Apache is functioning normally
From skeletons dressed as 49ers to laser light displays to pumpkins painted like Mona Lisa, here’s a look at some of the most elaborate and unique.
In Walnut Creek, artist John Marchant filled his driveway with over 250 perfectly carved pumpkins. He has been carving for decades and enjoys delighting the neighborhood with his spooky gourds.
A home in Alameda’s Gold Coast has a full-blown football game on the front lawn, with skeletal 49ers running triumphantly over skeletal Cowboys.
Halloween decorations with a political theme in Alameda. Photo credit: Amelia Bullock
A home in San Joaquin County has an elaborate set-up involving lasers and pyrotechnics. The owner collects donations that are given to a homeless shelter in the area.
Also in San Jose, you’ll find Sally Jimenez’s haunted house, located on Vernon Ave in the Willow Glen neighborhood. She began the decorating tradition in 2018 for her son Chris who is terminally ill.
Source: ktvu.com
Apache is functioning normally
These places are so scary, you’ll revisit them when you’re trying to sleep.
As the autumn wind heralds in the ghostly season, thrill-seekers across the country set forth on a quest for the spine-tingling embrace of whatever is lurking in the shadows of the best haunted houses. The shivers down the spine, the echoing screams in poorly lit hallways and the chilling breath of unseen specters — there’s an allure to the macabre, an ageless intrigue that summons the bravest hearts to explore the folklore of fear.
From haunted hayrides in Spring City to ghostly estates in Phoenix, America’s best haunted houses offer a gateway to explore the eerie tales etched into the nation’s bone-chilling past. As the veil between the underworld and our world thins, the sinister tales enshrined within the nation’s premier haunted attractions await to regale the fearless with grim pageantry. Venture if you dare, on this journey to find the best haunted houses in America.
The Mortuary – New Orleans, Louisiana
Situated in the heart of New Orleans, The Mortuary claims a spot on the list of must-visit haunted attractions in the U.S. This chilling venue is set within an aged Victorian mansion, whose past life as a funeral home lends an authentic eerie aura to its premises. With the advent of the Halloween season each year, the establishment sheds its quiet demeanor, morphing into a spine-chilling haunted house teeming with meticulously crafted scares awaiting the brave souls who venture within its walls.
The creators behind The Mortuary are adept at reimagining the horror narrative, introducing fresh themes and frights each season to ensure a uniquely terrifying experience awaits its patrons.
The Mortuary’s frightful allure extends beyond its seasonal spectacle. The establishment carries a lore of genuine hauntings, with numerous accounts of ghostly sightings and unexplained paranormal occurrences. This haunted haven doesn’t just play host to thrill-seekers during the Halloween season but calls the curious year-round, becoming a notable checkpoint for ghost tours meandering through the historic and haunted streets of New Orleans.
Located in central Fall River, the Factory of Terror stands as a testament to the frightful allure of the Halloween season. Renowned for its dark themes and well-crafted set designs, this haunted attraction promises a journey of terrifying discoveries to those who dare to tread its eerie halls.
The masterminds behind the Factory of Terror continuously conjure new spectacles of horror, reinvigorating the terror-filled ambiance to enthrall both newcomers and returning horror enthusiasts alike. Its reputation is further cemented by glowing reviews from fright-seekers and industry aficionados.
The Factory of Terror prides itself on a cadre of professional and well-versed actors, whose performances breathe life into the phantasmal narrative, further intensifying the chilling experience. As visitors navigate through the labyrinthine corridors, they are transported from one ghastly scenario to another, each tale of terror unraveling as they delve deeper into the eerie unknown that is the Factory of Terror.
In Spring City, the foreboding edifice of Pennhurst Asylum stands as a behemoth of terror among haunted attractions in the U.S. Perched on the somber grounds of the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital, this spot is steeped in a sinister history that dates back to the early 20th century.
Originally conceived as a haven for individuals with disabilities, the facility, over its operational span from 1908 to 1987, descended into notoriety due to allegations of mistreatment and deplorable living conditions.
