous room 217, they noticed how haunting the long and empty corridors felt. Even with his dining experience, he said, “Except for our table all the chairs were up on the tables. So the music is echoing down the hall, and, I mean, it was like God had put me there to hear that and see those things.” Being the only guests there allowed them to experience the Stanley Hotel differently than most do today. In fact, that very night he was riddled with nightmares where he had visions of his three-year-old son being chased by a firehose twisting and turning towards him menacingly down the long hallways screaming in sheer terror.
When he woke up in a panicked sweat, he lit a cigarette to calm his nerves and inspiration overcame him. He knew that this story was going to be something grand or at least something worth putting in his typewriter and onto the next set of pages to come. The “bones” of the book and story emerged as quickly as the embers burned from his lit cigarette.
Movie and Television Influence
Relating to the character of being a writer and battling alcoholism, Stephen King green-lit the movie to highlight his amazing novel with Stanley Kubrick at the helm. He saw the movie as an opportunity to expand his reach in the world of horror to a whole new audience and to people who may not have had an original interest in horror at all. Although the movie was more “inspired by” instead of “based on” Stephen King’s The Shining novel, Stephen King was glad for the exposure even though he loudly voiced his disapproval of character choices on top of many other creative options.
The movie differs from the book greatly in tone, depth, and even the filmed locations. It was called the Overlook Hotel and the outside shots were the Timberline Lodge in Oregon. The interior of course was made up of built sets mostly inspired by yet another hotel called the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. Stephen King did not appreciate Kubrick’s version of his story, claiming that he basically missed the theme entirely. Although the differences are great, no one can deny the horrific nightmares and terrifying inspiration that was originally had at the actual Stanley Hotel in room 217.
It was the movie that lead guests back here in droves essentially saving these lodgings from complete financial ruin. Then came the Shining miniseries which was in fact written and produced by Stephen King. This 3 part mini-series was filmed in the actual Stanley Hotel which brought back that original eerie inspiration that we grew to love in his original novel. Thanks to the media and fandom, the independent horror film festival called the Stanley Film Festival was soon created to expand upon these chilling tales. That leads us to our next piece of the unraveling puzzle…Who, What, Where, and Why is this Hotel Haunted? What’s so darn special about room 217 that would cause nightmares and lead to life-altering changes?
Room 217
When you think of haunted hotel rooms, Room 217 is definitely one of the more famous ones that come to mind. After Stephen King’s nightmare-inspired stay in this Presidential Suite, Room 217 became often requested by paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters. Many Stephen King fans stayed here hoping for similar inspiration and even hoping to have a similar haunting experience that could be life-changing. But what led 217 to be haunted in the first place? It all goes back to its humble beginnings and a woman named Elizabeth Wilson.
Elizabeth Wilson was a maid/housekeeper for the rooms at the Stanley Hotel back in 1911. A storm knocked out the power one evening, so Elizabeth did her due diligence. Unfortunately, an odorless gas leak came seeping out on June 25th and Elizabeth entered the room with a lit candle to try and see in the dark. BOOM!
The explosion was fierce! Injuring at least 9 staff and Elizabeth herself, the gas explosion was said to have launched her out a 2nd story window and broken both of her ankles. Other accounts say this was not true at all but it did cause her injuries. Even yet ANOTHER account that was later uncovered said the explosion actually dropped her to the dining room directly below Room 217. Some say this is how she met her end and that her name wasn’t Wilson at all, but Lambert instead. Was this a cover-up by the Stanley family? Could this be why she haunts Room 217 today?
One thing is for sure is that guests are certain that she is still tied to this very room. Some speculate that this was her favorite room to tend to because of the wealthiest guests who checked in there and others say this could be where she spent the last days of her life. Jesse Freitas was the hotel's archivist who has his own theories in which he is sure that the explosion only injured her as she lived out her life at the hotel well into the 1950s.
