Back to the Stanley Hotel we go!

We obviously can’t get enough of the Stanley Hotel. In the past 13 months, we have stayed there three times. Each time, hoping for a ghostly adventure. The hotel is certifiably haunted, and many “ghost hunters” lead tours and investigate there.

Once again, no luck. But at least we were able to experience a new part of the hotel to us, and enjoyed a relaxing weekend up in gorgeous Estes Park, Colorado. There truly isn’t anyplace else in this state that I enjoy a quick weekend trip to more. It’s a small town about an hour to an hour and a half from the Denver metro, the last 18 miles a gorgeous trek through winding mountain roads. There’s a little river that runs through town, and a small main street with cute boutiques, candy shops, coffee shops and restaurants serving lots of local fare like elk and bison. It’s incredibly relaxing. It’s just a couple miles from an entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, too!

We’ve stayed at the Stanley twice prior. I’ve written two reviews, including one that focuses a lot on the history of the Stanley Hotel and one that detailed a room and a stay at the Stanley Hotel.

When we arrived and checked in, we were told that instead of staying in the same motel, they were upgrading us to a king room in the Manor House (aka The Lodge) which also included a complimentary continental breakfast in the morning. The breakfast, by the way, was nice. They had homemade pastries, bagels, yogurt, fruit and granola plus breakfast beverages.

We’ve never stayed in the Manor House, so even though we were slightly disappointed that we wouldn’t have any opportunities to run into ghosts in the main building, we were excited to try something new. Besides, Room 1302 is well known for being haunted. If you have ever watched the investigation by Ghost Hunters from 2006, that is the room where the table moved while Grant was seated there. Unfortunately we were in room 1104. Oh well.

I apologize that I forgot to take photos prior to hopping in bed and showering, but here is what our room looked like – a king sized bed, walk-in closet, 42″ TV and standard bathroom with a pedestal sink and bathtub. Unlike the rooms in the main hotel we have stayed in, it did not have a jacuzzi tub.


Sadly, our night was uneventful. Unless you count listening to the TV in the room next door to us until midnight, followed by the occupant snoring all night. The walls are that thin. When we were dropping off our luggage in the afternoon we heard the people upstairs from us talking about the Ghost Hunters episode. Yes. That thin.

My favorite part of our entire weekend was waking up early on Sunday, planning to use the hotel gym, but stepping outside and realizing what a gorgeous brisk morning it is, and instead taking a 2 mile walk outside into town for coffee and back, and then sitting on the front porch of the Manor House to enjoy it. I saw an elk grazing along side the road as I walked into town, and then sat by the river and enjoyed the sound of water for a while also.

And then we got lucky. Right before we left to drive back to Denver, we finally caught a glimpse of a ghost!