Embracing its macabre backdrop, Pennhurst Asylum morphs into a realm of fright, weaving the chilling vestiges of history with the artistry of horror. The attraction is revered for its impeccable set designs, troupe of professional actors and realistic special effects, all converging to conjure a spine-chilling milieu. A journey through its dark corridors unfolds a series of thematic scares, each tale echoing the unsettling lore that shrouds the site.
Amidst the glittering allure of Las Vegas lies The Asylum and Hotel Fear, a pair of interconnected haunted house attractions that stand as harbingers of terror. These enigmatic haunts emerge from the shadows, poised to ensnare the brave with their intricately designed sets and undeniably scary themes.
Celebrated for their compelling story-driven approach, The Asylum and Hotel Fear ingeniously entwine their dark narratives to craft a seamless journey into the deepest depths of fear.
While each venue harbors its own dark theme, they are linked through a shared backstory that burgeons into a nightmarish reality as one walks from the forlorn corridors of the Asylum to the hauntingly truly terrifying rooms of Hotel Fear.
Secluded in Stone Mountain, Netherworld Haunted House is a spectacle of terror that reigns supreme in the realm of haunted attractions in the South. With accolades adorning its ghostly halls, Netherworld has etched its name on the list of must-visit haunted houses across the nation. Renowned for its labyrinth of elaborate sets, bone-chilling special effects and a legion of professional actors, the attraction deftly intertwines reality with the ethereal, offering a mosaic of fear to those who dare to step within.
With an unwavering devotion to the eerie and macabre, the people behind Netherworld Haunted House continually reimagine the domains of terror housed within, each year offering a fresh selection of nightmares that call to local thrill-seekers and the fearless from afar.
Netherworld’s legacy transcends the fleeting screams of October nights. It has blossomed into a titan within the haunted attraction industry, its tendrils of influence weaving a pattern of excellence that challenges and inspires haunts nationwide. The grandeur of its horror extends beyond the autumnal veil, with its ominous gates creaking open for escape games and other spectral soirees year-round, sealing its status as a perennial epicenter of the bizarre and fearsome.
In the middle of Phoenix, lurks a realm of horror that has etched its name among the most chilling haunts across the nation — the 13th Floor Haunted House. This formidable hellhouse in the desert draws upon the superstitions tethered to the number 13. The very name sets a foreboding ambiance, preparing visitors for the spectral journey that lies ahead.
Each year, a fresh narrative of fear unfurls through its ominous halls, promising the uninitiated and the seasoned veterans a night of true horror. The venue blossoms into a medley of gruesome scenarios, each chapter narrated by a cast of horrifying characters, realistic sets and a cacophony of screams echoing through the cold night air.
It’s easy to see that the owners exercise an uncanny attention to detail, forging an authentic atmosphere that seemingly erases the line between the realm of the living and the abyss that is the 13th Floor. The authenticity of the sets, coupled with the haunting performance of the actors, plunges visitors into a narrative so chilling that it’s bound to carve memories of fright into the brave souls who dare to venture through.
Positioned in the desert expanse of Moriarty, McCall’s Haunted Farm emerges as a pinnacle of terror amidst the tranquil Southwestern scenery. Each facet of the farm is carefully crafted to embody the grim tale of Farmer McCall, a spectral figure believed to lurk within the shadows of the property.
There’s a palpable aura of dread that intertwines with the chilling narrative, immediately engulfing visitors in an authentic spine-tingling experience. The talented ensemble of actors combined with a serious collection of quality props add a layer of frightful realism.
The variety of horrors awaiting the courageous souls is as endless as the night. A haunted cornfield stretches across the desolate plains, concealing unspeakable terrors in its rustling maze. The haunted house stands as a grim monument of terror, its every corner echoing with the chilling lore of the land. For those seeking a blend of adrenaline and terror, the zombie paintball hunt offers a chance to face the apocalypse in a horrifically fun battle of survival.
