I’m not a big fan of Halloween, and I never have been. But I surprised myself this year. Somehow or other, I found out about The Shining Ball. And somehow or other, I asked my new beau, MKL, if he’d like to go. And somehow or other, he said he would. So a few weeks ago, I found myself renting a real Halloween costume.

Image of The Ritz courtesy of http://www.metromix.com
I don’t know why I’ve never liked Halloween. I like the concepts that it encompasses – souls, spirits, alter egos, revelry, chocolate. Still, not my favorite holiday. Kelsea has always loved it, so I did the dutiful costuming of myself to accompany her when trick-or-treating. Generally those costumes would consist of nothing more than a neon colored wig. I like neon color wigs.
A couple of years ago, I did fall into possession of a slutty pirate costume, that I still have and like very much. But that was a seriously bizarre Halloween that will never be discussed. It did make me contemplate why 95% of Halloween costumes are slutty. Is that seriously what women’s alter egos are? Slutty cheerleaders, slutty pirates, slutty nurses, slutty vegetables? I really couldn’t say.
What I can say is that Friday afternoon found us making our way to The Ritz in Boulder to pick up my costume, and, after a slightly aborted start, we were off to the lovely little town of Estes Park.
Estes Park is known as the Gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Founded in 1859 at an elevation of 7,522 feet, it was long ago a summering area for the Ute and Arapaho Indians. It earned the nickname “The Gutsiest Little Town in Colorado” after it rebuilt itself following the Lawn Lake Flood in 1982, in which an earthenware dam collapsed, flooded the main street and beyond, and killed three campers .

Image courtesy of http://www.estesnet.com
Our destination today was the famous Stanley Hotel. Opened in 1909, this beautiful Georgian architectural style hotel was built by F.O. Stanley, one of the inventors of the Stanley Steamer automobile.
The hotel has housed numerous famous visitors, and most notably, Stephen King, whose stay in Room 217 on a blizzardy night inspired him to write “The Shining”. While the Stanley Kubrick film by the same name was not filmed here, because Kubrick didn’t think that audiences would find such a hotel believable in a location like Colorado (hello? reality check?), it does run on a continuous loop 24/7 on one of the stations on the hotel’s televisions. On the other hand, the mini-series, which was much less violent because it was made for TV, and much more accurate, because Stephen King was involved in the production, was filmed on site. And coincidentally, my boss’ husband appeared on-screen several times in his role as an “extra”.
I have never seen either the movie or the mini-series, nor have I read the book, having sworn off Stephen King some time ago. I have tremendous respect for his writing, but reading it is simply destructive to my psyche. But The Stanley makes the most of the connection, with exhibits pertinent to the novel, and The Shining Ball, a wonderful costume ball and Halloween tradition. Room 217 is also included on the hotel’s Ghost Tour, which we missed out on. But not entirely. More about that in a bit.
The Stanley offers rooms in the original building and the Manor House, built slightly later. Our room was in the original building in a little dormer on the fourth floor, which is the most haunted floor of the hotel.
Dormer rooms are small, but cozy.

Word to the wise (and now head-injured) - the shorter person takes the side of the bed with the low ceiling.
Since it was so late, and cold, and parking spaces were rare, we decided to have a light supper in the Cascade Room, taking the stairs this time, instead of the terrifying cage elevator. I’ve had a deathly fear of cage elevators since I was a child, but I took it when I had to. The staircases though, were too beautiful to resist.
Dinner was expensive but delightful, made all the better by our wonderful server, MaryAnn, who had worked at the hotel for 21 years and told us her own personal ghost stories. She made us promise to come back the next night in costume so she could see us.
We had wasted no time upon arrival in exploring our creepy hallway. Fortunately for me, MKL is rather a sensitive in this area, as I am, so at least he doesn’t think it’s nuts when I pick up on energy or see stuff that would spook most humans. In fact, he often shares the same experience. So it’s quite a pleasure for both of us to have someone who understands.
About halfway down the hallway, I got dizzy. I got queasy. My head ached. And the farther I got towards the end, the thicker the air became, until it felt like walking through goo. And yet everything appeared perfectly normal. Energetically, however, normal it was not. We experimented with the hallway many times, and with other hallways in the hotel. The experience was always the same, hitting at the same place, and it never happened in other hallways. On one of these little escapades, I turned and quickly took a photo, and caught the culprit in orb form.
