It was a lovely spring day, and my friend was coming to Colorado for a visit. We decided to go to Estes Park for the weekend.
We talked as we drove up the mountain and he asked if this was where “The Shining” was filmed. I told him I wasn't sure, but I thought it might be.
It was a glorious day - blue sky, beautiful scenery, and the perfect way to begin our trip.
As we approached the overlook of Estes Park with the Rocky Mountains rising in the background, it was truly a spectacular sight.
We drove toward town and noticed a striking white building up on the hill. Neither of us knew what it was, so we decided to investigate.
Driving closer, we marveled at the perfectly manicured grounds and then saw the sign that read - The Stanley Hotel.
We agreed that we had to see it but were sure that it would be too expensive to stay there.
As we entered the property, the massive white gates opened to a large outdoor patio. Inside, the lobby was beautifully decorated with big leather chairs surrounding several huge stone fireplaces. Antique tables with fresh flowers brightened every corner, it was warm and inviting.
We inquired about the rates and were surprised that they were offering a special price for the night, so we decided to stay.
After checking in, the desk clerk informed us that the hotel was haunted and that they had ghost tours in the basement after dark. We thought it was amusing and a good tourist attraction but declined.
Climbing the stairs, we noticed the air changing, it became heavy and dense. The brightness of the lobby faded as we walked toward our room.
When we opened the door, we were immediately struck with the closeness of the space. Not only was it very small but there didn't seem to be any air circulating at all.
We knew that this would not be comfortable and asked to change rooms. They moved us to a large, beautifully appointed suite with a great view of the mountains.
We enjoyed a luxurious meal downstairs at the restaurant and continued to marvel at the wonderful surroundings. We planned on going into town later and do some sightseeing, but we never left the hotel.
Throughout the evening, several people approached me saying I looked like someone they knew.
When I went downstairs to the restroom, I felt a chill in the air. The entire time I was there I felt as though I was being watched, it made me very uneasy, and I hurried back to our table.
My friend laughed when I told him and reminded me about the ghost tours. I thought it was funny, and quickly put it out of my mind.
It was getting late, so we decided to go back up to the room. As we sat and talked, I felt a sudden draft of cold air and looked to see where it was coming from.
I was shocked when I saw an apparition of a man step through the doorway of the bathroom and disappear.
Before I could react, my friend asked if there was someone behind him. Standing over his shoulder I could see the faint outline of a young girl. We both were stunned, not sure what was happening.
Slowly we began to speak, this felt like a child’s spirit nothing malevolent, but terrifying just the same.
Suddenly, the energy changed dramatically. The room filled with cold air and a bright light flashed across the wall and splashed on the bureau mirror. It felt as though dozens of very angry people were trying to get into the room.
We were both in shock at what we were seeing and feeling. It was 2:00 a.m. and checking out in the middle of the night seemed strange, but we could not stay any longer.
It was a relief to see the friendly night clerk at the desk.
When we told her what happened, she said that it was a regular occurrence because the hotel really was haunted. She had seen some extraordinary things herself.
We talked to her for some time, hoping to calm down before driving home.
She said she was not surprised that I had a bad experience. She told me that I looked very much like a woman from the hotel who passed away many years ago.
We drove back down the mountain in silence. Years later, I still think about what we encountered in that strange and dark place.
I have never returned to the Stanley or to Estes Park.