Spook Hollow – Marquette Heights, Illinois
Spook Hollow’s ominous landscape and blood-curdling frights craft a journey of terror for the dauntless souls who dare to venture out to Marquette Heights. Every nook is crammed with meticulously crafted decorations and sinister set designs. The attraction is lauded for its relentless grip on terror and suspense, rendering each step into the unknown a truly nightmarish experience.
The people behind Spook Hollow are relentless in their pursuit of the sinister, tirelessly evolving the tableau of terror with new themes and scares each year. The fruits of their labor are a dark wonder to behold.
Spook Hollow’s venerable tradition and unwavering dedication to quality scares have cemented its position as a cornerstone in the pantheon of local Halloween festivities. In a domain where the boundary between the mortal realm and the eerie unknown blurs, Spook Hollow reigns as a cherished herald of the Halloween season.
Situated in Louisville, The Devil’s Attic stands as a formidable name in the realm of haunted attractions, drawing thrill-seekers into its cold embrace with a sinister backstory. According to lore, the devil himself has gathered the vilest of souls, imprisoning them in the attic, though a nefarious few are unleashed, free to haunt the corridors and torment the souls who dare to enter.
As visitors tread cautiously through this house of horrors, they are met with a cast of scare actors whose renditions of terrifying characters defy the imagination. A squad of adept makeup artists and set designers meticulously curate each ghastly scene, striving for a level of authenticity that might just make your blood run cold. With every carefully placed prop and each stroke of the makeup brush, they conjure a nightmarish reality, ensuring an immersive and bone-chilling experience for all who enter.
Within The Devil’s Attic, each room unfurls a new chapter of horror, populated by sinister characters ripped from the pages of myths, legends, and the most haunting tales of the past. The thematic diversity and the creative prowess at play keep the fright factor escalating, ensuring that horror-hungry hearts remain pounding from start to finish.
The Frightmare Compound holds a place of eerie esteem within the haunted heart of Westminster. Recognized widely as a pulse-pounding haunted attraction, it springs to menacing life each Halloween season, enveloping the brave people who dare to enter its ghastly domain. Its longstanding legacy of chills and thrills stretches back through the decades, earning it the chilling title of one of Colorado’s oldest haunted houses.
Year after year, the haunt evolves, introducing fresh themes and newly concocted scares to ensure a uniquely horrifying experience awaits all who enter. This unyielding commitment to conjuring a high-caliber and horrific spectacle has not only carved a place of honor for the Frightmare Compound in the halls of local Halloween lore but has also amassed a legion of devoted followers, eager to face the terrors anew with each passing season.
Yet, the scares birthed by skilled actors and intricate sets are merely the visible veins of horror running through the Frightmare Compound. The Frightmare Compound isn’t merely a haunted house; it’s a terrifying trek through the twisted tales and legendary horrors that dwell in the darkest corners of Westminster’s imagination.
If you’ve got it, haunt it
As the echoes of frightful laughter fade into the chilly autumn night, the sinister allure of America’s best haunted houses lingers, ever-awaiting to recount torrid tales enshrouded in shadows. It’s not merely the goosebumps or the breathless suspense, but the stirring narrative of each spot that reflects the rich and spine-chilling history of the lands they occupy.
The best haunted houses in the U.S. extend an invitation to not just face our fears but to revel in the undeniable allure of the unknown. As the spooky season graces the horizon once more, the realm of the macabre opens its creaking gates, ever ready to haunt the daring with the ghostly legacies of yore. Are you brave enough to take on one of the top haunted houses in the country? There’s only one way to prove it.
And if you’re looking for a new “haunt” in the more peaceful sense of the word, take a look at our available apartments for rent.
Source: rent.com
Apache is functioning normally
October is officially one week away, making this week the best time to shop for and refresh your space with Halloween decor. Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Target, IKEA, and West Elm all have some of the most fun and viral Halloween decoration ideas, but my absolute favorite place to find stylish and spooky home decor items is at JOANN. Not only does JOANN have some of the most festive, spooky season home decor, but it also has amazing prices, with sales starting super early in the season.
