It was a beautiful spring day and my friend was coming for a visit. We decided to go to Estes Park for the weekend. We talked as we drove up the mountain, he asked if this was where “The Shining” was filmed. It was a glorious day - blue sky, beautiful scenery and a perfect way to begin our trip.
As
we approached the overlook of Estes Park with the Rocky Mountains rising up in
the background it was a spectacular sight.
We drove toward town and noticed a striking building on the hill. Neither of us knew what it was, so we decided
to investigate. As we drove closer, we
marveled at the perfectly manicured grounds and then saw the sign “The Stanley
Hotel”. We agreed that we had to see
this but that it would be too expensive to stay there.
As
we entered the property, the massive white gates opened to a large patio. The lobby was beautifully decorated with
leather chairs surrounding stone fireplaces, antique tables with fresh flowers
brightened every corner, it was warm and inviting. We inquired about the rates and were
surprised they had a special price for the night, so we decided to stay. After checking in, the desk clerk informed us
that the hotel was haunted and that they had ghost tours in the basement after
dark. We thought it was amusing and a
good tourist attraction but declined.
As
we climbed the stairs, we noticed the air changing, it became heavy and
dense. The brightness of the lobby faded
as we walked toward our room. We opened
the door and immediately were struck with the closeness of the space. Not only was it very small but there seemed
to be no air circulating. We decided
immediately that this would not be comfortable and asked to change rooms. They moved us to a large, beautifully
appointed suite with a great view of the mountains.
We
enjoyed a luxurious meal at the restaurant and continued to marvel at the
wonderful surroundings. We planned on
going into town later and do some sightseeing but never left the hotel. Throughout the evening, several people
approached me saying I looked like someone they knew. When I went downstairs to the rest room, I
felt a chill in the air. The entire time
I was there I felt as though I was being watched, it made me very uneasy and I
hurried back to our table. My friend
laughed when I told him and reminded me about the ghost tours, it was funny and
I quickly put it aside.
It
was getting late so we decided to go back up to the room. As we talked, I felt a draft of cold air and
looked to see where it was coming from.
I saw an apparition of a man step through one of the doorways and
disappear. Just then, my friend asked if
someone was behind him. Standing over
his shoulder I could see the faint outline of a young girl. We both were stunned, not sure what was
happening. Slowly we began to speak,
this felt like a child’s spirit nothing malevolent or frightening. Suddenly, the energy changed dramatically,
the room filled with cold air and a bright light flashed across the room and
splashed on the bureau mirror. It felt
as though dozens of very angry people were trying to get into the room.
It
was 2:00 a.m. and seemed strange to check out in the middle of the night but we
could not stay. We were relieved to see
a friendly night clerk at the desk. She informed us that this was a regular
occurrence and that she had seen some extraordinary things herself. We talked
to her for some time and then she told me I looked very much like a woman who
passed away many years ago. We drove
back down the mountain in silence; years later I still think about what we
encountered in that strange and dark place.
I have never returned to the Stanley or to Estes Park.
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