15 Spine-Chilling Destinations Every Stephen King Fan Must Visit

Stephen King is the undisputed master of horror, crafting stories that haunt our nightmares—but did you know that many of the eerie locations in his films and TV adaptations are real places? Whether it's a creepy hotel in Colorado or a misty New England town, King’s fictional worlds are often brought to life in real-life locations you can visit. From iconic horror film landmarks to hidden gems used in lesser-known adaptations, these 12 real locations have been featured in Stephen King movies and TV shows, making them must-visit destinations for any fan of the King of Horror.

1. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado

While Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining famously used Oregon’s Timberline Lodge for exterior shots, the true inspiration for the Overlook Hotel came from the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. In the 1970s, Stephen King and his wife, Tabitha, checked into Room 217 while the hotel was eerily empty at the end of the season. That night, King had a terrifying nightmare about his young son being chased through the halls by a possessed fire hose. He woke up in a cold sweat, stepped onto the balcony, lit a cigarette, and within minutes, the idea for The Shining was fully formed. Though Kubrick didn’t use the Stanley Hotel for filming, the 1997 ABC miniseries adaptation of The Shining did. Today, the hotel embraces its horror legacy, offering nightly ghost tours, paranormal investigations, and even screening The Shining on a continuous loop in guest rooms. Featured In: The Shining (1997 TV Miniseries)

2. The Timberline Lodge – Mount Hood, Oregon

While King’s The Shining was inspired by the Stanley Hotel, Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film chose Oregon’s Timberline Lodge to represent the infamous Overlook Hotel’s exterior. Perched on the slopes of Mount Hood, this isolated alpine lodge provided the perfect setting for the eerie, snowbound madness that unfolds in the movie. Its sprawling, desolate location added to the sense of overwhelming isolation, a key theme in the film. Kubrick’s meticulous filmmaking extended to every detail, including altering the hotel’s room number from 217 (as in the book) to 237. Lodge management was concerned that guests would be too frightened to stay in Room 217, though ironically, it has since become the most requested room. Interestingly, the interior scenes were not filmed here but were meticulously recreated on soundstages in England. Featured In: The Shining (1980 film)

3. Bangor, Maine – The Real-Life Derry

Stephen King’s fictional town of Derry, Maine, is a setting that appears in many of his most famous works, including IT, Insomnia, Dreamcatcher, and 11/22/63. While Derry itself is fictional, its eerie small-town feel is heavily based on King’s real-life hometown of Bangor, Maine. If you visit Bangor, you’ll quickly recognize key landmarks that have become synonymous with IT, making it a must-see destination for King fans. One of the most iconic sites is the massive Paul Bunyan statue in downtown Bangor, which makes a terrifying appearance in IT, where Pennywise brings it to life to terrorize Richie. Another well-known location is the Thomas Hill Standpipe, a towering water reservoir that closely resembles the haunted water tower in the novel. Fans can also visit the Kenduskeag Stream, which served as the inspiration for The Barrens, where the Losers' Club first encounters Pennywise. Perhaps the most famous landmark in Bangor is King’s actual home. His Victorian mansion, surrounded by black wrought-iron gates adorned with bats, spiderwebs, and gargoyles, looks like something straight out of a horror novel. While it’s not open to the public, it’s become a popular pilgrimage site for fans. Recently, King and his wife announced plans to turn the home into an archive and writer’s retreat for aspiring horror authors. Featured In: IT (2017 & 2019 films, 1990 miniseries)

4. The Devil’s Kettle – Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Minnesota

While The Mist primarily takes place inside a supermarket, one of its most mysterious elements—the never-ending hole in the ground where objects vanish without explanation—is inspired by a real-life natural phenomenon. The Devil’s Kettle, located in Judge C.R. Magney State Park in northern Minnesota, is one of the most puzzling geological mysteries in the United States. A section of the Brule River suddenly splits in two, with one stream continuing its expected course while the other plunges into a deep, gaping hole in the rock and seemingly disappears. For decades, scientists and curious visitors alike have tried to solve the mystery of where the water goes, conducting experiments by dropping objects like ping pong balls and dye into the hole—only to have them never resurface. The eerie nature of this inexplicable abyss makes it the perfect real-world inspiration for The Mist, where the unknown is just as terrifying as the creatures lurking within. If you’re brave enough to visit, you’ll find a hiking trail leading to a scenic overlook where you can peer into the depths of this strange geological riddle. Featured In: The Mist (2007 film)

