The Haunting of The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel – Larimer County, Estes Park, Colorado

Photo Property of Wikipedia

Sitting high in the Colorado Rockies like a sentinel watching over Estes Park, the Stanley Hotel is more than just a historic landmark — it is one of the most enduring and famously haunted buildings in America. With its grand colonial revival architecture, sweeping mountain views, and a guest list that once included royalty, U.S. presidents, and Hollywood elites, the Stanley was always meant to impress. But over time, its legacy has become entwined not just with luxury and history, but with the unexplained — and the unseen.

The hotel was the dream of Freelan Oscar Stanley, co-inventor of the Stanley Steamer automobile and a man of vision. In the early 1900s, he came to Estes Park seeking a cure for tuberculosis, hoping the mountain air would extend his life. It worked. So enchanted was he by the setting that he built the hotel as a health retreat and upscale destination for the East Coast elite. It opened in 1909 with electric lights, telephones in every room, and one of the first fleets of gasoline-powered vehicles in the country to ferry guests into the mountains.

But what began as a place of healing slowly took on a much darker reputation.

While the hotel’s global fame skyrocketed in the 1970s — thanks to Stephen King, who stayed in Room 217 and was inspired to write The Shining — its ghost stories go far beyond fiction. The Stanley is said to be haunted not just by its former residents, but by the energy of all those who have passed through its doors.

The most famous ghost is that of Elizabeth Wilson, the head housekeeper during the early years. In 1911, a gas leak in Room 217 caused a massive explosion while she was preparing the room for guests. The floor beneath her gave way, and she plummeted into the room below. Miraculously, she survived with only broken bones. Yet, her spirit is believed to have remained. Guests in Room 217 frequently report strange activity: lights turning on and off, luggage unpacked, clothing neatly folded, and a chilling but gentle presence hovering nearby. Couples who are unmarried often report a cold energy or strange feelings of disapproval, as if the spirit of Mrs. Wilson still upholds the old-fashioned values of her time.

The fourth floor is another hotspot of activity — and arguably the most active in the entire hotel. Originally used to house children, nannies, and servants, the area remains teeming with energy. Guests have reported hearing giggling, the sound of small feet running up and down the halls, doors opening and closing on their own, and even the ghostly image of a small boy peering around corners. Room 401, in particular, is well known for intense paranormal activity. Men staying there often report feeling watched, while women report feeling their hair being touched or even stroked.

Another notable room is Room 418, where guests and staff alike have heard unexplained footsteps and laughter — even when the room was unoccupied. Furniture has been found moved, and the impression of a body has been discovered on a freshly made bed. Hotel workers have confirmed that no one had entered the room.

The concert hall, built as a gift from Freelan to his wife Flora — an accomplished pianist — is said to be home to both of their spirits. Guests and employees have reported hearing the soft sound of piano music coming from the hall late at night, long after the building has been closed. Cold spots, phantom footsteps on the stage, and even the occasional sighting of a man in a formal suit (believed to be Mr. Stanley himself) are common. It’s said that Flora continues to play her beloved piano, while her husband walks the halls keeping a quiet watch over the estate.

One of the most fascinating features of the Stanley is the grand staircase, which paranormal investigators have dubbed “The Vortex.” This staircase is believed to be a spiritual gateway — a portal that allows spirits to move freely in and out of the hotel. Countless guests have reported feeling dizzy, light-headed, or even watched while climbing or descending the stairs. Some have captured misty shapes and orbs in photographs taken at just the right moment.

The basement of the hotel is also considered active, particularly near the rooms once used by maintenance and laundry staff. The energy here is heavy. Cold spots are frequent, and shadows have been seen darting between the laundry machines. Visitors have claimed to hear whispers, murmurs, and even growling — but when they turn around, they find no one behind them.

Psychic mediums and paranormal researchers have long called the Stanley Hotel a “thin place” — a location where the veil between worlds seems unnaturally light. It has been featured on countless television shows, including Ghost Hunters, Portals to Hell, and Destination Fear. Some teams have recorded audio and video evidence of conversations with unseen entities, while others have had their equipment inexplicably malfunction or go completely dead in the most active areas.

