
Good evening readers! I’m excited to be in Colorado (it’s my first time!) and let me tell you it is B. E. A. UUUUTIFUL here! At first, I was put off because it was very flat, but as I got closer to Estes Park, the mountains began to appear from the shadows stretching higher to the skies. This adventure starts off on a 2 hour trek to the hotel itself but the first night I HAD to do The Shining Tour, let’s brew about it!
Again the adventure to get to The Stanley Hotel took about 2 hours, but it was worth it. Stopping at Rosa Cantina for tacos and nachos, probably the freshest tortillas I ever had (made in house) and the Horchata was divine. Amongst the twists and turns, rise and fall of the land it made me think of the Fellowship of the Ring or a hero’s journey a quest for how long it took but it was well worth it to see the lay of the land. The Stanley Hotel itself can be seen from afar across a large lake before you even get close to the turn off. It is a gorgeous and massive place with smaller surrounding buildings.

Coming up to the great main building, the maze is off to the left. It isn’t as terribly tall nor large as it is in the movie, but it is fun to see. Inside the grandeur doesn’t stop, with deep dark ornate wood and floor to ceiling walls, even though there are 4 floors. I’m staying on the second floor in the Sunset Suite room 230. It is a gorgeous room with a large balcony to myself. I can’t wait to sit out there and write. Side note I’ve been wanting to start writing stories again. I thought if I challenge myself to do a page a day and see if in a year or less I MIGHT have a decent book on my hands. I mean I’m at the birth place of The Shining, Steven King ,did it because this place is inspiring, why not give it a go?

I booked the last tour of the day, so I explored around the first floor and then the basement where the tours begin. There they have The Vault where they sell spirits, a chocolate factory and cafe ( both of which were closed )when I went careening about. The tour itself is an hour long taking us from the basement up to the main floor where the MacGregor ballroom is, and about how the night Steven King came up with the idea of The Shining, which was because of a severe nightmare and a bit of drinking with the bartender, who’s name was Delbert Grady, yes Mr. King used the actual name of the man for his story. The tour took the group to the male and female work dormitories which they are fixing up and then to the caretaker’s cottage which was beautiful, they even had a room decked out as it was in the movie as well as a vault holding the axe Jack Nicholson used in the hedge seen. And of course, your’s truly had to get a picture in the infamous 217 tub lady scene, not my first rodeo in being in a haunted or murder/ suicide tub. ( I happened to pop in a tub where a woman passed away in at Scarlett O’ Hara’s).

I took lots and lots of photos and accidentally scared the tour guide( she didn’t realize I was still in the men’s dormitory and coming from the shadows, she screamed startling the others of the group that were waiting outside). I couldn’t help myself and said, “boo.” I thought that was a great way to end the night but taking the old elevator I decided to go the opposite direction to see the door of room 217 and it just o happens the couple in the same tour asked me and others in their room for a look around, what a coincidence, right? I got to snap more pictures especially room 217’s own copy of Black House where others have left notes of their visits as well as leaving their own scary reads in the bookcase.
Have you ever been to The Stanley Hotel? Have you taken The Shining tour? If not I recommend it, it’s a MUST. Tomorrow I’m heading to a national park before going on a late night tour.
As Always Keep On Brewin!