With JOANN’s current Lowest Prices of the Season sale, you can get between 50 and 60 percent off fall and JOANN Halloween decor, just in time for trick-or-treaters. Plus, this week’s JOANN coupons include a $1.99 shipping perk with promo code SHIP199SAVE at checkout.
Find out more about how we test.
The market is awash with Halloween pieces at the moment and at this time of year you rarely find them on sale. Halloween pieces at competitors can be incredibly expensive for decor that you’ll only use once a year, so it’s smart to find finishing touches on markdown. What I particularly like about JOANN’s selection is that a lot of these pieces are made with iron instead of plastic, so they should hold up for years, saving you even more in the long run.
Place & Time Halloween Metal Moon Phase Candle Holder
Candlesticks are one of the biggest home decor trends of the season, and this moon phase option puts a spooky spin on the style. Constructed from 100 percent iron, this candle holder of moon phases is heavy-duty and built to last for seasons to come. It would look so cute on a tablescape with the viral DIY ghost candle from TikTok or added to a spooky fireplace display with flameless taper candles.
Place & Time Halloween LED Haunted House
Illuminate your mantle or bookshelf with this adorable Halloween LED Haunted House from JOANN’s Place & Time Crypts and Cobwebs collection. This haunted house is constructed from a durable mix of stone powder and resin, giving it a ceramic-like finish. We love it on its own on an entry table next to a tablescape of pumpkins and gourds or paired with other haunted houses from the JOANN collection.
Place & Time Halloween Metal Spider Bowl
Whether you’re shopping for a Halloween candy dish or are looking for unique serving dishes for an upcoming spooky party, the Halloween Metal Spider Bowl is another fantastic spooky addition to your Halloween decor. This 9-inch bowl features long, creepy crawly legs and a full spider body and head with plenty of room for candy corn, pub mix, popcorn, and other Halloween snacks.
Place & Time Halloween Black Metal Bats Wall Accent
If you want to deck out your walls for Halloween but are looking for something slightly more elevated than your traditional party decor, this chic Black Metal Bats Wall Accent from Place & Time is worth considering (and its sale price makes it a definite add to cart). The durable Halloween wall decor is constructed from 100 percent iron and would look spooktacular placed above a fireplace mantle, entryway wall, or even outdoors in a patio area.
Place & Time Halloween Orange Pumpkin & Ball Felt Garland
Autumn means festive garland, starting with this craftcore style felt garland featuring plush orange pumpkins. This 6-inch long garland is a fun and whimsical way to dress up your home for the spooky season and would look great placed along a mantle, wrapped around a wreath, or added to a children’s room bookshelf.
Place & Time Halloween Figural Ghost Pillow
If you love the viral Gus the Ghost pillow from Pottery Barn but are looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider the Halloween Figural Ghost Pillow from JOANN. This 14 x 17-inch ghost pillow is somewhat of a Pottery Barn dupe and features that same plush material and spooky spirit. It’s the perfect throw pillow for that living room accent chair, but it would also look adorable nestled up with other festive pillows on an entryway bench.
If JOANN’s sale items aren’t quite doing it for you, we’ve also covered the best places to buy Halloween decor so that you can welcome trick-or-treaters in style.
Source: homesandgardens.com
Apache is functioning normally
How would you feel if one spooky night you discovered your new home also housed a family of evil spirits or long dead ghosts?
Even if you don’t believe in haunted houses, there are plenty of people out there who do—or who just want to hedge their bets. But could a history of haunted happenings really hurt the value of your home when it came time to sell?
The numbers don’t lie
Of course, how your property is received all depends on its particular brand of spooky.
A couple of studies in recent years confirm that a reputation for hauntedness has an impact on values. A realtor.com survey found that only about about one-quarter of buyers are open to buying a haunted home, especially if they get a discount, while 38 percent would not consider a haunted home purchase.
