Souvenir ghost from The Stanley Hotel

If it’s “extras” you want when you visit Rocky Mountain National Park, set your GPS for The Stanley Hotel.  A fabulous hotel in its own right, the stately Stanley (on the National Register of Historic Places) may give you the creeps or just the relaxing time of your life. And if you’re checking off the Top 10 Haunted Hotels in America on your must-see bucket list, The Stanley ranks right up there with the spookiest by Travel Channel, Travel and Leisure, USA Today, and  TripAdvisor.  Any way you look at it, a visit to The Stanley has “extra” written all over it.

After suffering from tuberculosis and being advised by his doctor to come the Estes Park area to rest during summer of 1903, Freelan Oscar Stanley, co-inventor of the Stanley automobile,  and his wife Flora fell in love with the area and invested in land on which they built The Stanley Hotel.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

But today, the 140-room historic hotel is thought to be haunted.  Kitchen staff have reported hearing voices in various ballrooms, only to enter and find them empty.  Some claim they hear Flora, F. O.’s wife, playing the piano, but find no one when they enter the room.  Others claim they’ve heard children running up and down the halls, giggling and laughing.  (An example of children being heard but not seen, we guess!)  And how would you like to return to your room with this “extra” experience — your clothes have been unpacked and put into drawers or your jewelry has been “misplaced”? (Both reported, but not verified.  It’s “extra,” you see.)

Some of the creepiness stems from this story: the chief housekeeper, Ms. Elizabeth Wilson, on the night of June 25, 1911, was “shot down” while lighting the acetylene lanterns during a power outage.  After a terrible explosion, she fell from what is now Room 217 to one story below, the floor of the MacGregor Room.  Some accounts relate that those who stay in Room 217 often have “extra” experiences in the form of additional housekeeping services — wanted or unwanted, we suppose. (See above!)

The Stanley Hotel, noted for its many listings of haunted hotels in America

Tours abound at The Stanley — from The Stanley Tour (formerly Ghost & History Tour) to the Night Ghost Tour with a special “lights-out” ghost adventure!

Doll house featured in ABC miniseries The Shining (1997) filmed at The Stanley Hotel.

But just a casual roaming of this historic property is a delight. From the lobby with its original wood trim and casual, intimate seating areas . . .

to the displays of vintage Stanley automobiles in pristine condition.  All exude luxury, history, nostalgia.

Beautifully preserved Stanley automobile, Lobby of The Stanley Hotel

Stephen King found time to partake of the charms of The Stanley — a visit that inspired the writing of his novel, The Shining in which The Stanley became the “Overlook Hotel.” Later, the ABC mini-series, The Shining, was filmed on location.

Photos from the filming of The Shining at The Stanley Hotel

But other ventures have used The Stanley as a backdrop, too.  Featured on Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters,  The Stanley has been showcased often as one of the most haunted hotels in America.  But it also became the site of lighter and funnier fare– like the movie Dumb and Dumber (1994) — when the hotel was known as “Hotel Danbury.”

Pictures of The Stanley as a background for Hollywood films

It’s the “hauntedness” that draws people in.  They want to see the rooms, imagine the piano playing unattended, and walk through shadowy halls where housekeepers roam delivering little “extras” folks have heard about. And why not?  Real or otherwise, the “hauntedness” is what we travel to see.

However, if you’re looking for an “extra” experience in any form — creepy tours or luxury relaxation —  check out The Stanley Hotel.  What’s creepy for some might be “just another special vacation” in Colorado for you! And us?  Why, of course, we could stay there.  Of course we could.  All night, possibly.  Just not in Room 217!

The view of Rocky Mountain National Park from the front porch of The Stanley Hotel

For more information:

The Stanley Hotel: 333 Wonder View Avenue, Estes Park, Colorado; 1-800-976-1377; www.stanleyhotel.com

Tours at The Stanley Hotel: http://www.stanleyhotel.com/tours/night-ghost-tours

Wikipedia: The Stanley Hotel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stanley_Hotel

Oh, sure, we’ve all seen hummers.  But for some reason, these birds swarmed — not just visited — two feeders — a blue Mason jar and a round red one — as if these sips/slurps were their last. And the birds were undaunted by my presence.  Their colloquy continued whether I was inside the kitchen window or standing on the porch beside the hammock, camera in hand.  I can only guess what social dynamics were at play among this “hummingest” group of not-always friendly flappers engaged in a feeding frenzy.

Mornings became show time for the guests at the ranch as these endearing Rocky Mountain hummingbirds (both new and repeat diners) dipped into the nectar. You never know what your favorite take-back from a travel adventure will be, do you?

For more entries into Ailsa’s Travel theme: Endearing from her blog “Where’s My Backpack,” be sure to click here.

At the Alpine Visitor Center — zigzag fencing outside the front door directs your eyes to the vista ahead . . .

where the zigzag of mountains hovers above layers of land below.

Tourists like us zigged and zagged along the winding highway.  Slowly, of course.  We didn’t want to miss a photo op left or right or front or back.

And then when we spied a line of cars parked alongside the road. We, too, pulled over for a closer look.  Sure enough, those ahead had spotted the prize we were seeking:  elk grazing at eventide backed by a zigzag of mountain color.

For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, click here.

For more entries into the Weekly Photo Challenge: Zigzag, click here.

We found an old limb that my friend vowed to return and pick up with the aid of stronger arms than I had.  This is gonna look great in my yard, she said.  (She has a good eye.)

We marveled at a budding pine cone so green and soft in its infancy.