The hotel itself does not shy away from its haunted past. In fact, it leans into it. The Stanley now offers nightly ghost tours, paranormal investigations, and even Shining-themed events throughout the year. Guests can request to stay in one of the "active" rooms, and many leave with their own strange stories — photos of shadow figures, recordings of unexplained voices, or the memory of waking up in the middle of the night to the feeling of being watched.

Despite its many hauntings, the Stanley Hotel is not a place of malevolence. Those who have encountered its spirits often describe them as curious, residual, or protective — never hostile. It is as though the building remembers everyone who has passed through, and some simply choose to stay.

For those brave enough to walk its halls after dark, the Stanley Hotel offers a rare glimpse into the world of the unseen — a living testament to history, mystery, and the thin line between this world and the next.

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Address:
333 E Wonderview Avenue
Estes Park, Colorado 80517
Phone: (970) 577-4000
The Stanley Hotel is open year-round and offers daytime history tours, nightly ghost tours, and overnight stays.
Haunted rooms are available by request. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

The Haunting of the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown's House

Molly Brown House – Denver County, Denver, Colorado

Photograph ©Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau

Nestled in history, the enchanting Victorian residence that once belonged to Molly Brown and her husband, James Joseph Brown, stands as a testament to a bygone era. Acquired in 1894, this picturesque abode became the residence of the famed Molly Brown, affectionately known as the "unsinkable" Molly Brown for her miraculous survival of the Titanic tragedy in 1912.

Today, Molly's erstwhile home has metamorphosed into a museum, preserving the legacy of its illustrious occupants. The passage of time has seen various changes, owners, and occupants, each chapter contributing to the mystique that shrouds this historic dwelling. Unbeknownst to the living, some former inhabitants have chosen this home as their eternal roaming grounds, with the spectral presence of Molly and James Brown lingering within its walls.

The ethereal echoes of the past manifest in intriguing ways. Guests and employees, entering the hallowed halls, occasionally catch a whiff of the lingering scent of James's smoking pipe, a ghostly remnant of his earthly indulgence. Reports emanating from Molly's bedroom speak of inexplicable cold spots, accompanied by sightings of her ghostly apparition gracefully traversing the house.

Venturing into the room once occupied by Molly and James's daughter, Catherine Ellen, reveals another spectral phenomenon. Witnesses have attested to the eerie spectacle of window blinds lifting or lowering autonomously, as if guided by unseen hands.

Molly's mother, another resident of this historic home, continues to be a presence felt beyond the boundaries of mortality. Sightings of her apparition peering out of the window in her room evoke a poignant connection to the past.

A Victorian-clad female spirit, with a penchant for the dining room, has established her spectral domain at the table. Known to rearrange chairs and make her ethereal presence felt, she has even been captured on film by some living witnesses.

Adding to the spectral ensemble is the apparition believed to be a former male servant. Mirroring his past existence, this spectral figure materializes near the staircase, caught in the reflective surface of a mirror.

As the tapestry of time weaves through the corridors of Molly Brown's historic home, the ghostly imprints of former inhabitants persist, creating an immersive experience for those who dare to delve into the rich history and spectral tales that coalesce within its walls. The Victorian charm of the residence extends beyond the tangible, offering a glimpse into the ethereal realm that lingers in every corner of this enchanting museum.

 
Address:
1340 Pennsylvania Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
(303) 832-4092

The Haunting of the Grant-Humphreys Mansion

Grant-Humphreys Mansion –Denver County, Denver, Colorado

Photograph ©Dian McGown

Constructed in the opulent year of 1902, this majestic mansion stands as a testament to the grand vision of James Grant, a prosperous figure who held the prestigious position of the third governor of Colorado from 1883 to 1885. Beyond its architectural splendor, the mansion's history takes a fascinating turn with a series of events that have left an indelible mark on its halls and surrounding environs.