Another study by Redfin found that homes located close to cemeteries take longer to sell, but that the wait might just be worth it, since they tend to sell for prices higher than identical homes located in the same city but at a greater distance from a cemetery.
According to a study by two business professors at Wright University, though, houses where murder or suicide have occurred can take 50% longer to sell and at an average of 2.4 percent less than comparable homes.
The rules of buying and selling haunted real estate
Rumors of ghosts raise the question of disclosure.
Most states require sellers to fill out a standard form, revealing what they know about the property’s physical condition. Although the wording may vary state to state, most real estate laws require sellers to disclose “material facts” such as structural concerns, the age of the roof and shingles, leaks in the foundation and walls, existing mold and mildew, and total square footage.
In a 1991 New York case, though, a buyer sued the seller and the seller’s realtor for failure to disclose the house’s ghostly reputation.
Before putting the house up for sale, the seller wrote about her bumps in the night for the local paper and Readers’ Digest, but the buyers were unaware of the home’s reputation. Although the court did not rule nondisclosure of the house’s reputation as fraudulent, it did allow the buyer to back out of his contract and get his down payment back.
So what does this mean for you?
You are not likely to see a “haunted” box ready to be checked off on any state’s disclosure form, but in many areas, sellers are required to obligated to disclose things that affect a house’s marketability. Thus, even if not required by state law, it is a good idea to inform prospective buyers about rumors or reports and what exactly you have observed, without drawing conclusions.
Source: totalmortgage.com
Apache is functioning normally
Salem, Massachusetts, a historic coastal city located in Essex County, holds a captivating allure as a hub of rich history, bewitching folklore, and haunting tales. This Redfin article aims to explore and shed light on what Salem is known for, as well as providing helpful information for those considering moving to Salem.
From its storied past as the state’s capital to its thriving arts and cultural scene, we’ll explore what makes Salem a great place to explore and call home. So whether you’re looking at apartments in Salem, MA, are considering buying a house in the city, or you just want to learn more about the area, this article will leave you spellbound with the allure and mystique of Salem. Let’s get started.
1. Salem Witch Trials
One cannot discuss Salem without delving into the notorious Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The trials, fueled by superstition and hysteria, resulted in the wrongful execution of 20 people accused of witchcraft. Today, Salem commemorates this dark period with several museums, such as the Salem Witch Museum and the Witch House, offering insights into the trials and the town’s eerie history.
2. Maritime heritage
Salem’s history as a thriving seaport during the late 17th and early 18th centuries is another significant aspect of its identity. Renowned for its bustling maritime trade, the city flourished, and grand mansions, like the Custom House and the House of the Seven Gables, were built by successful sea captains. Maritime enthusiasts can explore the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, which showcases historic vessels, waterfront architecture, and the Derby Wharf.
3. Halloween and haunted happenings
Salem has embraced its dark reputation and transformed it into a bewitching destination for Halloween enthusiasts. During the month of October, the city hosts “Haunted Happenings“, a month-long celebration featuring parades, haunted houses, ghost tours, and various spooky events that attract visitors from all over the world. Exploring Salem during this time is a unique experience that captures the essence of the city’s mysterious and macabre past.
4. Cultural attractions
Beyond its haunted history, Salem boasts a vibrant cultural scene. The Peabody Essex Museum is a renowned institution housing an extensive collection of art, culture, and historical artifacts. The museum offers a captivating journey through Salem’s global connections and diverse heritage. Additionally, the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, a somber tribute to the victims, invites reflection and remembrance.
5. Architecture and historic districts
Salem’s charm extends to its well-preserved architecture and enchanting historic districts. Walking through the streets, visitors can admire Federal-style homes, Georgian mansions, and quaint Colonial houses. The Chestnut Street District, known as the “Street of the Beautiful Mansions,” showcases exquisite architecture from the 18th and 19th centuries, providing a glimpse into Salem’s opulent past.
