When The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze Is Covered With Snow
In June of 2015, the Stanley Hotel hedge maze was officially opened. It is located in front of the historic hotel, inspired by Stanly Kubrick’s 1980 film “The Shining,” which is based on a Stephen King novel of the same name.
Winter before the hedge maze was erected, the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado held a contest seeking designs for the maze. A panel of judges selected a design by Mairim Dallaryan Standing of New York, out of 329 submissions from 40 different states, and also from Brazil, the United Kingdom, and Iceland.
The Stanley Hotel hedge maze is 10,000-square-foot. It is open to the public and free of charge. The hedge maze consists of 820 juniper bushes. John Cullen, the hotel owner, said during the opening that the juniper trees will be five to six feet in height in about five years.
However, many people were disappointed after the opening. They were hoping to see a wall of trees like in the movie. Instead, they found trees that were not even as tall as their waist.
I can understand that, because it’s still in the beginning phase. Even when we visited in the summer of 2018 on our way to Rocky Mountain National Park, we weren’t impressed as the trees were still around 3-4 foot.
But what happened when we came back a year later on our road trip to Colorado in November?
Snow on the Stanley Hotel hedge maze
A day before Thanksgiving, we went to Estes Park. A snow storm had dropped more than a foot of snow from Monday evening to Tuesday morning almost everywhere in Colorado. I’ve been wanting to see Rocky Mountain NP when it’s covered with snow, so I didn’t say no to the opportunity.
On the way to Estes Park, my husband asked whether I wanted to stop at The Stanley. I thought, while we were there, why not. When else can I see Stanley Hotel covered with snow, right? I don’t think we will make a trip in the winter to Colorado anyway. We don’t ski.
Besides, the view between Lyons and Estes Park was spectacular. Inches of snow covering the ground all the way to the mountain peaks. Pine tree needles were white with snow, too. A gorgeous view that we didn’t have back home in Texas. In my mind, the Stanley Hotel would look stunning at this time of year.
At that time, I didn’t remember about The Stanley Hotel hedge maze at all. I just wanted to see the hotel with snow covering its ground.
Sure enough, the hotel ground was covered with snow. Everywhere we saw was white.
When we got to the hotel guard post, there was no guard on duty. A year ago we had to pay for parking at this guard post.
After we parked the car and walked towards the front of the hotel, we saw a security man. He approached us saying dogs are not allowed inside the hotel. Our dog Snoopy was traveling with us, and I knew Stanley is not a pet-friendly hotel. We told him that we just wanted to see the hotel from outside. If we went inside, it would probably only be me, to see The Stanley decorations during the holiday.
When we got to the front of the hotel, we were surprised to see the hedge maze. We didn’t think about it, but now it stood covered with snow in front of us.
There’s only one thing to do: The Shining re-enactment.
The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze
When we were there in November of 2019, the juniper bushes were still around 4 feet, but in some places were around 5 feet. So, it’s not much different compared to summer of 2018. The needles were not thick, we could still see gaps between the trees. But, it was covered with snow, so it gave a different impression and experience.
We told our son a brief story of The Shining and told him to start running as Danny Torrance. He ran too fast though, so I, Wendy Torrance, couldn’t catch up. I lost a few times, trying to save myself from imaginary Jack Torrance. Fortunately my husband who stood by the starting point with Snoopy could see our heads. So, he could direct me from where he stood. Haha..
At the end we were saved by a new character in the movie: Snoopy the Superdog! Hehe..
It was really fun! We ran back and forth through the hedge maze several times. Temperature was in the 40s, but when you had fun you didn’t feel it at all. By the time we called it quit, our hands were frozen and our shoes and the bottom of our pants were wet. Apparently we’ve been out there playing The Shining reenactment for about an hour!
After we left the hotel, I realized I forgot to check inside the hotel. Oh, well. But now I have a reason to go back to Stanley when it’s covered with snow.
Is Visiting The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze Worth It?
I would say yes, especially if you are a fan of The Shining. But, make sure the ground is covered with inches of snow. Snow brings a totally different impression of the hedge maze compared to summer time.
Too bad I don’t have an image of the Stanley Hotel hedge maze from above. If you stay in the hotel you might get to take a picture of it from one of the rooms with the Rockies view. I imagine the view from the hotel room will be breathtaking.
The Stanley Hotel Address:
333 Wonderview Avenue
Estes Park
Colorado 80517
Ph.: +1 (970) 577-4000
This sounds like such a fun winter activity! I first went to the Stanley in January several years ago, but there was actually no snow on the ground. I’d love to see it snow covered like this.
No snow in January? Well, I guess you need to go back again.