What have guests experienced in room 217?:
Clothes being unpacked neatly
Shoes being neatly arranged
Suitcases organized
Shadows passing through the walls
Unmarried couples being separated as she climbs into bed with them
Jackets being hung up when they were laying about
Strangely, all the reports about the explosion still differ to this day which only adds to the mystery of Room 217. Some say the gas system was not in active use and a thunderstorm wasn’t even reported. If the lights weren’t out and the gas wasn’t being used, what exploded and why?? The death of a woman named Lizzie Leitenbergher was even reported that night by the Fort Collins Weekly Courier. No picture or record can be found of Elizabeth Wilson, Elizabeth Lambert, or Lizzie Leitenbergher. So who haunts room 217? I guess you’d have to stay to find out for yourself!
The Friendly Cowboy
When you want to have a paranormal experience at the Stanley Hotel, but Room 217 has already been booked, try booking Room 428. This is the room where you might be greeted by a friendly man in boots and a hat, that is lovingly called the friendly cowboy. This cowboy is said to sit at the edge of your bed with a smile on his face. I don’t think that would make me feel any better, to be honest with you, but to each their own.
People who stay in this room tend to hear footsteps above them which is said to be an impossibility and furniture tends to get moved around. Tales have been told that when people have seen him and asked him to leave, he happily did so which dubbed him as being quite friendly and polite.
Some have seen him stand in the corners while some say he just paces the floor. One chilling tale and account are told where he actually laid a kiss on a guest's forehead as she woke up. I don’t know about you, but that creeps me out more than impresses me about this casanova! I don’t think many husbands would find this too sweet either if they book a couple’s trip here.
Ghost Kids
Next comes the topic that I personally dread…Ghost Kids! That’s a big nope from me folks. Room 418 has a few that love to reside here so I think I’d opt to reside in a different room with a ghost that maybe folds laundry. Calling ghost Elizabeth anyone?! Even cleaning crews report hearing and seeing things in Room 418.
The ghost kids here like to run up and down the halls while laughing and playing. Others say even Room 217 has an agitated ghost child that has been seen through the hotel. The fourth floor has its fair share of children as it used to be an attic with nannies and children who were attended to by them.
This could explain why they run in the halls here and have been seen in various rooms on this floor. Stephen King was reported to have seen one of the children even crying out for his nanny. I personally would rather run into a ghost nanny and ask her to keep the kids quiet so I could sleep.
Room 407
The fourth floor as you’ve already heard is probably the biggest ghostly hot spot in the entire hotel, so that’s why it’s no surprise that Room 407 is haunted too. But this time it's haunted by a surprising guest who never stayed even stayed here at all; Lord Dunraven. Lord Dunraven was the original owner of the property before Freelan Stanley purchased it from him. So why would the former property owner return? No one is quite sure. Guests have reported that he likes to turn lights off and on, stand in the corner, and has even been seen glaring out the window from this room when no one has been booked for a stay there.
Flora’s Music Room
Remember how we talked about Flora Stanley and how she was quite the savant when it came to playing piano? Well, the guests who’ve stayed here along with the staff have often heard the sounds of the piano playing even when the music room is completely empty. It is said that Flora still has a knack for entertaining but wasn’t quite the fan of others who tried to play here in her place.
As a matter of fact, there have been stories of more than one person getting their fingers actually smashed if their skills were not up to her standard. After all, this music room was built for her as a gift and even modeled after the Boston Symphony Hall, so it sounds like she takes it quite personally if you don’t play as well as she would like. Currently, the piano sits behind velvet ropes to honor her, respect her memory, and perhaps prevent any broken fingers.
Although Flora’s presence can still be heard and felt, another ghostly figure is said to be still on duty as he roams the concert halls. Paul was considered perhaps a jack of all trades with his duties at the Stanley Hotel, but amongst his duties, he was always asked to usher out guests from the music hall by 11 PM.
It’s still said to this day that curious onlookers have heard someone quietly telling them to “Leave” or “Get out” if they have wandered too close by to the music room. It seems that Paul’s duties never ceased in the afterlife, even when he sadly passed away in 2005 from a heart attack while performing his job. Sounds like he never clocked out if you ask me. Talk about working double over time!