It vanished in the next instantaneous photo. I know there are plenty of naysayers out there, but I’m a believer in my orb.
The next day was gorgeous. But bitterly, freakishly windy. Painfully windy. Wind that, as MKL put it, was throwing dirt and rocks and branches and small children at us as we tried to make it to the car from breakfast at The Egg and I. It totally deterred us from our planned explorations of town. So we stopped at the excellent combination pharmacy and liquor store to pick up some champagne (who can’t love a store that sells both drugs AND alcohol?) and retreated back to the hotel, picking up some sandwiches for late night post-party consumption.
Our room was, as I said, on the haunted fourth floor. The hotel runs ghost tours from around 10:00 am until 10:00 pm, taking small herds of visitors (who, by the by, sound like baby elephants tromping around the old creaky floors) to the spookiest places in the hotel. Room 401, which housed the infamous Lord Dunmore, who remains a mischievous ghost, was just down the hall next to the elevator. Room 428, home of the kissing cowboy ghost, was next door to us. Room 418, supposedly one of the most haunted rooms, where ghost children take candy if it’s left out on the dresser, was down the hall. Room 406 , where we started getting the most creepy vibes wasn’t specifically mentioned on the tour, but in the hallway itself numerous ghost children run up and down it at all hours, playing ball, and flushing toilets in rooms repeatedly. Including ours. Yes, that toilet started flushing itself on our second night, periodically, refusing to stop.
So, all of this knowledge we gleaned from listening to the ghost tour outside of our door. We also ran into a crowd outside Room 217, where Mr. King found his muse, and outside of Room 237, where Elizabeth, a former chambermaid, “looks after” guests. Elizabeth is very benevolent, and MaryAnn told us that when she first started, she could feel Elizabeth looking after her, leaving lights on and such. It was rather awkward, though, when guests in these rooms would open their door when a tour was stopped in front of it. And slightly startling to find people taking pictures of your room door.
The time came for us to get dressed up and head down to the ball. The Shining Ball. In full costume with about three hundred other people in the haunted MacGregor Ballroom. We felt like such royalty going down the beautiful staircase.
We came as the Phantom of the Opera and Christine. While I don’t yet have any photos of the two of us together, we were told by many people that we were a gorgeous couple.
We are waiting for our new friend Natalie to send us some of the photos she took of us. I didn’t like the only two I have – I felt like they made me look big as the hotel. Natalie looked stunning as the Black Swan.
Her adorable mother Mary came as a slutty gypsy. We ran into these two right in our hallway when we first checked in, again at breakfast and later, they saved us some seats at the Ball. I loved watching these two. I hope that when Kelsea is Natalie’s age, she and I have a similar relationship. In fact, I look forward to it.
And so we had cocktails, we danced and danced, we went outside to cool off in the chill mountain air, and we people watched. There were some amazing costumes. I’ll share a few here:
We had a marvelous time. There were lots of people dancing on their own, which is great, although sometimes it got a little creepy because of the costume. There was a jester always at our elbow, checking out MKL. There was the incredible hulk who kept sort of thrusting himself into all partners. There was the red toga lady who was really getting into grinding on me from behind while MKL and I were trying to dance, until her husband (Nero) called her off (literally). And there were a phenomenal amount of exceptionally tall people there. Really. Close to seven feet tall. Weird. And lots of my photos of partygoers also contained orbs, so the ghosts enjoyed the festivities too.
Stopping for a final martini in the bar before bed, we watched a very tall guy dressed as a cowboy trying to decide if he wanted to accept the attentions of either of the guys who were hitting on him. He looked pretty drunk and pretty confused. We wished him well, and turned in at almost two. I haven’t stayed out that long in years. I felt like a princess. It was so cool.
We got a slightly late checkout, had a wonderful breakfast at the Mountain Home Cafe, and talked about what we might be if we go next year. It would be a lovely tradition.
22 comments
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October 30, 2011 at 10:27 pm
georgefloreswrite
That wood nymph and Tigger pic is hilarious! Great post and followed!
October 31, 2011 at 7:23 am
Seasweetie
Thanks, George! Welcome aboard!
October 30, 2011 at 10:48 pm
pamsplanet
I loved this post. I am so happy that you had a wonderful time. Maybe now you will forever enjoy Halloween! I hope so. I always love it when I have a chance to wear a costume. This year, there were no parties for me, but as per your blog, last year I was a slutty policewoman!