6. Witches and magic
Embracing its witchcraft legacy, Salem has become a hub for modern-day witches and practitioners of magic. The city is home to numerous witch-themed shops, where visitors can purchase mystical items, books, and spell supplies. The Salem Witch Trials Memorial Park and the Salem Witch Trials Memorial offer peaceful spaces to honor the victims and contemplate the impact of the trials.
Source: redfin.com
Apache is functioning normally
Chicago has a reputation for great hot dogs, delicious deep-dish pizza, cold weather, and two excellent baseball teams. What many people don’t realize is that Chicago also has a plethora of haunted houses.
It is a city with no shortage of haunts, from old hotels to abandoned houses. If you’re moving to or visiting the Chicago area and want to visit some of the city’s creepiest attractions or real haunted houses, check out the list below.
Jane Addams’ Hull House
The Hull House was originally started by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889 to take in European immigrants who had just moved to Chicago. Even then, it had a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in Chicago.
The house was built by a real estate tycoon, Charles J. Hull, in 1856. In 1860, Hull’s wife died in the home, and many believed that her spirit continued to haunt the site for years after. Hull’s wife is not the only spirit said to haunt the house; many people died there while it was a settlement house.
Addams and other inhabitants reported regularly seeing a woman in white in one of the front bedrooms. Today, while Hull House is officially a museum to honor Jane Addams, it is also one of the most popular stops on ghost tours of the city.
Congress Plaza Hotel
The Congress Plaza Hotel is one of downtown Chicago’s nicest accommodations. However, it’s also one of the city’s most notorious haunted locations. There are many legends of murdered and deceased guests who supposedly frequent the hotel; one is Al Capone.
The hotel also has some ghost stories and ghosts all its own, including resident ghost Peg Leg Johnny, who was a homeless man killed there, and a lone man who only wanders the eighth floor. A guest room on the 12th floor was permanently closed because of scary things that happened inside.
Drake Hotel
Speaking of haunted hotels, a list of the most haunted places in Chicago wouldn’t be complete without mentioning another famous Chicago hotel–the Drake. The Drake was built in 1920 and is often considered one of the city’s grandest hotels.
It has one particularly famous ghost–the Woman in Red, haunting the hotel’s 10th floor. Apparently, a woman caught her husband cheating on her after a New Year’s Party at the hotel in 1920 and committed suicide. Now, she inhabits a floor of the hotel, and numerous guests report spotting her regularly. The Drake’s ghost story is one of the most famous in Chicago, and it’s one of the can’t-miss spots if you want to see the city’s real hauntings.
2122 North Clark Street
2122 North Clark Street is one of the most haunted addresses in Chicago, and with its history, it’s no surprise. It is the location of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, one of the bloodiest mob murders in the history of Chicago. During the 1929 massacre, Al Capone’s men killed eight members of the North Side Gang as a power move to control organized crime in the city.
Today, the spot is one of the most haunted in town. Visitors report regularly hearing phantom gunshots and seeing the murder victims wander Clark Street.
Have you experienced any spooky haunts in Chicago? Let us know about them! Comment below on the post or tweet them to us.
Apache is functioning normally
One time during the early 1970s, Stephen King opened an atlas at random on his kitchen table and decided that he and his wife would travel to whatever location it opens to.
The atlas happened to open to a page about Boulder, Colorado, and that’s how the story of The Shining began. Or so the legend goes.
King and his wife Tabitha checked into The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, on October 30th, 1974.
Having recently written Carrie and Salem’s Lot, two novels set in the writer’s home state of Maine, King needed a change of scenery to get his inspiration going.
And boy, did he get it going at The Stanley Hotel. The hotel’s on-site pet cemetery served as inspiration for another successful King novel. I don’t think we need to tell you the name of that one; you get the gist.
The couple arrived at the Stanley right at the close of the tourist season, as all the other guests were checking out.
The writer and his wife were the only guests at the hotel that night, as they checked into room 217, which was allegedly haunted.
