The Stanley Hotel - Estes Park, CO - Scores High 4/6



If you're not already a fan of "Ghost Hunters," you might have heard about The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, as it was the hotel that apparently inspired Stephen King's novel "The Shining." TAPS made it popular by having some very successful hunts there and an all-night live Halloween episode. What impressed me the most about it was the sounds of voices in the basement and the glass breaking and closet door opening and rattling in the room that Jason stayed in. That was probably one of the most impressive episodes ever.

This grand hotel, built by the man of famous "Stanley Steamer" fame, is on a fantastic piece of land--lots of granite!

Here's how this one broke down. Although it got a 4/6, when I finish my research, I might need to adjust this for certain conditions that make it more like a 5/6. This case might be on that proves that you don't necessarily need death on a site for a haunting, but could use the right conditions to make it a receptive site for haunting phenomenon.

1. Built in 1909.
2. Stone.
3. Land is quartz and granite, shale and schist. (quartz and granite seem to be associated with poltergeist and strange natural phenomenon and shale and schist with hauntings).
4. Underground streams.

There are no train tracks around the area and there are no deaths associated with it, although there is some question of a homeless woman dying in one of the buildings. The lore of the hotel is that people once associated with it now haunt it. I've always had some question about spirits haunting places they loved in life rather than ones associated with the moment of passing, but with these kind of conditions and no real death/trauma associated with the site but it obviously having issues, I'd almost believe it's possible, but so far I haven't seen much that isn't along the lines of poltergeist activity or strange natural phenomenon rather than a true haunting. When I begin the second phase of my research into the actual hard proof of hauntings collected by others, then I can probably make an observation about just what kind of haunting is occurring here.

Perhaps it's true, if you build it, they will come.

Comments

  1. Thanks for doing this one Autumnforest! Ever since the Shining that hotel has fascinated me. As a native of Colorado I had always wanted to check it out on the inside but only ever saw the outside-and that was in passing. This article brings up a very interesting question-would a ghost be more inclined to haunt the place of their death? or a place they loved in life? I have really been enjoying this series and hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

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  2. Hey Devin;
    Hopefully in the 50 places I'm studying, I manage to get some that folks have seen and wondered about. I've wondered a lot about the death/haunting question. Of course, the house I grew up in I would say was definitely haunted by soldiers that died there in the hospital, between the booted feet pacing and the men's muffled voices speaking. My parents had a promise they'd haunt Aspen Grove and my dad passed when I was 16. He was seen by the new owners of the place standing in the yard while they were busy giving a party. They described his suit and tie (pale gray suit, pink and gray striped tie) and that was his traveling suit we buried him in. They didn't know he'd been dead for over a week. My mom died in 98 and vowed to haunt the place and that house was the greatest love of her life. As an historian, she got it registered and on the historic tour. My brother died in 2001 and in the hospital he told me he was dreaming off flying over Aspen Grove and described who was parked there at the condos that now surround it and such. He vowed to haunt the place. Then, in 2005, my sister died quite suddenly but before she passed, we were having a discussion about how we'd haunt Aspen Grove. A couple years ago, our dear family friend, a professor from George Mason University, used to live in a cottage at the end of our driveway. He and mom were dear friends uncovering the house's history together. He told me that he wanted to go there too. Well, he died a few months later. Interesting, huh? I hope some day to find a film crew willing to document a hunt there. If I can't find ghosts in that Civil War Hospital supposedly also haunted with four family members and a family friend, then they don't exist and I'll hang up my gear.

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  3. Midsummer Blessings! I love the Shining!I do not think that ghosts are bound to haunt the place they died in.

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  4. so sorry for your family deaths, you've been through a lot of loss.

    we will be in beckinridge, co next month and i want to see if its open and if we can make a day trip there. i would love to visit!

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  5. greekwitch;
    I used to have a concept about ghosts as an imprinting in the environment of a very strong emotion at the moment a person crosses over, so more than likely where they died would be imprinted with that memory. Any psychic will tell you that going to the site of a death makes it very fresh to read. I'm much more open-minded about it now. I truly believe that a place like Aspen Grove would be a haunting site for a great many people. Decades after we lived there, people who lived in the cottages, extended family and friends, still talk about it as a paradise. It really was in its heyday (before the condos that surround it now). I really hope to get back there to do a filmed study--I can't think of a more perfect place for me personally to hunt!

    Sandra; Thanks. Yeah, a lot more losses than that (over 2 dozen family/friends) but when you're the baby of the family by quite a few years, you have to usher everyone out. The good part of this is having had them at all--what a lucky person I am that they imprinted themselves in my heart so well and influenced the way I do everything--and then, when it's my time to close the door behind me on this plane, I'll have a huge greeting committee. I'm cool with that. :-)

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  6. Thanks for doing this place. I really want to visit there and stay at the hotel for a couple of nights at least. Beautiful area.
    Julie

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