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The Shining: Real Hotels Revealed
15 Apr
Summary
- Timberline Lodge in Oregon inspired the film's exterior.
- Stanley Hotel in Colorado inspired the novel's setting.
- Ahwahnee Hotel in California inspired the film's interiors.

Fans of "The Shining" can now visit the real-life inspirations behind the novel and film. Timberline Lodge in Oregon offers the iconic exterior shots seen in Stanley Kubrick's 1980 movie adaptation. This historic WPA-era lodge on Mount Hood evokes the film's isolation, though its interior is more welcoming than the fictional Overlook.
Stephen King's novel was inspired by the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, where he experienced a vivid nightmare in room 217. The hotel leans heavily into its connection with the story, offering "Shining" tours and themed drinks, despite King's known displeasure with Kubrick's film.
For the film's interior, director Stanley Kubrick drew inspiration from the grand Ahwahnee Hotel in California's Yosemite National Park. Its interior design, particularly the Colorado Lounge, closely mirrors the Overlook Hotel's set. These locations allow fans to immerse themselves in the chilling world of "The Shining."