The Stanley Hotel - #65 in the 70/70 quest!

 

For all the years we’ve lived in Boulder, we had never been to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park! Our 70/70 quest provided the perfect opportunity to correct this oversight. Off to Estes and the Stanley Hotel we went with a reservation for a Historic Tour in hand.  Our tour provided both a telling of the history of the Stanley Hotel and a first-hand look at much of that history. 

 

First, a brief synopsis of the Stanley Hotel Origins:

The hotel was the creation of Freelan Oscar ("FO") Stanley: inventor, entrepreneur, hotelier, and architect. He made his fortune through his invention of photographic plates that allowed photographs to be taken much more quickly than was the standard of the day. Next, with his brother Francis Edgar Stanley, they founded the Stanley Motor Carriage Company which built steam-powered automobiles until 1920. Unfortunately, FO suffered from tuberculosis – but, fortunately, traveled to Colorado and Estes Park with his wife Flora in 1903 in hopes of treating what had become a life-threatening case of the disease. His health greatly improved during that first summer visit so he returned annually. By 1907, Stanley decided to turn Estes Park into a resort town and construction began on the magnificent 48-room hotel designed with the grandeur that the Stanleys and their eastern friends were accustomed to.

 

Next, our visit! It turns out we arrived early enough to enjoy breakfast at one of the hotel's restaurants before our tour - and enjoy we did! It was one of the best breakfasts we've ever had and I got to try Chicken & Waffles for the first time in my life. Yum!

From breakfast we went on our tour, which began with a tour of the auditorium, designed by FO very much with his wife, Flora, in mind (her favorite color - yellow - bedecks the walls and many of the architectural features incorporate her favorites such as her favorite flowers). The auditorium has hosted many a renowned artist and community events over the years as demonstrated by the posters hanging on the walls of the balcony.

 

 

 

The personalities of the Stanleys and signs of the times from when the hotel was built are on display throughout the main building.

 

Of course there is a Stanley Steamer in the lobby!

 

 

The bench in the billiard room where wives could watch their husbands play.
There is a projecting board running the length of the bench to ensure women sat upright.

 

Stairways lined with mirrors.
Mirrors are found throughout the hotel.

4 styles of posts, to represent seasons

Central stair shaft designed for the circulation
of summer breezes & cool night air throughout the hallways

We were shown the door to the room where Stephen King stayed when he conceived The Shining. King’s stay was at the end of the season for the hotel, and he and his wife were the only guests in the hotel. His wife retired early, and King went down to the bar, where he laid a twenty dollar bill on the table and said “I’ll have whatever this will get me”. The bartender, having closed out his books for the year, told him his money was no good, and they both drank and told stories for the next few hours. That night, King outlined most of The Shining using many of the stories about the hotel that the bartender had shared.  Expect to pay extra if you want to stay in this room!

Thank you, FO Stanley, for your hospitality!