Lucy in the Halls
Another story often told here is the story about Lucy. It was said that while peeking in curiously at construction plans in the basement, she somehow became trapped and froze to death, going undiscovered for quite some time. The tragic part that was revealed but not proven, was that once she was discovered thawing out, her body was simply discarded onto the property without a proper burial. Perhaps this is why guests have photographed a mysterious woman in pink who is said to roam the halls as if her soul is still lost or wandering.
Who was Lucy? Was she a guest? Could she have been someone who was homeless and seeking refuge from the cold weather? No one truly knows. Ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts have reportedly spoken with her on quite a few investigations and communicated with her with very few answers. All we know is Lucy never left and her true background will always remain a complete mystery.
The Founder Freelan Stanley Returns
Of all the hauntings and all the guests who have stayed here, who would be better recognized than the man who brought life to the Stanley Hotel, Freelan Stanley himself?! With such deep ties to the hotel, it’s not a surprise that Mr. Stanley would keep checking in on his beloved retreat and his well-respected guests even after he already checked out at the ripe old age of 91 in 1940.
Some guests have reported simply feeling his presence while many other staff and guests have claimed to have even seen him in full apparition. Where can he be seen? One of the more frequent locations he has been seen has been at the reception desk. Apparently, he loves to oversee guests and make sure his staff is taking great care of everyone.
Another location Mr. Stanley is known to frequent is the billiards room and bar area. Even when the rooms are empty, billiards can be heard knocking around the table and even boisterous laughter. Some staff has claimed to hear glasses clinking and the low rumble of conversation long after the rooms are emptied out. It sounds like Mr. Stanley is enjoying his extended stay with Mrs. Stanley and a few of their favorite staff too! Now there’s a 5-star review headline you might want to read, “Even the owners never want to check out! Enjoy your stay!”
Between the Truths and the Myths
So many of the stories at the Stanley Hotel are so sensational that it makes many of them hard to believe. We ourselves at the Ghost Hunting Beauties are very healthy skeptics and after all of what we have seen, we know there are many experiences that just can’t be explained. With this seemingly haunted hotel, there are too many accounts and too much history to deny that there aren’t true paranormal experiences that have been seen, felt, and heard by credible sources.
To begin with, we know that this hotel sits high up in the mountains on limestone and quartz. These two sources are said to be extremely energetic conductors. Limestone has often been referenced in paranormal research and is said to have a direct correlation to residual hauntings. Residual Hauntings are places that seem to hold spiritual energy from the living and events from the past become imprinted on them. Although much of the theories behind this are speculation, countless residual hauntings have been closely monitored and correlated to limestone in large amounts being present, near, on, or below the scene.
https://www.westword.com/arts/haunted-by-its-past-will-the-stanley-hotel-have-a-happy-ending-8437814
In the 1900s records are not always well written and details back then were easily altered, leaving facts to be left up to interpretation. Long before fact-checking existed, documentation was not always a reliable source of information, and the documentation that exists at the Stanley Hotel, we feel is no exception to that rule.
However, with many overlapping stories held consistently, there was more than one death that happened here which could obviously lead to quite a few hauntings. Along with personal accounts of experiences, many paranormal researchers have held extensive sessions with recorded activity. There have even been guests with pictures that show unexplained entities, leading us to believe that indeed this hotel is haunted! Is every story here true? Probably not, but we do know that thanks to the colorful history, haunting stories, and sheer beauty of this hotel, we will definitely be adding it to our list of haunted places to stay!
Credits:
https://www.uncovercolorado.com/stanley-hotel-haunted-history/
https://www.history.com/news/the-disease-that-helped-put-colorado-on-the-map
https://www.thetravel.com/stanley-hotel-facts-ghost-creepy/#lord-dunraven-makes-his-presence-known
http://www.panicd.com/encyclopedia/theory-behind-limestone-quartz-and-magnetite.html
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