Stanley Hotel Ghost Stories: Why It's Called Haunted

Why is the Stanley Hotel haunted? The short answer: a century of guest and staff reports, a real 1911 accident in Room 217, and one sleepless night in 1974 that gave Stephen King the idea for The Shining. Put those together in a grand white hotel in the Rockies and you get one of the most famous haunted hotels in America.

Here's the history behind the Stanley Hotel ghost stories, what people say they've experienced, and what to know before you make the drive up to Estes Park.

The Stanley Hotel's haunted history starts with a sick inventor

Freelan Oscar Stanley, better known as F.O. Stanley, co-founded the company behind the Stanley Steamer automobile. He came to Colorado in 1903 hoping the mountain air would help him recover from tuberculosis. It worked well enough that he decided to stay, and to build.

Construction started in 1907, and the hotel opened on July 4, 1909. It was among the first hotels west of the Mississippi with both electricity and running water, a real luxury for a mountain resort at the time. Stanley also built a concert hall on the grounds, and the popular story says it was a gift for his wife, Flora, an accomplished pianist.

Flora died in 1939 and F.O. in 1940. After that, the hotel passed through a long line of owners. In 2025 it was sold to a public-private partnership that includes the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority, with plans for a new event center and a horror film museum on the property.

Room 217: the explosion behind the legend

If you only know one Stanley Hotel ghost story, it's probably this one. On June 25, 1911, during a power outage, chambermaid Elizabeth Wilson walked into Room 217 carrying a candle. A gas leak ignited and the explosion tore through the room.

Here's the twist: she survived. Accounts of exactly what happened vary, and newspapers at the time didn't even agree on her name, but the story generally told is that she was badly injured, recovered, and kept working at the hotel for years afterward.

That hasn't stopped people from saying she never really left. Guests in Room 217 have reported their things being unpacked and tidied, lights switching on and off, and a cold presence at night. The hotel lore says she's especially fussy about unmarried couples sharing the room. Room 217 is reportedly one of the most requested rooms in the building.

Stephen King, an empty hotel, and The Shining

In 1974, Stephen King and his wife, Tabitha, were living in Boulder. They drove up to the Stanley for one night just as it was closing for the season. They were nearly the only guests. King later described the empty corridors and the sound of music echoing through the dining room.

That night, which is widely reported to have been spent in Room 217, became the seed for The Shining, published in 1977. Stanley Kubrick's 1980 film wasn't shot at the Stanley, but King's own 1997 miniseries was, with the hotel standing in for the Overlook. The Stanley also played a hotel in Dumb and Dumber. Today there's a hedge maze on the grounds, added in 2015 as a nod to Kubrick's version.

So part of the answer to "why is the Stanley Hotel haunted" is pop culture. People arrive expecting something strange, and they pay close attention to every creak.

The most famous Stanley Hotel ghosts

Room 217 gets the headlines, but the stories spread through the whole building. These are the ones you'll hear most often:

• The fourth floor. Once used for staff quarters, it's the floor guests talk about most. People report children laughing and running in the hallway when no children are booked, and objects moving on their own. Records don't show any child dying at the hotel, which only makes the stories stranger.
• The cowboy in Room 428. Guests have described a cowboy standing at the edge of the bed, along with heavy footsteps and furniture that seems to move overnight. He's generally described as friendly.
• Flora at the piano. Some say piano music drifts out of the music room or concert hall when no one is playing.
• F.O. Stanley himself. Reports place him in the billiard room and bar, still keeping an eye on his hotel.

The hotel has been featured on paranormal TV shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, which only added to its reputation.

Were there murders at the Stanley Hotel?

Plenty of people search for "Stanley Hotel murders," probably because of The Shining. But the hotel's best-known stories don't come from a murder. Its most famous ghost is tied to an accident that the woman at the center of it survived. Most of the reports are of a gentler kind: footsteps, music, tidying, laughter. Spooky, sure, but more of a lingering presence than a crime scene.

Visiting the Stanley Hotel today

The Stanley sits above the town of Estes Park, at the doorstep of Rocky Mountain National Park, roughly an hour and a half northwest of Denver. A few tips:

• Book early for the famous rooms. Room 217 and the fourth floor are in demand, especially in October.
• Not staying overnight? The hotel runs guided tours. Check the hotel's site for current options, since tour offerings have changed over the years.
• Watch the weather. It's a mountain town. Fall can bring snow, and traffic around Rocky Mountain National Park gets heavy on autumn weekends.
• Pair it with Denver. Most visitors fly into Denver, which has its own haunted hotels and a long, rowdy history worth exploring.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Stanley Hotel actually haunted?

Nobody can prove it either way. What's real is the history: a 1911 explosion in Room 217, a famous author's night in a nearly empty hotel, and more than a century of guests and staff reporting things they couldn't explain.

What happened in Room 217 at the Stanley Hotel?

In 1911, chambermaid Elizabeth Wilson entered the room with a candle during a power outage and a gas leak exploded. She survived and continued working at the hotel. Guests say her spirit still tidies up the room.

Which room did Stephen King stay in?

King and his wife spent one night at the Stanley in 1974, and it's widely reported that they stayed in Room 217. That stay inspired The Shining.

How far is the Stanley Hotel from Denver?

Estes Park is roughly an hour and a half northwest of Denver by car, depending on traffic and which route you take.

Can't get enough of Colorado's ghosts? Before or after your trip to Estes Park, spend a night out in the Mile High City. Our Denver ghost tours mix local legends, dark history and a few good drinks, and they're a fun way to warm up for a night at the Stanley.