And then we found what we came for:  more rocks covered in greenish gray lichen to add to the framework of her curved bed garden back at the ranch.

Altogether — the ride, the finds, the textures and friendship — formed a memory: a perfect day in Colorado.

For more entries into the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Texture, click here.

Beautifully carved columns frame one of the porches at Blue Lake Ranch. (Photo from Website: http://www.bluelakeranch.com)

The second day of our New Mexico journey took us from the Casa Blanca Inn  in Farmington to the town of Shiprock on the Navajo reservation where I conducted a workshop for teachers. (Click here for post on Casa Blanca Inn.)

Wanting to combine work with pleasure, my husband and I booked the second of the Three Sister Inns owned by David and Shirley Alford and found our favorite by far — Blue Lake Ranch in Hesperus, Colorado — only 30 minutes away from Mesa Verde National Park.

View from the Cabin on the Lake

Marked only by a small lighted mailbox on Highway 140, Blue Lake Ranch is unknown even to most locals. But the ranch is a wonder with 230 acres of natural vegetation, trout-filled lakes, and spectacular gardens bursting with color from heirloom flowers and over 10,000 irises.

You may find yourself wondering if you’re in the right place as the winding  road (newly paved, by the way) meanders to the front door of the main house.

Although winter gardens offer little in the way of color, the entrance still beckons travelers to a lovely Southwestern hideaway.

We stood in awe of the elegantly furnished Southwestern living room. (Just typical good taste, Alford style, like the Casa Blanca Inn, I suppose.)

Alexis, the inn’s new manager, opened a scrapbook to reveal a picture of the abandoned shell of a homestead that Don found and developed into a property now celebrated as one of the best “hidden getaways” in the U.S.

Humble beginnings of Blue Lake Ranch as found by Don Alford

Impressive to say the least.  Not just for the property turnaround but also for the grounds, casitas, cabins, and main house appointed with collections gathered over time.

With an expanse of windows to catch the view, the living room is always open to guests.

You may think that Tuesday night in November is not the ideal time to sink into a luxury B&B, but there are some advantages:  We had the place to ourselves and our choice of rooms.  Lucky us.  Just upstairs with a balcony facing the sunset over Blue Lake, we settled in to the La Plata Vista Room with comforts we were becoming accustomed to on this Three Sisters Tour!

Carved headboard and sink-in bed linens typify the sleeping area of the La Plata Vista Room.

Providing ambience and warmth were Navajo rugs, hand-painted pottery, rough-hewn furniture, and, for the second night in a row, our very own Kiva fireplace.

We’ve come to love Kiva fireplaces. Doesn’t Tennessee need to know about these, too?

Southwestern touches extended to the sink area with copper basin and personalized punched-tin light fixture.

Unique lighting above the mirror and basin of the dressing area.

Satiny sheets and lofty down comforter enticed us to linger in bed, but not for long.  We wanted to see the inn in the early light of day and sample what we knew would be a breakfast to remember.

Personalized Louisville Stoneware mugs stand ready to hold the morning java.

Downstairs, hand-woven baskets lined up over doorways . . .

Navajo baskets circle-up above the doors.

and Indian figures stood guard on the mantel.

Lined up in native dress, these figures stand tall at Blue Lake!

A watercolor of the main house faces the coffee bar . . .

leading us to the buffet set just for us.  We placed an order for eggs over-easy, then grazed accordingly on granola and yogurt, sausage patties, and homemade bread with house jam — Blue Lake Ranch Peach & Raspberry — sold in the gift shop. (Note to readers:  Unless you want an airline dude to get the breakfast you dreamed of having back home, do NOT pack jam in your carry-on bag!)

Breakfast buffet ready for the taking!

At Blue Lake, people make the difference.  We listened with interest as Alexis told us of her personal cross-country journey in her own RV (alone!), and then heard how Maggie became involved with the properties, too.  In fact, Maggie said she had booked a night at the Don Gaspar Inn, the third of the Three Sister Inns, in Santa Fe, the following Friday – the same night we’d be there!

Maggie poses in the Gift Shop

For dinner, Alexis recommended Kennebec Cafe & Bakery.  We expected a Mom-and-Pop meat-and-three, but what we found was a gourmet experience due in part to the creative chef and gregarious waiter who treated us like locals.   If you go, try flatbread with mushrooms, asiago cheese, asparagus, arugula, and crispy prosciutto — if the chef’s of a mind to offer that as one of his nightly specials!

Alexis, the lady who traveled the US in her own RV, makes the best dinner reservations!!

Saying good-bye was difficult, so we took out time driving the property, scoping out the other cabins available for nightly or weekly stays.

Porches like this are meant to face the great outdoors and Blue Lake, and we dream of returning some day, rocking in the chairs and waiting for the sunset while nature unfolds in this heavenly retreat.

A porch on one of the rental cabins faces the lake and invites total relaxation!

Enjoying a few last leisurely moments in the sun-filled breakfast room at Blue Lake Ranch. And then off to Mesa Verde!

It’s not too late to take advantage of the Three Sisters Road Trip.  Stay in all three inns and receive a discount — all three times!  (http://www.bluelakeranch.com/summerspecials.htm

Note: You’ll find the address on the Website for Blue Lake Ranch as Durango, Colorado, as well as Hesperus, Colorado.  So just call Alexis for directions.  You can’t get too lost, unless you want to . . . right there on the property!

Blue Lake Ranch

16919 Hwy 140

Hesperus, CO 81326

970.385.4537 (8-6pm MST)

www.BlueLakeRanch.com