We had a lazy, easy day today. It is cold and rainy, with no scheduled activities.
At about noon we drove into Estes Park and stopped to see the Stanley Hotel:
The story of the Stanley Hotel began in 1903 when Yankee inventor Freelan Oscar Stanley (He and his twin brother, Francis, invented and produced the Stanley Steamer automobile…) arrived in the valley, weak and underweight from the symptoms of consumption. To his amazement, just one season here was enough to restore his health to better than before! Overjoyed, he vowed to return each summer for the rest of his life.
However, he and his wife Flora were used to the sophistication of East Coast society, and the little community of Estes Park offered little to stimulate and challenge this multi-talented genius. Together, they resolved to build a beautiful grand hotel – and when the Stanley Hotel opened in 1909, the first guests who pulled up in stylish Stanley-designed steam cars were astonished at what they saw. Here in this mountain wilderness, surrounded by the rustic haunts of the hunter and homesteader, was an edifice that withstood comparison to the posh hotels “back east.” Electric lights, telephones, en suite bathrooms, a staff of uniformed servants and a fleet of automobiles were at their disposal. Naturally, Stanley had also done much to develop the burgeoning town. By 1917, it was an official municipality with water-works, a power plant and civic organizations that were all, in some way, thanks to Stanley.
By the 1970s the hotel’s splendor had faded due to lack of care and investment. It might have eventually have succumbed to the wrecking ball, if not for a fortuitous visit by author Stephen King. A stay of one night was enough to inspire his third major work and first hardcover bestseller The Shining, which remains a landmark masterpiece in a long and well-known list of novels.
After a full restoration, the hotel stands today as a beautiful testament to its glory days, when it served as a holiday retreat for wealthy urbanites.
Here is F. O. Stanley, himself…
After strolling the grounds we walked towards the city’s shopping district. We found the rushing the Big Thompson River and a lovely riverside walkway lined with many different businesses…
We walked about an hour, then we headed back towards the Villa. It was just starting to rain. But something piqued my interest, so we drove two miles past the RV park to the YMCA camp.
About the only things I remember about the convention was that the food was terrible (first time I had tasted hominy, first time I had tasted grits, and I abhor both of them to this day…) and that the days were sunny with clear blue skies until about 3:00 in the afternoon when giant clouds blew in and it rained for about an hour.
Our bus trip home was uneventful, and a week later Lynda and I left for our respective colleges, 300 miles apart… Not an enjoyable time at all…
So we returned to the Villa, and remained cozy inside while the rain continued to fall. Tomorrow we travel to Colorado Springs, stop #2 on the caravan. And an enjoyable time was had by all…
Adventures in the Villa 