My Victorian Nightmare – Ep. 66: The Haunted History of The Stanley Hotel

Host: Genevieve Mannion
Date: October 27, 2025

Episode Overview

In this Halloween special, Genevieve Mannion delves into the haunted past and spectral lore of the iconic Stanley Hotel, the inspiration behind Stephen King’s "The Shining." She digs into the true and apocryphal stories swirling around the hotel, separating history from myth, while giving listeners a journey through Victorian ghost stories, spiritualist traditions, and some personal Halloween musings. The overall tone is warm, witty, and steeped in her characteristic affection for the eerie.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victorian Halloween Vibes (00:50–06:38)

• Genevieve opens with cozy autumn stories: apple cider donuts, pumpkin patches, and Halloween parties, blending humor with nostalgia.
• She notes Victorian era customs, like spelling Hallowe’en with an apostrophe:

  "The Victorians often spelled it with a dainty little apostrophe nestled in between the two E's…" (01:37)

• Shares her personal Halloween playlist and top 13 spooky movies for Halloween, blending gothic and classic horror themes with fun commentary.
• The list includes "The Conjuring 2," "Hell House LLC," "Smile 2," "The Lost Boys," "Dark City," "Freddy vs. Jason," "Queen of the Damned," "The Others," "The Ring," "The Woman in Black," "Silent Hill," "13 Ghosts," and "Bram Stoker’s Dracula."
• Notable quote:

  "These are not the best spooky movies. No, they're just really great Halloween spooky movies. And I will tell you why." (06:56)

• She celebrates the Victorian love of ghost stories and macabre ambiance, setting up a playful yet chilling mood for the episode.

2. With Their Own Eyes: Real Victorian Ghost Stories (14:24–20:53)

• Genevieve reads from an 1871 newspaper article, “Ghosts. Ghosts. A Haunted House: Mysterious Manifestations in Sevastopol,” capturing the poetic, melancholic ghost lore of the era.
• She marvels at the atmospheric writing:

  "We all live in haunted houses. The invisible presence of those with whom we once held familiar and friendly seems to linger in the silent halls and lonely rooms…" (15:13)

• Story details ghostly footsteps, unearthly cries, and a haunting backstory (possibly inspired by a mysterious woman’s death on a stairway).
• Genevieve highlights the scarcity of hard evidence behind such stories but treasures their evocative beauty, naming this her dream eulogy reading:

  "If you could boil down every single thing that I love about the Victorian era into one article, this would be the one." (20:13)

3. The Victorian Seance Room: Spiritualism & Grief (21:21–25:12)

• Shares an 1869 spiritualist newspaper story about a man and his wife communicating with their deceased child through mediums.
• The story touches on Victorian fascination with the afterlife, the omnipresence of grief, and the social need for spiritual comfort:

  "In this time, the 1860s, 43% of children did not live to be 5 years old…" (24:14) "It really is astounding to think… the profundity of grief that people lived with in this time. And I think it very much explains why spiritualism was not only so popular, but…a means of survival for some people…" (24:42)

• Concludes this segment reflecting on laughter through tears, and the cultural ubiquity of ghostly experiences in the Victorian psyche.

4. The Real History of The Stanley Hotel (25:12–33:52)

• Genevieve details the hotel's construction in 1907 by Freelin Oscar Stanley—straddling the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
  • Built as a luxurious tuberculosis health retreat and one of the first all-electric hotels.
  • Stanley himself survived tuberculosis thanks, he believed, to Colorado’s fresh air.
• The infamous 1911 gas explosion in Room 217 that (miraculously) killed no one:

  "Elizabeth [Wilson, head chambermaid] went into the room, she lit a candle and 10 percent of the hotel was blown to smithereens. But miraculously…she will survive." (29:33)

• Segues into Stanley Hotel myths vs. facts:
  • Debunks tales of ghosts stemming from suicides or murder cover-ups at the hotel:

    “There’s not one, not one record of a death happening in the hotel its over 100 year history.” (32:10)

  • Warns that many legends are copied from other hotels, like the Crescent Hotel.
• Explores the real tragedies in the area surrounding the hotel:
  • High child mortality due to epidemics, mining accidents, and environmental dangers in the Rocky Mountains.
  • Tells the tragic, well-documented story of Carrie Welton’s death on Long’s Peak, illustrating the perilous nature of the region in the late 1800s:

    “I came in sight of the tragic spot where Carrie J. Welton lay at rest, having died alone amid the wind's mad revelry…” (35:48)

5. The Shining: Stephen King’s Night & the Hotel’s Haunted Reputation (37:09–38:48)

• The hotel’s transformation into a haunted legend after Stephen King stayed there in 1974, inspiring "The Shining."
  • King’s legendary nightmare involving the hotel’s fire hoses chasing his son down the hallway.
  • Room number changes between the novel (217) and the film (237) due to hotel management’s request.
• Notable moment:

  “By the time he finished the cigarette, he already had the rough outline of The Shining in his mind.” (38:11)

6. Modern Hauntings and Guest Experiences (39:01–42:51)

• Enumerates ghostly phenomenon reported at the Stanley:
  • Room 217/Lizzie the Maid: Pushing apart unmarried couples, moving guests’ luggage.
  • Concert Hall/Lucy: Former squatter’s death by freezing and subsequent haunting—disembodied voices, flickering flashlights.
  • Paul & Edward: Handymen ghosts allegedly causing noises and shouting.
  • Flora Stanley: The founder’s wife, playing piano for guests from beyond.

    "The piano cover has also reportedly slammed down on the fingers of people trying to play it, as if Flora is saying she does not." (42:02)

  • Fourth Floor/Children’s Spirits: Mysterious child ghosts move candy and objects left for them.
  • Freeman Oscar Stanley: His apparition seen in lobby mirrors, following Victorian Halloween scrying traditions:

    "You may have a new dead 91 year old boyfriend. Congratulations and Happy Halloween." (42:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Victorian Ghost Stories:

  "My goodness, I want to stay. Over and over again by a disembodied voice in your home in the middle of the night." (19:57)

• Reflecting on Grief and Spiritualism:

  "It clearly helped people cope. And like in this article, it helped them to laugh as well." (25:12)

• On the Hotel’s Explosive History:

  "Elizabeth went into the room, she lit a candle and 10 per cent of the hotel was blown to smithereens. But miraculously…she will survive." (29:33)

• On the Spread of Haunting Myths:

  "This is an imported hotel myth. There's nothing to substantiate this." (31:09)

• On the Stanley Suddenly Becoming a Haunted Destination:

  "Not until the book and the movie was it known for any particularly spooky happenings aside from the horrific explosion." (38:56)

Important Sections & Timestamps

• Chitchat, Autumn Musings, and Movie List: 00:50-14:24
• Victorian-Era Ghost Story Reading: 14:36–20:53
• Victorian Spiritualism, Child Mortality, and Coping with Grief: 21:21–25:12
• History and Myths of the Stanley Hotel: 25:12–33:52
• Local Tragedies and the Real Dangers of the Era: 33:52–37:09
• Stephen King’s Stay and "The Shining": 37:09–38:48
• Reported Hauntings and Modern Ghost Legends at Stanley: 39:01–42:51

Tone & Style

Genevieve’s narration blends historical research, dark humor, and a deeply personal love for Victorian eeriness. She moves seamlessly between factual reporting, ghostly folklore, and witty asides, making the episode both informative and highly entertaining for fans of spooky history.

For Listeners

Whether you’re a horror aficionado, a lover of Victorian history, or simply curious about the real story behind The Stanley Hotel’s spectral reputation, this episode offers both solid facts and lingering chills—perfect Halloween listening.