5. The Ohio State Reformatory – Mansfield, Ohio

One of the most visually striking and historically significant locations used in a Stephen King adaptation is the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio—the real-life prison that stood in for Shawshank Penitentiary in The Shawshank Redemption. With its imposing Gothic Revival architecture, long, dark corridors, and massive, iron-barred cells, this now-defunct prison provided an authentic and haunting backdrop for one of the most beloved films of all time. Built in 1896, the reformatory operated for nearly a century before closing in 1990 due to overcrowding and inhumane conditions. Today, visitors can take guided tours through the decaying halls, explore the warden’s office where Warden Norton met his dramatic end, and even stand inside Andy Dufresne’s escape tunnel—which was recreated on set, but closely resembles the real-life layout of the prison. For those seeking a more spine-chilling experience, ghost tours and paranormal investigations are also available, as the prison is rumored to be haunted. Whether you’re a fan of King’s work or just fascinated by historic architecture, this eerie yet cinematic location is a must-visit for movie buffs and history enthusiasts alike. Featured In: The Shawshank Redemption (1994 film)

6. The American Can Company – New Orleans, Louisiana

While The Green Mile is set in a 1930s Louisiana prison, the Cold Mountain Penitentiary seen in the film wasn’t actually filmed at an existing prison. Instead, its foreboding, aged-brick exterior was brought to life using the American Can Company building in New Orleans, Louisiana. This historic factory, which once manufactured tin cans and other industrial goods, was repurposed into a chillingly authentic film set for the beloved Stephen King adaptation starring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Duncan. Although the eerie death row scenes were shot on meticulously built soundstage sets, the exterior shots of the penitentiary—where John Coffey and his fellow inmates awaited their fate—were filmed at this real-life industrial site. The factory’s worn-down, weathered brick walls and large, iron-framed windows gave the setting an eerie, timeworn authenticity that perfectly captured the bleak yet poignant atmosphere of the story. Featured In: The Green Mile (1999 film)

7. The Mount Hope Cemetery – Bangor, Maine

When Stephen King’s Pet Sematary was adapted into a film in 1989 (and again in 2019), the production team knew they had to find a suitably eerie cemetery to bring the chilling tale to life. They didn’t have to look far—many of the film’s most unsettling scenes were shot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine, a historic burial ground dating back to 1834. Located in King’s own hometown, Mount Hope Cemetery provided a real-world setting for the film’s haunting burial rituals and Louis Creed’s disturbing encounters with the ghostly Victor Pascow. With its rolling hills, towering gravestones, and ancient trees casting long shadows over the land, the cemetery possesses a naturally eerie atmosphere, making it the ideal location for one of King’s darkest tales. Featured In: Pet Sematary (1989 & 2019 films)

8. The Stanley Dock – Liverpool, England

Though 1408 is set in a fictional haunted hotel in New York City, much of the movie’s atmospheric interior was actually filmed at Stanley Dock in Liverpool, England. This massive, historic dockyard, known for its red-brick industrial warehouses, was transformed into the luxurious yet terrifying Dolphin Hotel, where John Cusack’s character faces a relentless onslaught of supernatural horror. Filming took place inside one of the old warehouses, which was meticulously decorated to resemble a grand but sinister hotel interior. The long, dimly lit hallways, ornate yet decayed furnishings, and eerie ambiance of the dock’s interior helped bring 1408’s psychological horror to life, making it feel like the hotel itself was alive. Featured In: 1408 (2007 film)