That obviously didn’t deter King, but the eeriness of the massive hotel on the edge of the Rocky Mountains ultimately did.
The pair had dinner in the hotel’s grand hall, all by themselves, after which King took an evening tour of the grounds and ended up at the hotel bar, where he was served by a bartender named Grady.
That night, King had a nightmare that his young son was being chased by a firehose around the hotel corridors, and woke up in a sweat.
The experience at The Stanley Hotel reportedly sparked the inspiration for The Shining, which King first envisioned while staying there as a guest.
The Shining couldn’t have come at a better time for the Stanley, which had lost its appeal to tourists and was beginning to fall into neglect. It didn’t exactly help that it always closed during the winter, as the heavy snow would make getting there nearly impossible.
The success of The Shining sparked new interest in the hotel, and guests soon started flocking to Estes Park, all trying to check into room 217. Even now, that room is booked solid, and it’s basically impossible to find it available on Halloween.
Before we go further into the history of the Stanley, let’s clear up something that many of you might be wondering. You’ve surely noticed that the Overlook hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson, looks nothing like the Colorado hotel.
That’s because the production crew chose a more accessible and convenient location to film the exterior shots for the movie. Kubrick’s Overlook is actually the Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood in Oregon.
Stephen King wasn’t exactly thrilled by Kubrick’s portrayal of Jack Torrance and his eponymous novel, to put it nicely.
Consequently, in 1997, a King-approved take on the story was released, in the form of a three-part miniseries dubbed Stephen King’s The Shining.
The miniseries used the Stanley Hotel for all exterior shots, and even some interior scenes, honoring the place where The Shining first took shape.
The history of the Stanley Hotel, otherwise known as the Overlook
The picturesque, Colonial Revival hotel in Estes Park, just 5 miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, is widely known around the world today, thanks to the horror novel that it inspired.
But not that many people knew about it before The Shining. That might have had something to do with its secluded location and the fact that it stays closed during the winter months.
However, back in the early 1900s, the Stanley was buzzing with activity. Let’s go back to the beginning.
In 1903, Freelan Oscar Stanley, owner of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, which made the fastest-then vehicle on earth — the Stanley Steamer — was struck down with tuberculosis.
Doctors didn’t have much hope that he would survive the disease, but advised him that the cool air of the Rocky Mountains might help alleviate his symptoms.
They, however, didn’t really think it would help much, and were convinced the next time they would see Stanley was at his funeral.
Imagine their surprise when they learned that Stanley was recovering nicely after spending time in the mountains. The businessman became enamored with the mountain views and the clean air, so much so that he would return to Estes Park every summer from then on.
He ended up building himself a home in the Rockies, and began construction on The Stanley Hotel in 1907.
The Stanley was built according to F.O. Stanley’s specifications, with the help of Denver-based architect Theilman Robert Weiger.
The 142-key hotel opened on July 4th, 1909, and quickly became a hotspot for upper-class guests and a health retreat for those suffering from tuberculosis.
The hotel, located at 333 Wonderview Avenue, with its breathtaking views of Lake Estes and the Rockies (particularly Long’s Peak) is now a national landmark.
The Stanley Hotel Historic District incorporates 11 structures, including: the main hotel, a concert hall, a carriage house, a manager’s cottage, a gate house, as well as The Lodge — a smaller bed-and-breakfast originally named Stanley Manor.
Today, the Stanley offers both historic rooms at the main hotel, apartment-style residences for extended stays called Aspire, and one- to three-bedroom condominiums dubbed Residences.
It also incorporates more than 14,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space, and a number of indoor and outdoor wedding venues.
A unique feature of the Stanley is that it doesn’t have — or need — air conditioning; the hotel is naturally cooled by the mountain breeze, and it has been built to make the best of that breeze in order to ventilate the property.
The hotel also offers something for those seeking a ‘paranormal thrill.’
It features a variety of rooms with allegedly high paranormal activity, including room 217 (now called the Stephen King Suite), and rooms 401, 407 and 428, which are said to be haunted by ghosts.