In 1911, tragedy struck when James Grant passed away, prompting his wife, Mary, to relinquish ownership of the estate to Albert Humphreys and his spouse, Alice. However, the narrative takes a mysterious turn when Mr. Humphreys met an untimely demise in what was described as a suspicious shooting accident on the mansion's third floor.

Adjacent to this splendid mansion lies Cheesman Park, a locale overshadowed by the haunting legacy of the Mount Prospect Graveyard. With over 2,000 interred souls, this cemetery, initially named City Cemetery in 1873, served as the final resting place for transients, criminals, and victims of devastating disease epidemics. In a rather unsettling turn of events, city officials, in 1893, declared their intent to repurpose the grounds, providing a mere 90 days for the relocation of all bodies.

This ambitious endeavor, however, resulted in a macabre spectacle. While church and temple members successfully moved sections designated for Catholic and Jewish burials, numerous bodies were left behind. The process of exhumation was marred by looting of graves, intentional breaking of bodies to fit into smaller containers, and the inadvertent mixing of body parts—a disheartening and disgraceful episode in the history of the cemetery.

The consequences of this tumultuous relocation reverberated throughout the surrounding homes and buildings, with apparitions making their presence known. In the Humphreys Mansion alone, at least five ghosts have been reported, casting a spectral veil over its storied halls.

Among the lingering spirits, Mr. Albert Humphreys himself is said to traverse the mansion's corridors, an unsurprising manifestation considering the tragic circumstances of his demise. The identities of the other apparitions remain shrouded in mystery, but conjecture suggests a connection to the chaotic events that unfolded in the ill-fated cemetery.

The Humphreys Mansion, standing as a silent witness to the intertwining of history and the supernatural, invites us to contemplate the lingering echoes of the past within its walls, where the stories of its former inhabitants continue to unfold in spectral whispers and ghostly apparitions.

 
Address:
770 Pennsylvania Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
(303) 894-2505

The Haunting of the Hearthstone Inn

Hearthstone Inn – El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Photograph ©Haunted Colorado.net

This inn is actually two houses that has been cleverly connected; the Bemis house built in 1885 and the Sumner house built in 1900. By viewing the front of this three-story Victorian, you would never guess that it has twenty-five lovely guest rooms in it. You would also never guess that it’s extremely haunted!

The Bemis house is supposedly the site of a murder and a possible suicide. Guests, who have stayed in the “Peak” room of the Bemis portion of the building, have reported seeing a mirror “float” off of the wall and land on the floor. A maid who was cleaning this room was suddenly locked in and no one could hear her screams for help!

Also in the Bemis house, some of the wait staff has had drinking glasses shatter in their hands. Another waiter is teased frequently by a pen stealing ghost. Supposedly his pen disappears from his apron pocket, only to reappear later attached to a curtain part of the way up the wall!

Many of the employees and visitors have seen the apparition of a little girl who runs through both of the houses, giggling and laughing! This same little girl is believed to be the same apparition who awoke the owner one night, jumping up and down on the bed. The girl was not actually seen that night but felt while she sprang up and down on the bed as if it were a trampoline.

Pictures and décor that hangs about the house has been known to suddenly “lift itself up off of the hook” and fly across the room. Knick-knacks and other items on shelves have been reported to be knocked off by some unseen force!

Cold spots have been reported in both houses, orbs have been seen and captured on film, mists have appeared out of nowhere, streaks of light have been seen, lights flicker or dim, radios and televisions turn on or off by themselves, and some have reported the feeling of some thing pushing them or touching them.

Some of the more sensitive visitors to the house have complained of feeling body chills, goosebumps, hair on their neck standing on end, feeling sick or nauseous and feeling drained of all energy.

Paranormal investigators who have investigated the house have caught images on film, as well as, voices and the sound of moaning on tape.

This inn seems to be extremely haunted. However, in the daylight, you would never guess that such a lovely house could be so riddled by restless spirits.

Address:
506 North Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
(719) 473-4413