REDRUM, REDRUM, REDRUM

Wednesday June 16, 2010

Boulder, Colorado

Hot and Sunny

Yesterday, finally, the rains stopped as the blue blue sunny skies of Colorado appeared. It's supposed to stay hot and sunny for the next few days (knock on wood). So my sister and I took advantage of the weather and took Zuma (who must have been going stir crazy as he hates the rain and loves to run) for a 30 minute hike. Only 30 minutes cuz we had to get back to get her place ready for the cleaners, shower and then head out to Estes Park for the activity of the day : Ghost Tour at the Stanley Hotel.

The trail we took is just across the street from where my sister lives. There are many trails one can take but only one trail where dogs are off the leash which means Zuma can run.

The trail we took. Note the blue, blue skies! First time since I've been back.

The trail first goes uphill but surprisingly was not as muddy as one would have thought. And fortunately no snakes as the morning "runners" have already scared them away.

Although it was only a 30 minute hike, Zuma got his exercise running back and forth.

After quick showers and getting the place ready for the cleaning ladies, we headed to Estes Park which is about 30 miles from Boulder. It is right in the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park and offers lots of mountain related activity including trout fishing and also is a great getaway for relaxation. There is so much to do in the summer but we only had one mission – Hunting for Ghosts at the Stanley Hotel

Estes Park

The Stanley Hotel

The Stanley Hotel was built by FO Stanley in 1909 as a guest house. He was a billionaire in today's terms and discovered Estes Park when he contracted tuberculosis. He thought he only had 3 -6 years to live but ended up living for years and died in his 90s. He credited the clean air of Estes Park to his recovery. After FO Stanley died, the guest house was sold to investors as the Stanley's did not have any children. The hotel went through many change of owners and foreclosures but has survived in all it's glory. It is most famous for being the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining. Stanley Kubrick made the movie version of it which became a classic starring Jack Nicholson. We found out though, that the movie was not filmed at the Stanley, which was disappointing… We went there to take the 90 minute Ghost Tour. You see, the hotel is haunted. The people who work there swear by it and many times strange things show up when taking photos. Jackson and Billy weren't too keen at the beginning to go but 10 minutes into the tour, they were really into it.

First stop was the music room where FO's wife played the piano. John Philip Sousa was a good friend of the Stanley's so played the piano there for entertainment and also tuned the piano. Sometimes the employees hear music coming from the room, but when they go in to check the room, no one is in it. Our guide even told a story of a guest who started playing the piano and despite the hotel workers telling them to stop as it is a priceless piano, he continued. Then suddenly, the keyboard cover dropped on his hand. Spooky!

FO Stanley's wife Piano

Our next stop was the room where the men gathered to play pool. This room too is haunted. The floor is made of cork. Why? In the old days the balls used for billiard were made of ivory. If it dropped on wood, it will shatter, but not with cork.

We then went to the main lobby where lots of people were gathering. We found out that the TAP convention was happening. Fans of the TV show GhostBuster were meeting with the ghostbusters of the show to hunt for the spirits that reside in the hotel.

Everything about the hotel is grand including the elevator

We then went to the foyer and learned about Earl Lord Dunraven. He was quite an evil character that owned much of the land of Estes Park through illegal means. He also was an enemy to nature where he hunted the local elk to extinction, and almost hunted the bears and wolf to extinction. He also ran the local brothels. FO Stanley bought the land from him to build Estes Park. Originally, Stanley was going to call the hotel Dunraven Hotel but after a community vote, the people unanimously voted to call it the Stanley Hotel. Dunraven's ghost is known to live in the hotel. As he was a ladies man, some women have said they felt a brush by the neck or even a pinch! Especially when walking the staircase below.

We then visited Rm 217, where Stephen King and many famous people including heads of state have stayed. The room is known to be haunted by the ghost of a very dedicated hotel maid (the name escapes me). Some guests have experienced weird things while staying in the room, including the suitcases unpacked and for some the room trashed (Hotel personnel are forbidden to touch the belongings of the guests). One famous guest Jim Carrey, stayed there for only 3 hours. No one knows what happened but he called his agent and said there was no way he was staying in the hotel, packed his bags and waited outside until his agent came to pick him up. The movie Dumb and Dumber was filmed at Estes Park. Jim Carrey ended up staying at the Holiday Inn while filming. We couldn't go into room 217 because it was occupied by one of the TAPs convention attendees.

We then headed up the stairs to the children's ward which is known to also house many spirits. By now, Jackson and Billy were really into the tour and I was getting instructions to take lots of photos.

Heading up the stairs to the children's ward

Bill, Jackson and Kim

The Hussey Family listening intently to the ghost stories

Photo of the attic in the children's ward: REDRUM! If you saw the movie or read the book (The Shining) you know that "redrum" is "murder" spelled backwards.

We then headed to room 401 which was known to be the favorite room of Lord Dunraven and is haunted. Again, we could not go in as a TAPS member was staying there. But I made a reluctant Jackson and Billy stand in front of it for a photo. By this time, they were getting spooked by all the stories.

Walking the spooky hallway. I asked Billy and Jackson if they wanted to stay in this hotel and they responded with an emphatic "NO"

We then headed to the basement where the "tunnels" exist. The tunnels were used for employees to get to the hotel from their "dorms". It came in handy especially in the winter. It was never used though as it collapsed once and an employee died. Today it is also known to have some paranormal activity. And that was the end of the tour.