In my part of the world, we don’t have any snow. So snow is definitely something that people in this part of the world would love to experience. The visuals of the whole place covered under snow seems so tempting to experience. Thanks for sharing this post and pictures
I totally get it! I came from Indonesia and live in Texas that don’t have snow every year. So, snow is still magical for me.
Clearly, you need to invest in a drone for your next visit, for that overhead shot, though I imagine you’d have to send it pretty far up to get everything. I’m a fan of The Shining too, and now it makes me wonder where they shot those scenes of the hedge maze! I’ve never been in a walk-through maze of any type but I think I’d rather try it where I could peek over the wall, so I better get out to Colorado before the hedges grow up too much.
I’m not sure whether the Stanley Hotel lets people fly a drone above its vicinity. The hedge maze scenes in the movie was actually shot at the old MGM Borehamwood Studios in Hertfordshire, England. I hope you can come to The Stanley before the bushes get really tall.
The Stanley hotel hedge maze is such an awesome place to hang out given it was the location of Stephen King novel based movie The Shining. It was good to see you guys playing in the snow and the Stanley hotel views are truly spectacular.
It was really a fun day, and the views from the hotel are really spectacular.
A hedge maze sounds like a fun time. I’m sure the snow adds another element to it. I’ll have to check this out the next time I’m in Colorado!
You will have a wonderful time here!
The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze looks so stunning with the snow all around. It’s been a while I have experienced snow like this. Planning a winter holiday in December to an Indian snow destination, Mossorie.
Cool! Have a great time in Mossorie!
I didn’t know you could visit the hotel from The Shining, I would love to do that. And you’re right, it definitely looks beautiful covered in snow. Thanks for introducing this place.
The Stanley Hotel is where Stephen King got the inspiration, but the actual location of the hotel in the movie is in Oregon.
I totally forgot the Stanley was in Estes Park and I was just there a few days ago. I wish I had stopped because I would love to visit this hotel.
Aww! That’s too bad. I guess you have a good reason to come back to Estes Park.
I’m not familiar with The Shining, so I guess I don’t understand the importance of the maze. However, I can appreciate how a soft layer of snow enhances most scenery! Glad you got to enjoy your trip enough to not feel cold in the snow!
It’s time to read the book or watch the movie, Tami!
Ive never been in a hedge maze before, but my family and I around Halloween would always go to our local corn maze and would have a blast. A bit disappointing that you could see over the hedges because I feel like this takes away from the fun of trying to figure out how to get out, but I am sure it still seemed like a great time! Your photos make the hotel seem beautiful especially with all of the snow!
I think I will have to make another trip during winter to see the differences. Maybe I will be too scare to enter the hedge maze when there is no more gaps.
You make this sound so interesting. I saw the snow for the first time in winter of 2019 in Kashmir, India. I would like to see this hedge maze and during snowfall.
It will be wonderful when the snow is falling here.
Confession time – I’ve never seen The Shining! But even still, I’d want to stop there and wander the hedge mazes. It’s so beautiful in winter, definitely more of a wonderland worth exploring.
Go watch the movie or read the book, Emma! That’s if you don’t mind a horror movie or book.
Maybe it is time to watch Shining again! Interesting that they held a contest and chose from more than 300 submissions. I am wondereing by what criteria? Design? Plants? Difficulty? I panick easily in hedge mazes, but still I like to try them out.
I know if I’m going to watch the movie again it will be during daylight. Hehe… I couldn’t find the article about the judging criteria, but the winner said she spent hours daily to come with the design.
My husband would definitely want to visit this! He loves horror movies and he would want to see in person some of those memorable scenes. We visited a hedge maze in Czech Republic of all places, it was part of the garden of a historic castle. So fun.
Just make sure to visit during winter to get the feeling.
Now, this is what I’ve always imagined Colorado to be like: Covered by snow! Your post is reminding me that we are going towards winter. You guys certainly had a great time at the hedge maze 🙂
Snow makes everything so pretty and beautiful. The Stanley Hotel Hedge Maze looks stunning as well and you guys look so happy enjoying the snow. It’s a shame Snoopy was not allowed inside but I do understand that every hotel has rules and I am glad they at least allowed you guys to see from the outside.
Hedge Maze? I guess I really haven’t seen The Shining! I went to Stanley Hotel during Fall so there was no snow. We were more interested in the inside. After the photo of outside! And lunch!
It’s time to watch The Shining. Perfect time for this month!
I have never seen a hedge maze. But I can imagine how disappointing it might be if the hedge was only 3 feet and you could see over it. But I can see it was much more fun to visit in the snow. A fun winter trip.