06/12/2025
When Jim Carrey attempted to spend the night in Room 217 of Colorado’s Stanley Hotel, he reportedly lasted only three hours before abruptly leaving without explanation. Though Carrey has never publicly shared exactly what disturbed him, the incident added to the already chilling legend surrounding the room. The Stanley Hotel, perched in Estes Park, has long been associated with paranormal activity, but Room 217 remains its most infamous chamber—known for unexplained noises, flickering lights, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere felt by many who dare to stay.
The room’s eerie legacy dates back to 1974, when author Stephen King and his wife Tabitha checked into Room 217 as the only guests in the near-empty hotel. That night, King had a vivid nightmare about his young son being chased through the hallways, and woke up with the entire outline of *The Shining* fully formed in his mind. That novel would go on to become one of the most terrifying pieces of horror fiction in modern history, and with it, the Stanley Hotel’s reputation as a real-life haunted landmark was sealed. Visitors ever since have come seeking both literary inspiration and ghostly thrills.
Today, Room 217 is considered a paranormal hotspot, drawing thrill-seekers, skeptics, and horror fans from around the world. Reports continue to surface of strange shadows, disembodied voices, and personal items mysteriously moved. Some believe the room is haunted by the spirit of a former housekeeper injured in an explosion there in 1911, while others say the energy left behind by decades of fear and fascination feeds the phenomenon. Whatever the explanation, the Stanley Hotel offers guests a chance to step directly into the unsettling world that inspired *The Shining*—but only the brave linger long in Room 217
