What is it about this place?
July 30, 2015 7:00 am
Driving, walking, visiting Estes Park for the first time, you can’t miss the big white place up the hill.
All eyes at the my dear wife Karen’s Family Reunion were drawn toward The Stanley Hotel.
What is it about this place?
Something about it just seemed so darn … familiar.
On Friday morning, we four walked up from our cool blue cottage to investigate.
Old grounds, public welcome.
Talk the night before had touched on some history of the joint, and sister-in-law Lynne and nieces Stormy and Kimi had mentioned how they might like to sign up for the Stanley Hotel’s Ghost Tour.
We figured we’d check the grounds, and hunt for a schedule and prices.
Pretty picture on the way up.
First, though, daughter Elisabeth and boyfriend George Three couldn’t pass up the photo opportunity with the valley below.
Looking up for George Three and Elisabeth.
And then I couldn’t resist a more traditional shot of them pointing down …
Fearless spouse Karen.
… and my signature shot of my dear wife walking up toward our goal, the stately Stanley.
We walked right inside the ornate lobby of polished wood.
Karen and I go for it.
Elisabeth grabbed my iPhone 6 and let Karen and I have a little fun with our own tourist photo opp. Yes, our heads are embodied on the two little girls made famous in the film made of Stephen King’s so-scary novel The Shining. King, you see, stayed here with his wife as the sole guests one night, and was inspired to write that story of isolation in the mountains. Alas, the movie was shot on Mount Hood in Oregon. Decades later, though, this place was used for the shooting of a TV mini-series remake. It also was used in the popular movie Dumb and Dumber
And legend has that the place completed as a guest home in 1909 for Freelan Oscar Stanley, owner of the Stanley Steemer company, is haunted.
Alas, Karen’s inquiry discovered that all ghost tours were sold out until today, in fact, two days past everybody’s departure from the Family Reunion.
I’ll fear it when it grows.
We walked around some more, admiring the miniature hedge maze and soaking up the natural beauty of the place.
Click on any gallery photo for a description. Click on the bottom photo for an enlarged slide show.
Tomorrow: Up the mountain by foot and by jeep
Friday: Denver’s a real zoo
Would you walk up the big hill drawn by this white building? Would a ghost tour at the Stanley Hotel interest you or scare you away? Are you more afraid of Redrum or more interested in what inspired Stephen King?
Posted by markbialczak
Categories: iPhone Photography, Life
Tags: Colorado, Estes Park, Family Reunions, Reunions, The Stanley Hotel, The Thin Air Series
Mobile Site | Full Site
Get a free blog at WordPress.com Theme: WordPress Mobile Edition by Alex King.
Oh, that stinks! 😦 I was hoping you got the tour. I have a cousin who lives about 75 miles form there, and she recently took her family for her daughter’s 17th birthday… and they said it was magnificent. I can’t wait to go someday. Your photos are awesome! 😀
LikeLike
By rachelcarrera on August 10, 2015 at 3:19 pm
P.S. I especially LOVE the touristy head photo of your and Karen! ❤
LikeLike
By rachelcarrera on August 10, 2015 at 3:20 pm
That photo is a cracker-upper, Rachel. ❤
LikeLike
By markbialczak on August 10, 2015 at 3:39 pm
You will have to tell me about the tour, Rachel dear. 😮
LikeLike
By markbialczak on August 10, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Cool photos, Mark. Sorry you missed a chance to tour the Stanley Hotel. I’m currently re-reading King’s “On Writing” and he said he was drinking heavily when he wrote this. Since then, he’s been clean and sober for years.
We went on the Jack the Ripper Tour in London in 2003. I don’t know if I would have done so at night though – and I’m not sure I’d stay at the Stanley Hotel. The book and the movie were scary enough. 😉
LikeLike
By earthriderjudyberman on July 31, 2015 at 6:58 pm
That book and movie scared the daylights out of me, too, Judy. Truly. Jake the Ripper in London, huh. Brave, you and Dave are! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 31, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Mr. B, it looks like you are having a fabulous time with your family! Your pictures really capture your adventure and make me feel like I was there with you all! 🙂 The one of you and Karen with the little girls’ bodies is hilarious!! REDRUM REDRUM!
LikeLike
By brickhousechick on July 31, 2015 at 9:22 am
Thank you, Mrs. B. Aren’t we good sports in that silly photo? Redrum indeed. 😮
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 31, 2015 at 2:32 pm
Being silly never goes out of style!
LikeLike
By brickhousechick on July 31, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Indeed, Mrs. B. 😮
LikeLike
By markbialczak on July 31, 2015 at 9:04 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA! 😀 Thank you for a wonderful smile and chuckle before I go to sleep! 🙂
LikeLike
By Chatter Master on July 30, 2015 at 8:48 pm
Glad you like that shot in particular, MBC. 😮
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 31, 2015 at 2:44 pm
A very pretty setting. I am glad it wasn’t used to film The Shining. That would give it a creepy association in my mind.
LikeLike
By Deborah Drucker on July 30, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Thanks, Deborah. It has a feel to it nevertheless, and plays the angle up. 😮
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 6:02 pm
I will take your word for it. I may not want to stay there if it does. I don’t mind friendly ghosts. 🙂
LikeLike
By Deborah Drucker on July 30, 2015 at 7:25 pm
Grand old Dame … great pics Mark – thank you.
