A Memorable Holiday Stay at the Stanley Hotel

Photo: Visit Estes Park, John Berry The Stanley

Colorado has its fair share of charming, snow covered holiday towns, but there’s one in particular where people have been visiting since the late 1800s. And they weren’t going to work in a mine or on a ranch, they were simply there to soak in the magnificent vistas in the area: Estes Park. Back then, the town was extremely remote, and getting there was a chore. Vacationers like painters and naturalists stayed for months at a time, mostly in the summer wanting to take in the high mountain air and natural beauty. 

However, today, a winter vacation in Estes Park is a relatively simple. The town is no longer remote, being just 53 miles from Denver. Plus, this is an area filled with Colorado winter activities. The town, population 5,700, is less than three miles from the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The winter delights of the park are vast, and include snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, and wildlife viewing. 

Photo: Courtesy National Parks Service

One of the most entertaining ways to enjoy the park in winter is a guided snowshoe hike with a park ranger. These tours take place from January through March. Don’t have snowshoes? There are many outfitters in town and can provide private tours as well. The Estes Park Museum is an excellent place to start a getaway in this iconic Colorado town. The Estes Park narrative is told from beginning to modern day and is experienced by a visitor through photography, words, and bits and pieces of original items from bygone days. There’s even a nod to today’s Duck Race down the Big Thompson River which flows through town. By the way, to see and feed ducks in Estes Park, visit Coffee on the Rocks.

Art has long been a part of this creative community, with many artists inspired by the spectacular landscapes around them. Since 1962, the museum has been a repository for local art. An outbuilding, once a parks building, has been dedicated to the artistic endeavors of past and present residents and is not to be missed. The caliber of talent on display is inspiring. 

The famous Stanley Hotel is full of three kinds of spirits in the winter; the holiday kind, the boozy kind and the ghostly kind. On the hill overlooking Estes Park, one of the most well-known hotels in the world, it has become a destination unto itself. And The Stanley really dresses up for the holidays. 

The Stanley Hotel: Photo By Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

The 140-room hotel has been attracting guests from around the world for 115 years. Today, it encompasses multiple buildings and includes several restaurants, a whiskey bar, a wine bar, ghost tours, a gift store, and so much more. The popularity of the hotel has led to additional rooms at The Lodge adjacent to The Stanley, The Residences, and Aspire Hotel & Spa. All are within walking distance of the main hotel and each offer their own amenities. 

Famous as the hotel that inspired Steven King’s famous book, “The Shining,” and subsequent movie, there are many nods to this history too, including a hedge maze near the regal hotel entrance. The hotel was also one of the locations of “Dumb & Dumber,”  the 1994 film starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels. Inside the whiskey bar, ask about the framed newspaper that still graces the wall and is clearly seen in the movie.

The Stanley Wine Bar. | Photo: Heidi Kerr Schlaefer

The famous whiskey bar features Colorado’s largest selection of whiskeys and scotch. With a soaring backbar filled with fine bottles of liquor, the service at this bar is also the best in the state. Belly up to the bar, or order a dram and take a seat in front of one of the roaring fires in hotel’s vast lobby. The Stanley employs incredible tour guides for historic tours, night tours, The Shining tours, and more. Plus, there is a seance, which is what would have happened here in the early days of the hotel. And the year-round magic show, Aiden Sinclair’s Underground is well-worth the $45 admission fee. 

While a guest wouldn’t have to leave hotel grounds of The Stanley, there’s even a breakfast restaurant, Estes Park’s downtown is filled with everything from the number one taffy shop in the United States, the 80-year-old The Taffy Shop, to boutiques and t-shirt shops offering all sorts of Colorado-made goods. Plus, it twinkles under thousands of holiday lights in the winter.

Photo: Visit Estes Park, John Berry

Be sure to pack knit caps, scarves and warm gloves because the winters get chilly in Estes Park. Warm up with a pint in one of the town’s three breweries, or try various craft beers from around the state at The Barrel. There are lots of fun eateries in Estes Park with everything from vegetarian dishes to pho or pizza on the menu. For instance, Antonio’s New York Pizza offers up some of the best New York style pizza west of the Mississippi. 

Don’t miss the paved path along the Big Thompson River that weaves through town. The stroll offers walkers a taste of nature as the sun sparkles off the icy water and bounces off the snowy banks. It’s not uncommon for elk to be seen wandering around town as well, just be sure to keep a safe distance. A weekend in Estes Park, is a quintessential Colorado winter getaway. Whether it be with that special someone, a family vacation, a whiskey trip or a wine weekend, this mountain town, just 53 miles from Denver, has a lot to offer.

Photo: Visit Estes Park, John Berry The Stanley