To learn more about our affiliates policy, click here.
The Lone Star Spooks Facebook page shared a link from Week In Weird whose title says it all: “Colorado’s Famously Haunted Stanley Hotel to Cease all Paranormal Investigations and Events.”
In a blow to ghost fans (and the local economy), the haunted Stanley Hotel is cutting ties with the paranormal: https://t.co/zAARDAFSzD
— Planet Weird (@WeirdHQ) March 24, 2016
Say what?
This was shocking news on a number of levels.
However, it may not be as dire as it looks. Check out this Tweet:
UPDATED: @stanleyhotel says while paranormal investigations and ghost hunts are ending, 'Ghost Tours' will continue: https://t.co/zAARDAFSzD
— Planet Weird (@WeirdHQ) March 24, 2016
Phew!
So at least they’re not moving away from their paranormal past entirely.
What Happened?
Still, I can’t help but wonder what happened to prompt a “de-emphasization” of paranormal investigations? Did someone behave badly? Did too many non-paranormal investigator guests complain?
The Week in Weird reported that the Stanley Paranormal Investigation Team posted a message on their Facebook page that sheds a little light on the mystery. Here’s part of it:
It saddens us to share this with you, but this week, the Stanley Hotel made the executive decision to cease all paranormal-related events and activities, including our public ghost hunts. We understand this to be part of a long-term strategy to separate the hotel from its associations with the supernatural and to focus more on the history.
Okay, I can respect focusing more on the hotel’s history. After all, while catchy, I’ve always considered the phrase “ghost hunting” to be disrespectful. If I were a ghost, I wouldn’t want to be “hunted.” Would you?
But I like to believe that wording aside, most people are respectful during such events. However, the keyword is “most.” As the saying goes, it only takes one bad apple to ruin the rest.
It might not be that anyone misbehaved to wreck the fun. Maybe the hotel was looking at its bottom line and decided this wasn’t benefiting it enough.
Or maybe the practice of scouring the hotel with equipment trying to prove the existence of ghosts made other guests so uncomfortable they complained. Get enough of such complaints and, well, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
The “why” isn’t what concerns me as much as the “what if” that might come next.
Will Other Haunted Places Follow Suit?
This is what worries me. What if other haunted places decide to scrap their open-to-paranormal-investigation policies too?
Because the haunted places that are open and welcoming to paranormal investigators and enthusiasts are rare gems. In my view, the Stanley Hotel is one of the Paranormal Granddaddies. It’s commonly found on Most Haunted lists, particularly those specializing in spooky stays.
It also always seemed the most welcoming and accommodating to people looking for a place to seek answers about the paranormal. I think other haunted places looking to increase their tourism looked to the Stanley’s model for how to do it.
Which is why I’m worried other haunted places might also follow this example. I hope that won’t be the case, but…
Impacts
What do you think? Do you think the Stanley Hotel’s decision will set a precedence and impact paranormal tourism in other places too? (Not to mention what might it do to Estes Park’s economy?)
Do you think this will be a permanent decision, or might the hotel change its mind? (Or is that wishful thinking?)
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
Loading ...
I’m stunned by this. I have to wonder if someone behaved badly. Very badly. 🙁
I think it’s going to really hurt the hotel/surrounding area in a major way as far as the economy.
I’m still stunned at this news.
Overall, do you feel the ghost-hunting (there’s that word “hunt!”) craze is fading? Or is it just too much of one thing? When I found Ghost Hunters is was a dream come true. Then more ghost hunters type shows followed. Now I cannot travel without every city I visit having Ghost Walks/Hunts/Tours/Carriage Rides/Hotel stays etc. Now, I do believe something paranormal has gone on in the Stanley based on what I’ve read, but I wonder if they feel that the hunting thing is being down to death, pardon pun. Also, maybe more digging might reveal some damage was done or it was indeed complaints.
You bring up an excellent point. I keep wondering if it will fall out of fashion too. Because you’re right…what a boom there’s been in tours! Shows like you mentioned seemed to help that enormously too. I’ll see if I can dig more to find out what’s behind the Stanley’s decision.
It was like a punch to the gut, wasn’t it? I was shocked too. And hoping it wasn’t that anyone behaved badly, but…I’m thinking there’s a chance. Like I told J, I’ll dig more and see what I uncover.
Yes it was a shocker! I hope there is a good reason, and not that the market is saturated, so to speak. I just loved the ghost hunting programs but then they were everywhere, sometimes it has a bad effect and turns people off!
Could not agree more. Lots of knock offs (cheap ones at that) and staged ones (ugh, the worst!). At first it was so novel it was great. I got turned off. Literally. I don’t watch any of those shows anymore. I will again when someone finds a new way to do things though. 😉