There are a lot of horror fans out there, so obviously these rooms are highly requested and almost never available.
Another fun fact is that The Stanley Hotel served as a filming location for a movie on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber, starring Jim Carrey, which was filmed on location.
The Stanley re-imagined by Stephen King
‘Some of the most beautiful resort hotels in the world are located in Colorado, but the hotel in these pages is based on none of them. The Overlook and the people associated with it exist wholly in the author’s imagination.’ – The Shining by Stephen King
While it might be true that the Overlook hotel is a feat of imagination, the similarities between the fictional hotel and the Stanley are pretty obvious.
Here’s what hotel manager Stuart Ullman tells Jack Torrance about the history of the Overlook in the first pages of the novel:
‘The Overlook was built in the years 1907 to 1909. The closest town is Sidewinder, forty miles easy of here over roads that are closed from sometime in late October or November until sometime in April. A man named Robert Townley Watson built it, the grandfather of our present maintenance man. Vanderbilts have stayed here, and Rockefellers, and Astors, and Du Ponts. Four Presidents have stayed in the Presidential Suite. Wilson, Harding, Roosevelt, and Nixon.’ To this description, Jack replies: ‘I wouldn’t be too proud of Harding and Nixon.’
In King’s novel, the Overlook hotel is inhabited by dark forces lying in wait every winter for human minds to invade and control.
Both Jack Torrance and his predecessor, Grady, become victims of these dark forces, which Ullman describes as ‘cabin fever.’
The isolation and silent enormity of the hotel take a toll on Jack’s already fragile mind, and the dark forces of the Overlook turn him against his own family.
In the novel, Jack’s clouded, drunken trance-like state makes him forget all about the hotel’s boiler, which ends up exploding and burning it to the ground.
Jack’s wife Wendy, his son Danny and Dick Halloran are the only survivors, and the hotel is soon being reconstructed.
In Kubrick’s interpretation, the plot is a bit different. Jack chases his son with an axe through the hotel’s on-site maze, but eventually becomes lost and trapped as Danny escapes with his mother. Jack Torrence ends up freezing to death inside the hedge maze.
The immense popularity and success of Kubrick’s adaptation led managers at the Stanley Hotel to build their very own hedge maze on the grounds, thus creating yet another attraction for fans of the novel and the movie.
Whether you’re a die-hard Stephen King fan, a Stanley Kubrick fan, a horror aficionado, or just enamoured with the Rocky Mountains, you’ll feel right at home at the Stanley Hotel.
The unrivalled view alone is enough to make you want to return every year, just as Oscar Stanley did.
More iconic homes
Is It Real? The Creepy House in Stephen King’s ‘It’
Menabilly, the Real-Life Inspiration for the Manderley House in ‘Rebecca’
The Conjuring House Sells for Over $1.5 Million Despite its Sordid HistoryIs It Real? The Exorcist House, Fact vs Fiction
Source: fancypantshomes.com
The story of Thornewood Castle, where Stephen King filmed the Rose Red miniseries
If you’re just as much of a horror genre fan as we are, you love to revisit old classics and favorites, be they in book form or TV/movie format. If, however, youâre not a horror aficionado but are out of things to read or watch, we couldn’t think of a better story to get you […]
The post The story of Thornewood Castle, where Stephen King filmed the Rose Red miniseries appeared first on Fancy Pants Homes.
Is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre house real? Finding Leatherfaceâs fearsome farmhouse in the Texan countryside
In 1974, Tobe Hooper, legendary director of several classic horror flicks including Poltergeist and Salem’s Lot, introduced us to Leatherface. A totally terrifying serial killer with zero mercy and a penchant for human skin masks and motorized landscaping equipment. In The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, he ruthlessly hunts down a helpless group of teenagers who happen upon his […]
The post Is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre house real? Finding Leatherfaceâs fearsome farmhouse in the Texan countryside appeared first on Fancy Pants Homes.