9. The Hollywood Tower – Los Angeles, California

While 1408 is a terrifying tale of a haunted hotel room, another King adaptation, The Dark Tower, brings his sprawling multiverse to life with eerie, otherworldly settings. One of the most striking real-world locations used in the 2017 film adaptation was The Hollywood Tower in Los Angeles, California. This historic 1920s apartment complex, with its looming Art Deco facade and gothic architectural details, served as inspiration for Mid-World’s decaying structures in the movie. The Hollywood Tower, not to be confused with Disney’s Tower of Terror, has a long and storied history of housing Hollywood elites while also being rumored to have its own ghostly past. Its ominous, castle-like exterior perfectly fits the eerie aesthetic of The Dark Tower, where multiple worlds and dark forces collide. While the film may not have reached the same legendary status as King’s novel series, this Los Angeles landmark remains a fascinating location for fans to explore. Featured In: The Dark Tower (2017 film)

While Misery is set in a remote Colorado mountain town, the 1990 film adaptation starring Kathy Bates and James Caan was actually filmed in various locations across Nevada, California, and Colorado. One of the most chilling settings used in the film was the Twin Lakes Lodge near Lake Granby, Colorado, which served as the real-life stand-in for Paul Sheldon’s snowy prison. This isolated, rustic lodge was transformed into the cabin where Annie Wilkes (Bates) holds Paul Sheldon (Caan) captive, forcing him to rewrite his novel under the threat of unspeakable violence. Though the Twin Lakes Lodge has since changed hands and undergone renovations, visitors to the Lake Granby region can still experience the chilling, snow-covered wilderness that made Misery such an unsettling masterpiece. Featured In: Misery (1990 film)

11. The Orpheum Theater – Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, has long been a filmmaking hotspot, often standing in for various U.S. locations—including Derry, Maine, in IT: Chapter One and IT: Chapter Two. While several scenes from both movies were filmed throughout Vancouver, one of the most iconic locations used was the Orpheum Theater, a historic venue known for its lavish architecture and atmospheric grandeur. This century-old theater, which first opened in 1927, perfectly captures the eerie, nostalgic feel of Derry—a town that holds a dark history lurking beneath its quiet exterior. In the film, the theater is where several of Pennywise’s terrifying illusions take place, bringing the supernatural terror of the Losers’ Club’s greatest nightmare to life. With its intricate decor, golden balconies, and deep red velvet seating, the Orpheum provides a chillingly elegant contrast to the horror unfolding on screen. Featured In: IT (2017 & 2019 films)

12. The Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School – Steamboat Springs, Colorado

When adapting Doctor Sleep, the long-awaited sequel to The Shining, director Mike Flanagan sought to recreate the unsettling, dreamlike quality of King’s world while incorporating real-world locations that enhanced the film’s eerie atmosphere. One of the most haunting settings used in the 2019 film was the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School, located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This secluded, forested retreat was used as the filming location for several key scenes involving Rose the Hat and her terrifying cult of psychic predators, the True Knot. Deep in the Colorado wilderness, this arts school provided the perfect backdrop for the eerie rituals and supernatural confrontations between the True Knot and their unfortunate victims. The dense trees, isolated cabins, and eerie silence contributed to the film’s slow-burning suspense, mirroring the creeping dread that builds throughout King’s novel. Featured In: Doctor Sleep (2019 film)

Step Into Stephen King’s World

For fans of Stephen King, visiting these real-life filming locations is like stepping straight into his nightmarish imagination. From the haunted halls of the Stanley Hotel to the eerie streets of Bangor, these places bring his terrifying tales to life in the most chilling way possible. Whether it’s the isolation of the Timberline Lodge, the haunting beauty of Mount Hope Cemetery, or the shadowy corridors of the Ohio State Reformatory, each location holds a piece of King’s legacy. Beyond the jump scares and supernatural horrors, these destinations tell deeper stories—about the eerie power of real places and how they shape the way we experience fear. Whether you're a lifelong fan or just discovering King’s work, these locations offer a unique way to connect with his world. So, are you brave enough to visit them? Just remember: if you see a red balloon floating nearby, it might be best to turn around… fast.