LikeLike
By Paul on July 30, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Sure think, Paul. Spooky old Dame, too. Whew!
LikeLike
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 6:01 pm
What a cool place, Mark. Totally amazing! 😀
LikeLike
By Silver Threading on July 30, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Amazing is a good word for it. Thanks, Colleen. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 6:01 pm
When I stayed there, they put me in the Honeymoon Suite. It’s the room smack in the center, with the large windows. Very tiny:). While I’ve never been a big ghost story gal, I can tell you that every time I laid on that bed, there was a knock on my door. And no one there. The tap turned itself on. Weird stuff!
LikeLike
By candidkay on July 30, 2015 at 2:31 pm
OK, Kay. You’ve convinced me. HAUNTED! Weird stuff, indeed. You braved it out!
LikeLike
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 6:00 pm
Yes, I’d walk up a big hill, house or not and absolutely I’d be interested in a ghost tour!
Great post and photos Mark – it’s so beautiful there! <5
Diana xo
LikeLike
By dianasschwenk on July 30, 2015 at 2:23 pm
Thanks, Diana. I really enjoyed every minute of the setting. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:59 pm
Beautiful-no I’d pass the haunted house business. Check out Casadega, Florida on Google. As a child we went there, sandy, gravel road in large cypress trees with the infamous hanging moss, creepy eerie feeling in this small town???? Gatorette.
LikeLike
By Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on July 30, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Creepy and spooky, I agree, Gatorette. Yikes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:58 pm
I’m not usually one for group tours but I think a ghost tour is something I couldn’t resist! What a gorgeous building!!
LikeLike
By Marissa Bergen on July 30, 2015 at 1:11 pm
It’s a good-looking place, Marissa. And I would much prefer a big group for a ghost tour than a small group. Just saying. 😮
LikeLike
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:57 pm
I see your point.
LikeLike
By Marissa Bergen on July 31, 2015 at 2:39 pm
We use to live in Denver and love Estes Park, yet in all of our years there never went into the Stanley. Not sure why as I love that era of architecture! What a great place for a family reunion! Thanks for sharing some great shots!!
LikeLike
By Kirt D Tisdale on July 30, 2015 at 9:51 am
Thanks for the kind words, Kirt. Denver and Estes Park, with the space between that we drove, was beautiful country, indeed. Lucky you for living out there. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:53 pm
Goosebump territory…both for the inspiration in staying alone in that hotel (only Stephen King could translate this into his story) and the majestic splendor of that setting. Those mountains. Gorgeous. I’m trying to picture that maze in a few years. And yes, I would have explored, but maybe not in the winter, and surely not at night. !! Kudos to you, Mark, for the beautiful photos. You captured the moment, once again. ☺☺☺
LikeLike
By vanbytheriver on July 30, 2015 at 9:50 am
Yes, the hedge maze will be something scary in the future, Van. And this place in the dark of winter … whew. I don’t wanna be around that! Thanks for your kind words on the photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm
You know, Mark, with long hair you kind of look like the lion from The Wizard of Oz. That’s a compliment, by the way – everyone loves that lion.
LikeLike
By snoozing on the sofa on July 30, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thanks, Scott. Mark in his (Bert) Lahr? 🙂
LikeLike
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Mark, l love the photos. I would not go anywhere near the Stanley. Even looking at it, sitting up on top of the hill used to give me the creeps when we stayed in Estes Park. There is something very sinister about that building. It’s a shame you couldn’t have gone on the Ghost Tour.
LikeLike
By SD Gates on July 30, 2015 at 9:03 am
I know you’ve felt the spirits, S.D. Very interesting that the Stanley spooked you at the mere sight of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 5:48 pm
I know – some places just give me the creeps – even just driving by. The Stanley is like one of those creepy paintings, where the eyes seem to be looking at you from every direction.
LikeLike
By SD Gates on July 30, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Just seeing the photo of the hotel gave me chills. But it is beautiful nonetheless, as are the grounds.
LikeLike
By cordeliasmom2012 on July 30, 2015 at 8:42 am
I agree, CM. Chilling and beautiful at the same time. Good call there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 9:38 am
This is wonderful!
LikeLike
By Cate Franklyn on July 30, 2015 at 7:44 am
Thank you so much, Cate!
LikeLike
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 8:32 am
I would definitely walk up to see it–in the daytime!
LikeLike
By merrildsmith on July 30, 2015 at 7:34 am
Yeah, nightfall would have me walking down the hill, Merril. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 8:32 am
That’s pretty cool.
LikeLike
By coldhandboyack on July 30, 2015 at 7:27 am
I enjoyed putting myself in Stephen King’s shoes for that little piece of time, Boyack. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 8:32 am
omg! yes, i would love this and be terrified at the same time. i’m interested in his motivation –
LikeLike
By ksbeth on July 30, 2015 at 7:09 am
We really wanted to sign up for the ghost tour … well, I was very enthusiastic, Beth, and MDW Karen and the kids had various levels of agreement but we all were ready to give it a go with Lynne, Stormy and Kimi! In yesterday’s post, Kay says she stayed here and her room was haunted! Let’s see what her comment shares when she comes back today.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 8:30 am
What amazing views all around. The interior is so majestic! Beautiful. Thanks for sharing once again Mark
LikeLike
By DailyMusings on July 30, 2015 at 7:03 am
Thank you for your kind words, Lisa. I love sharing the experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By markbialczak on July 30, 2015 at 8:28 am