The Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority, in partnership with Blumhouse, has broken ground on the Stanley Event Center: an expansion of the historic Stanley Hotel that will serve as a year-round hub for film, art, and community in Estes Park, Colo.
While the Stanley Hotel has stood as a prominent structure for the Centennial State since it opened at the base of the Rocky Mountains in 1909, its connection to popular culture, cinema, and horror emerged when it inspired the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King‘s 1977 novel, “The Shining.” While Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation was actually filmed at the Timberline Lodge in Oregon and Elstree Studios in London, it still took notes from the Stanley’s source material and supposed hauntings, as did King’s 2013 sequel novel “Doctor Sleep” and its 2019 Mike Flanagan-directed adaptation.
Blumhouse— Jason Blum‘s production company behind horror hits like “Get Out,” “Paranormal Activity,” “Insidious” and more—is therefore a fitting partner for the project, and part of the new Stanley Event Center will be the Blumhouse Space: a film museum curated by the production company, showcasing props, interactive exhibits and behind-the-scenes information from influential horror movies.
Jason Blum said he “started Blumhouse 15 years ago because I love to build. And I’ve been thinking a lot about how we will build out this Blumhouse exhibit space. Horror fans are the best fans in the world, and they deserve a world-class, must-visit destination. And horror itself deserves a rightful place at the center of culture. We plan to celebrate the art and icons of horror, including key filmmakers, stars and the amazing cinematic villains who’ve terrified us over the years. And there’s no better place to do it than the iconic Stanley Hotel.”
Construction of the Stanley Event Center is a $60 million venture that will take place over the course of three years. In addition to the Blumhouse Space, the venue will feature a 1,000-seat theater for film premieres, screenings, events, and concerts, 64 new luxury rooms for the hotel, a new lobby, a new porte cochere and more. The Event Space expects to open its doors in 2028, though the Stanley Hotel will remain open throughout construction.