Post by Chris O (Lazy Owl) on Aug 7, 2008 12:33:27 GMT -6
The Stanley Hotel lies nestled among the foothills in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, 70 miles north of Denver, Colorado. The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, USA was built by Freelan O. Stanley (1849 - 1940), and opened in 1909. Stanley and his wife Flora had been sent West by F.O. Stanley’s doctor to seek the fresh mountain air. Stanley, who suffered tuberculosis, had been advised to not make plans beyond six months. The doctor arranged for the couple to stay in a friend’s cabin in Estes Park for the summer. Immediately, they fell in love with the area and F.O.’s health began to dramatically improve. Stanley created the Stanley Steam Engine (a steam-powered horseless carriage) and, along with his twin brother Francis Edgar Stanley, founded the Stanley Steamer Company.
In addition to its regular guests, the hotel is also said to play host to a number of otherworldly visitors. The most notable is F.O. Stanley himself, who is most often seen in the lobby and the Billiard Room, which was his favorite room when he was alive. On one such occasion, he was said to have appeared during a tour group’s visit to the Billiard Room, materializing behind a member of the tour. Bartenders at the old hotel also report having seen F.O. stroll through the bar, disappearing when they try to cut him off at the kitchen.
Not to be left out, Flora Stanley also haunts the hotel, continuing to entertain guests with her piano playing in the ballroom. Employees and guests have reported hearing music coming from the room, and when they take a peek into the room they can see the piano keys moving. However, as soon as someone walks across the threshhold to investigate further, the music stops and no more movement can be seen upon the keys of the piano.
Room 418 gets the most reports of haunting activity, apparently from children’s spirits. Cleaning crews report having heard many strange noises from the room, as well as seeing impressions on the bed when the room has been empty. When guests stay in the room, they often report that they hear children playing in the hallway at night. One couple reportedly checked out of the hotel very early in the morning, complaining that the children in the hallway kept them up all night. However, there were no children booked in the hotel at the time. There have also been many reports by guests of haunting activities in Rooms 217 and 401. On a visit to The Stanley with his wife.
Tour guides tell a story of the ghost of a small child who has been seen by many of the staff in various areas of the old hotel. Other past employees report footsteps and apparitions seen throughout the building. However, it is not simply the hotel proper that is haunted; ghostly activity has been reported in all three buildings. There are frequent reports of activity on the 4th floor, which reportedly was once employee quarters. Guests repeatedly complain of hearing children running and playing in the hallways on this floor, only to discover that no children are staying at the hotel. There are several rooms in the hotel that seem to be particularly haunted. One is Room 407, which is said to sometimes be occupied by Lord Dunraven, who owned the land prior to F.O. Stanley. Reportedly, he likes to stand in the corner of the room near the bathroom door. On one such account, witnesses reported that a light in that corner kept turning on and off. While the light was off, they told the ghost that they knew that he was there, they would only be staying two nights, and would he please turn the light back on. The light turned back on. However, later when the lights were turned off and they were trying to sleep, noises were constantly heard from the nearby elevator during a time when the elevator was not in use. At other times, a ghost has been reported to be looking out the window of Room 407, when the room is not booked.
Room 1302 in the manor has been difficult for housekeeping, as they often make up the room only to come back later and find it a mess again. The windows on the second floor of the manor apparently go up and down on their own. Footsteps can be heard in the concert hall, where a homeless woman who had sought refuge in the basement froze to death one winter. There is also reportedly also a girl named Katie who haunts the boiler room and downstairs employee passage.
In addition to its regular guests, the hotel is also said to play host to a number of otherworldly visitors. The most notable is F.O. Stanley himself, who is most often seen in the lobby and the Billiard Room, which was his favorite room when he was alive. On one such occasion, he was said to have appeared during a tour group’s visit to the Billiard Room, materializing behind a member of the tour. Bartenders at the old hotel also report having seen F.O. stroll through the bar, disappearing when they try to cut him off at the kitchen.
Not to be left out, Flora Stanley also haunts the hotel, continuing to entertain guests with her piano playing in the ballroom. Employees and guests have reported hearing music coming from the room, and when they take a peek into the room they can see the piano keys moving. However, as soon as someone walks across the threshhold to investigate further, the music stops and no more movement can be seen upon the keys of the piano.
Room 418 gets the most reports of haunting activity, apparently from children’s spirits. Cleaning crews report having heard many strange noises from the room, as well as seeing impressions on the bed when the room has been empty. When guests stay in the room, they often report that they hear children playing in the hallway at night. One couple reportedly checked out of the hotel very early in the morning, complaining that the children in the hallway kept them up all night. However, there were no children booked in the hotel at the time. There have also been many reports by guests of haunting activities in Rooms 217 and 401. On a visit to The Stanley with his wife.
Tour guides tell a story of the ghost of a small child who has been seen by many of the staff in various areas of the old hotel. Other past employees report footsteps and apparitions seen throughout the building. However, it is not simply the hotel proper that is haunted; ghostly activity has been reported in all three buildings. There are frequent reports of activity on the 4th floor, which reportedly was once employee quarters. Guests repeatedly complain of hearing children running and playing in the hallways on this floor, only to discover that no children are staying at the hotel. There are several rooms in the hotel that seem to be particularly haunted. One is Room 407, which is said to sometimes be occupied by Lord Dunraven, who owned the land prior to F.O. Stanley. Reportedly, he likes to stand in the corner of the room near the bathroom door. On one such account, witnesses reported that a light in that corner kept turning on and off. While the light was off, they told the ghost that they knew that he was there, they would only be staying two nights, and would he please turn the light back on. The light turned back on. However, later when the lights were turned off and they were trying to sleep, noises were constantly heard from the nearby elevator during a time when the elevator was not in use. At other times, a ghost has been reported to be looking out the window of Room 407, when the room is not booked.
Room 1302 in the manor has been difficult for housekeeping, as they often make up the room only to come back later and find it a mess again. The windows on the second floor of the manor apparently go up and down on their own. Footsteps can be heard in the concert hall, where a homeless woman who had sought refuge in the basement froze to death one winter. There is also reportedly also a girl named Katie who haunts the boiler room and downstairs employee passage.