I've recently been reading Doctor Sleep, the sequel to Stephen King's The Shining. Released in September of last year, it focuses on an adult Dan Torrance and his struggle to deal with the demons from his past as well as confronting a new threat to a young girl who also "shines." Delving into the rich, engaging world Mr. King has created in these two novels inspired me to take a closer look at the inspiration behind them... the Stanley Hotel.
It was during a stay with his wife at the beautiful, neoclassical hotel nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains of Colorado King was inspired to write The Shining. This inspiration was in no small part driven by the numerous stories surrounding paranormal activity at the hotel. Of course the novel went on to become extremely popular and spawned both a film and TV movie adaptation, but what about the real spirits roaming the Stanley's corridors?
The richest source of stories is the ballroom. Staff and guests alike have reported on numerous occasions hearing a party underway in the room only to find empty. (This was also portrayed in King's novel and the movies). Many people have also heard someone playing the ballroom's piano. It is widely believed the source of the piano music is Flora, wife of hotel founder Freelan O. Stanley, who was an avid pianist. Other reports include a male apparition in one of the guest rooms standing over the bed before disappearing into the closet. This entity is also believed to be responsible for stealing guests' possessions.
As famously portrayed in both the novel and movies, Room 217 (237 in real life) has also been the source of claims of paranormal activity and the room itself is considered infamous. Incidentally, King and his wife stayed in 237.
Like so many other locations with such abundant claims of paranormal activity, the Stanley Hotel has drawn the attention of the media and paranormal investigators from far and wide. The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) has investigated the hotel twice and both times were able to find logical explanations for a lot of the claims. In addition, Syfy's Ghost Hunters Academy held it's season finale there in 2010. The Ghost Adventures team also visited the Stanley and recorded several paranormal events. Other teams, including the Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society have conducted investigations there with varying results.
All in all the outcome of paranormal investigations at the Stanley Hotel are a bit inconclusive. The question of whether or not it's hallowed corridors (and ballroom) are truly haunted rests, as it usually does, with you.
But even if you decide the ghosts aren't real, you can catch a non-stop loop of Stanley Kubricks' unrated cut of The Shining on channel 42 in your room. Sweet dreams...
-AJ Retelle
Founder & Director
New Hampshire Paranormal Investigators