By the way, whenever I see MKL, my mind reads it as MLK, so I always picture you out with Martin Luther King! Weird how the mind reads things sometimes, huh??
Estes Park is one of T’s favorite places. We’ve been to the Stanley, too. Very beautiful place. 🙂
October 31, 2011 at 7:24 am
Seasweetie
Can’t I tempt you to come visit,Pam? Yes, I sometimes type it MLK – but, no he’s not Martin Luther King! 🙂
October 31, 2011 at 6:13 am
suzicate
What fun! Except for the totally creepy hallway experience…kind of cool as long as it’s happening to anyone but me!
October 31, 2011 at 7:25 am
Seasweetie
Happy Halloween, suzicate! Hope no spookies get you today!
October 31, 2011 at 9:10 am
slpmartin
It indeed looks like it was a wonderful time…a bit strange at times…but all the more fun.
October 31, 2011 at 10:41 am
Seasweetie
Strange = fun, slp!
October 31, 2011 at 9:23 am
thesinglecell
Excellent! I don’t know if I could have braved The Stanley. Then again, I’ve seen “The Shining” a bunch of times and that hallway would have conjured those twins for me regardless of whether they were there or not. Yeeps! Glad you had fun!
October 31, 2011 at 10:42 am
Seasweetie
I caught a glimpse of the film when we were waiting for something, and don’t think I could watch it. I’m not good at gory scary stuff. Life is scary enough as it is, especially with my own creepy capabilities!
October 31, 2011 at 9:35 am
Erik France
Looks like a smashing good time ~~ coolio ~~
I dig the Kubrick version, indelibly creepy imagery.
Happy Hallowe’en and Samhain~!
October 31, 2011 at 10:43 am
Seasweetie
Thanks, Erik! I don’t think any Kubrick film will ever pass before my eyes – so far, I’ve avoided them all. But I am loving the idea of Samhain!
October 31, 2011 at 12:19 pm
photokunstler
I’m with you on Stephen King! I read my last book of his when I was pregnant with Meghan (the firstborn) and it was destroying me. That one was, “It.” And she came out of the womb relishing all things King but terrified of clowns, to this day.
Looks like the two of you had an amazing time! We have an orb collection – Meghan used to be a ghost hunter. I think she’d like to go with you next year!
October 31, 2011 at 12:27 pm
Seasweetie
That would be too much fun!! Interesting that I, too, read my last Stephen King when I was pregnant – I couldn’t finish it. It was “Insomnia”. And just like Meghan, Kelsea came out liking all things spooky. “It” was her favorite Stephen King novel for ages. I do own up to having made another run at him with “The Mist” a few years back, but it was too horrible for me and I’ve sworn him off for good now.
October 31, 2011 at 12:53 pm
photokunstler
Maybe his books need warning labels – do not read while pregnant?
Or once you’ve given birth!
Oh, great photos, I forgot to add – it is wonderful to see your loveliness!! And I do the MLK thing too…
October 31, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Seasweetie
:-), Patty!
October 31, 2011 at 2:20 pm
KatiesCameraBlog
I loved reading your post and seeing those photos (cool Orb! 🙂 ). I’m so glad you had a great time; what fun it must have been! Thanks so much for sharing.
October 31, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Seasweetie
Thanks, Katie! You and Kitty have a happy and spooky time tonight.
October 31, 2011 at 5:40 pm
thepetalpusher
Interesting post, Seasweetie. I’m not too much of a fan of Halloween although I’ve been to some great Halloween parties. What a good time you had, great place too, and that orb . . . well, let’s just say I’ve seen my share of ghosts.
October 31, 2011 at 6:06 pm
Seasweetie
Sounds like you’re a like-minded “spirit”, petalpusher. 🙂
October 31, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Cin
🙂 Sounds like a fantastic weekend! Great costume, I am a complete and total “Phan-girl”. I own so much Phantom stuff. Don’t get me started on my christine should be with erik rant… lol. You made a lovely Christine 🙂
The orb is great. I’m glad you managed to catch something! I’m a big believer in ghosts (which I’m sure you figured out) and when I was younger we had a lot of active ghosts in the family. Doors opening, things moving about etc.
Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain! 🙂
October 31, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Seasweetie
Thanks, Cin! Our new friend Natalie had a tattoo of the phantom mask on her ankle. She got it in Paris just after she went to th Opera House, and showed it to us as soon as she learned about our costumes. I caught a few orbs at the party too!