Stanley Hotel Estes Park

We stayed here because of the movie the "Shinning" was filmed there. It is very impressive as you drive up, but once you are in you do realize that you are in a hotel that was built in 1909. There is, wasn't when we were there a few years ago, no air conditioning in the rooms. Part of the charm, I guess. They do have ceiling fans and they helped to keep the room pretty cool. I would suggest going anytime but the summer. Although the summer months in the Rockies are just beautiful with so many outdoor activities available, the temperatures get warm and you can easily get dehydrated from the high elevation. There is a heated outdoor pool, tennis courts and a playground on property for quest use.

The rooms are pretty cozy and the grounds are just great. They don't have a shuttle, so you have to drive down into town. The views are great and if you are willing to kind of ruff it, you will enjoy it.

They have a lot of weddings and banquets here, so be prepared for noise. The walls are thin and the hardwood floors noisy.

It is a pretty good place to stay, just not in the heat of summer. But, enjoy the history and the view.

What more can I say then "The Stanley Hotel". Who hasn't seen The Shining, if you haven't, rent it!!
The Stanley Hotel is in beautiful Estes Park Colorado and sits over 7,000 ft above sea level. Rocky Mountain National Park is minutes away and the the town itself is very quaint.
I like to come here for the annual Shining Halloween Ball, it is so much fun!! My family has made Estes Park our destination for the Fourth of July for the past fifteen years. The fireworks over the lake are breathtaking and lets face it, the mountains in the summer, you can't get any better then that!
The Stanley has a pretty good restaurant called the Cascades and the wine list is nice and they have beer from all around the world. The Parlour Spa is relaxing and a nice treat, especially after hiking all day around Rocky Mountain National Park.
Kids love to take the ghost tour because, yes, the hotel is haunted. Not in a scary way though! It is a very fun, unique and historic place to stay. I highly recommend it!!!