THE HAUNTED STANLEY HOTEL-TAKE THE TOUR WITH ME-PART 1

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!  So, I can't even tell you guys how busy I have been and how many COOL stories I have to share with you.  Over the last two weekends I have been to some of the most HAUNTED places in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!  And believe me....I'm pooped!!!! But never to "pooped" to talk with you guys. LOL

First, here is  a brief little bit about the hotel. (Like you DON'T already know about the Stanley.) LOL

One of the MOST FAMOUS HOTELS IN THE WORLD the Stanley Hotel, known for its architecture, magnificent setting and famous visitors, may possibly be best known today for its inspirational role in Stephen King's novel, The Shining. The hotel has been featured as one of America's most haunted hotels and with the numerous stories from visitors and staff, The Stanley Hotel continues to "shine" today, as it did in 1909 when first opened.

Forced by poor health to move West, F.O. Stanley and his famous Steamer arrived in Estes Park in 1903. Finding the town lacking in amenities, F.O. set out to change the local economy. On the 160 acres he purchased from Lord Dunraven, Stanley first built the main building of the hotel, one of 11 buildings in the original complex. Many of those original buildings remain in use today on the remaining 55 acres.  He  built the road from Lyons, over which he brought visitors, riding in a Stanley Steamer to Estes Park and The Stanley Hotel. This makes the first time in history that an automobile, instead of a train, was used to transport people to a resort area. By his dying year in 1940, Stanley had not only built his grand hotel, but also developed a sewer, power and water company, as well as Estes Park's first bank.

Now about the ghosts of the Stanley:

• The ghosts of Freelan Stanley and his wife Flora have been seen dressed in formal attire on the main staircase and in other public areas, such as the lobby and the billiard room.
• Mr. Stanley has also been spotted in the administration offices, perhaps to keep an eye on the hotel's books. The Flora's piano playing occasionally echos in the ballroom.
• Disembodied voices and phantom footsteps have been heard in the hallways and rooms.
• Staff and visitors have reported unseen hands yanking at their clothing.
• More than one guest has said they have awakened to find their blankets taken from their beds and neatly folded.
• The Earl of Dunraven, who owned the land prior to the Stanleys, is said to haunt room 407, where the aroma of his cherry pipe tobacco still can be smelled. A ghostly face has also been reported peering out of the room's window when it was not occupied.

Room 217, where Stephen King stayed, was the site of a tragic accident in 1911: housekeeper Elizabeth Wilson was nearly killed by a gas leak explosion. Since her death in the 1950s, strange, unexplained activity is said to take place in that room, including doors opening and closing, and lights switching on and off by themselves.

• Room 418 is the most haunted room, according to hotel staff, apparently by the ghosts of children. Guests who stay there say phantom children can be heard playing in the hallways at night. One couple complained that the noisy children kept them up all night, although there were no children staying at the hotel at the time. Impressions of bodies have been found on the bed when the room as been unoccupied.
• The ghost of a small child who calls out to his nanny has been spotted on several occasions on the second floor -- including by Stephen King.

As we walked through this place frozen in time with all it's beautiful dark wood and leather chairs in  the lobby and the smell of Hickory Pine everywhere, I couldn't help but wish I was entering the hotel as a guest dressed in a long, blue ruffley dress with a lace collar and my hair neatly pinned up under a cute little hat.  White gloves....and standing there very prim and proper waiting on someone to come escort me to my room just before dinner.  Instead, I am wearing a Becks Ghost Hunters Tee-shirt....my hair down in my face...pulling 3 heavy bags full of ghost hunting equipment trying to get checked in as fast as I can so I can go check things out!!! Oh well......sssiiiggghhhhh

 

Now, let me explain to you what I do before I go to a haunted location.  It takes a lot of time and research BEFORE hand so that I know what the claims are and who the spirits are that are reportedly haunting the location.  This just helps me know what and who I may encounter, if any spirits.

So, BEFORE going to the Stanley, I was online reading and looking at TONS and TONS of pictures to blog about and give you guys some idea what the place may look like.  Now, if you have EVER Googled the Stanley Hotel you know you can read and look at historical pictures for hours and hours!!! Well....I decided to take a picture of the Stanley on my phone that I thought I would post on my blog.  Now, this picture just caught my eye for some reason.  It wasn't a picture of a ghost or even a picture of Mr. Stanley...it was of three ladies walking up to the Stanley.  Nothing fancy....but for some reason I just liked it!!!

Back to my story...
We check in and head to room 315........I could hardly wait!!!

 

We opened the door and instantly you could feel a cool breeze coming through the window as there is no air conditioned rooms at this hotel.  I could see mountains and pine trees through the window and it just took my breath away......sheer beauty.   As I stepped into the room I looked to my right and saw a TV, a desk, a dresser and the door to the bathroom.  It looked like a pretty "standard" room I guess you could say.......BUT THEN.......I looked to the LEFT..........as my eyes were glancing across the room at the nightstand that sat by a queen size bed with a wooden headboard something caught my eye..............WHAT THE HECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Up on the wall........was THE EXACT picture of the three ladies I had taken a picture of a couple weeks earlier!!!!  WHAT ARE THE ODDS..........that out of this 155 room hotel that in MY room would be a random picture of three ladies walking up to the Stanley Hotel that I had only seen once before on the internet.  I almost choked!!! LOL  I yelled at Deak...."look"......"look".......he was like "what?"  "What is it?"  I said "the PICTURE! The one on the wall!  It's the one I randomly took on my phone of the Stanley!!!!"  What are the ODDS that THAT PICTURE would be in our room?????    There are THOUSANDS of pictures I could have chose to use on my blog but I chose that one.........and it shows up in our room!!!!  Coincidence......you tell me?????

 

And that's how our trip started....

 

Anyway, I put together a little video...and before you start emailing me telling me I misspelled words...I realized that a little to late....but cut me some slack....I'm exhausted! LOL  Anyway, this is the first of a 3 Part series of video's I plan on posting on the Stanley.  This is just the grounds...stay tuned....

 

And I want to say a SPECIAL THANK YOU to all those past, present and currently serving our country.  Without you and what you have done or are doing...we would not be able to live in the wonderful country called USA!!!!  With my deepest and sincerest gratitude...."THANK YOU". 

Luther Martin (My Nan)