Haunted hotel that inspired The Shining where ghosts spotted and screams heard
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Halloween is almost upon us and spooky season has plenty of Brits looking for ways to scare their socks off.
The world is littered with tales of ghostly apparitions from headless horsemen to hell hounds.
Hotels are often reported to be filled with paranormal activity – especially older buildings.
READ MORE: You can stay in an haunted house full of 'ghosts that smells like death' for £114 a night
There’s one particular old hotel that’s so famous for its haunted history that it inspired Stephen King for his terrifying novel The Shining.
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, US, reportedly inspired Stephen King to write the horror as well as the book Doctor Sleep.
Hidden in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, the Stanley Hotel looks inviting and glamorous to guests.
However, this may not be the case as it's thought that ghosts haunt the rooms.
Some people say they've heard screams in the hallways.
Stephen King claimed a terrible dream of his son, which he had while staying at the hotel, was what inspired his horror stories.
On his website, the author recalled: “In late September of 1974, Tabby and I spent a night at a grand old hotel in Estes Park, the Stanley.
“We were the only guests as it turned out; the following day they were going to close the place down for the winter.
“Wandering through its corridors, I thought that it seemed the perfect—maybe the archetypical—setting for a ghost story.”
He added: “That night I dreamed of my three-year-old son running through the corridors, looking back over his shoulder, eyes wide, screaming.
“He was being chased by a fire-hose. I woke up with a tremendous jerk, sweating all over, within an inch of falling out of bed.
“I got up, lit a cigarette, sat in the chair looking out the window at the Rockies, and by the time the cigarette was done, I had the bones of the book firmly set in my mind.”
Stephen’s experienced caused him to write The Shining in 1977 – a horror set in the fictional Overlook Hotel.
He’s not the only one to be freaked out during a visit to The Stanley Hotel.
Henry Yau took a panoramic photo of the interior of the building and thought that no people were in the shot.
He didn't notice a spectral figure at the top of the stairs until later.
Looking at his picture of the grand staircase in the lobby he spotted the eerie shape.
"When I took it, I didn't notice anything. Overnight, I felt strangely sick and queasy and had stomach problems," he told the Mail Online.
"The thing is, I rarely get sick. It wasn't until the next morning that I saw the figure in my pic."
The image went viral on Facebook as people noted the creature must be a ghost.
It’s no surprise considering the history of the old building.
There are a number of other ghostly sightings from the history of the hotel as well.
It’s thought that the hauntings began to occur after a major storm hit the area in 1911.
The hotel opened in 1909 and has 48 stunning rooms.
Glittering dances were enjoyed in the ballroom and those with some money could take trips to the mountains to stay in The Stanley.
Now, it’s thought that a former housekeeper haunts the hotel.
Elizabeth Wilson lit a lantern in room 217 causing an explosion – she was badly injured and now haunts the suite.
She does so by fiddling with guests belongings and the lights.
People also think that she bothers unmarried customers sharing rooms as they don’t conform to her vintage values.
Paranormal activity lovers also suspect one of the founders play the piano at the hotel.
Plus, a handy man has been spotted from beyond the grave.
For those who are willing to brave a stay, the Stanley Hotel has four options.
The first are the historic rooms which the hotel says are ideal for a "paranormal folklore fan, history buff, or film enthusiast", although it also warns that "due to the historic nature of the building, not all modern amenities are available".
For those less inclined to face a haunting, The Lodge is an elegant alternative, while Residences have all the modern amenities that you could want – including hot tubs.
A final option is a stay in one of the Aspire rooms, contemporary rooms and suites with air conditioning, kitchens and a rooftop deck.
Rooms in the haunted section of the hotel cost from $319 (£283) for a stay in 2022.
You can find out more on stanleyhotel.com.
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