31 Haunted Hotspots and Urban Legends for the Brave Traveler

By

Akanksha Sharma

November 3, 2025

23. The Stanley Hotel – USA

Stanley Hotel. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Ontherocks108

Perched majestically in Estes Park, Colorado, The Stanley Hotel's stunning architecture and isolated mountain setting inspired Stephen King's chilling novel,The Shining. But its eerie reputation goes beyond fiction. Guests and staff report numerous ghostly encounters, from the spirits of original owners F.O. and Flora Stanley appearing in communal areas, to the phantom laughter of children echoing down the fourth-floor halls. Room 217, where King stayed, is infamous for unexplained phenomena like luggage being unpacked. With reports of disembodied voices and full-bodied apparitions, The Stanley offers a luxurious stay steeped in unsettling paranormal activity.

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