SPOOK HOUSE

At the east entrance to Estes Park, Colorado, rests the majestic Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for author Stephen King’s creepy with a capital C novel, The Shining. Opened in 1909 and financed by F. O. Stanley, the inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile, the hotel was built to accommodate his many vacationing friends and relatives. The 129 rooms/suites are priced well beyond the meager Bore family budget, but Big Bore and I were each able to scrape up 15 bucks apiece for the History and Ghost Tour at The Stanley.

Ghosts, I say? Yep, ghosts, but not the evil apparitions found in SK’s book. No twin sisters dripping out of elevators, and no maniacal hotel caretaker wielding an ax (or croquet mallet, if you’re more familiar with the book than the movie). No animal-shaped hedges in the front yard coming to life. Darn it. I love hedge animals.

The ghosts at The Stanley slam doors, run around the 4th floor hallways, and have cool auras floating up stairways. Word has it, however, that actor Jim Carrey once checked out of Room 217 in the middle of the night because he became so frightened. Maybe the toilet wouldn’t flush. I don’t know. While our tour group was on the second floor, a young couple suddenly emerged out of 217 with their suitcases and a few people in our little entourage about wet their pants, then laughed all over themselves.

As much as “I’m a Believer” (Monkees, 1966) of ghosts, I was really more interested in the opulent design of The Stanley and the old photos and paintings displayed. The winding staircases, expensive light fixtures, and beautiful woodwork were impressive. I thought about how lavish Mr. Stanley’s parties must have been in the grand hotel. Men shooting pool in the billiard parlor, dressed in suits and ties; women politely sashaying about in their long dresses.

President Theordore Roosevelt, John Philip Sousa, The "Unsinkable" Molly Brown have all been guests here. Oh, if walls could talk.

But, hey, wait! Maybe, just maybe..... ;)