Welcome to AWM Destinations, the world’s leading travel agency for faraway and fantastical destinations. Each week, AWM Destinations will showcase a unique and exciting vacation destination and spotlight some of the exciting attractions, dining, and lodging options available at each location. We hope you enjoy this series of articles and look forward to hearing about your travels with AWM Destinations.
Written by Matthew Masino
The Overlook Hotel
As we creep closer and closer to All Hallows’ Eve, AWM Destinations is excited to showcase another spook-tacular travel spot. This week we’ll visit the Colorado Rockies and an old mountain resort called The Overlook Hotel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Overlook Hotel was originally designed to serve as a health retreat for those suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis but has since become one of the most illustrious hotels in the region serving as the vacation spot for the likes of the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellors, and the Astor Family.
Getting There
Your journey to the Overlook Hotel will be a breeze with AWM Destinations. After flying into the Stapleton International Airport in Denver, you’ll board the Overlook’s complimentary limousine shuttle for fast and convenient transportation to the hotel. Take in the magnificence of the Rocky Mountains as your driver takes the twists and turns of the mountain road with ease and dexterity during your approximately 2 hour drive. If requested, your limousine will make a stop at the scenic turnout where you can view the entire valley baked in the glow of the setting sun. Across the vale, you’ll get your first peek at the Overlook Hotel, one of the most beautiful hotels in America.
For an additional fee, guests can also fly into the hotel via helicopter by special arrangement with the Rocky Mountain National Park Ranger Service. Take in incredible views and cut your travel time in half.
The Hotel
Construction began on the Overlook Hotel in 1907 by Robert Townley Watson (grandfather of current Overlook maintenance man) and would be completed by the year 1909. The property has changed hands multiple times over the last century and is now owned by the Shockley Group and managed by Stuart Ullman. Despite the hotel’s age, the accommodations are tantamount to any 5-star hotel. When booking your room, guests may choose from a variety of room configurations. Overall, there are 110 guest hotel rooms including 30 suites, 50 double rooms, and 30 single rooms. Each guest room features a luxurious “Heavenly Bed” mattress imported from France and a modern bathroom with jacuzzi tub. For a more exclusive experience, guests may book a stay in the Presidential Suite with past guests including Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon. You’ll love the top-of-the-line accommodations and breathtaking views so much, you may not even want to leave your room.
There’s so much to explore around the grounds of the hotel including a swimming pool, library, and roque court. Young travelers will love exploring the hotel’s playground which includes two slides, a jungle gym, a sandbox, and half a dozen swing sets. Those looking for peace and quiet can visit the Great Hall, perfect for writers and readers alike. At the end of the night, you’ll want to get dressed up for dinner at the Overlook Dining Room where Executive Chef Dick Hallorann and his team prepare mouthwatering appetizers, entrees, and desserts to your exact specifications. And after your meal, you may want to stop by the Colorado Lounge for an after-dinner cocktail and some live music.
And who could forget the hotel’s world famous hedge maze? Take an afternoon stroll and explore the miles of twists and turns between 13-foot tall hedges. Around each corner, guests are sure to find intricately maintained hedge animals including rabbits, dogs, cows, and lions. Don’t worry if you can’t find your way out, the Overlook Hotel’s helpful staff are specially trained to extract lost souls out of the maze.
A Warning
Here at AWM Destinations, our top priority is your health and safety. Before you travel to the Overlook, we want to be fully transparent about some events that have unfolded in the past. From late October to early April, the hotel and the roads surrounding it close for the winter season. Rather than leaving the full staff isolated for those five to six months, management has hired caretakers to look after the hotel each winter season such as one Mr. Delbert Grady.
Mr. Grady was hired for the winter of 1970-1971, just after the hotel had undergone a full refurbishment. Rather than be in absolute solitude, Mr. Grady brought his wife and two daughters along with him. But the months of isolation can do terrible things to the psyche. Pair growing cabin fever with one too many glasses of whiskey and you may find the mind begin to crack. Acute claustrophobia kicks in which can lead to vivid hallucinations and untamed violence. You see, Mr. Grady murdered his little girls with a hatchet, killed his wife with a shotgun, and committed suicide the same way.
Of course, you won’t have to worry about that on your vacation with AWM Destinations! We guarantee you and your family the time of your life!
We know you have many options when looking for your next vacation and we thank you for your interest in AWM Destinations. Click here to book your stay at the Overlook hotel or learn more about other vacation packages. We hope to see you traveling soon.
AWM Destinations is the world’s leading travel agency to faraway and fictional destinations. We provide custom travel services involving air, rail, twister transport, car rentals, magic portals, hotel reservations, tours, and sightseeing. Our mission is to connect travelers from around the world with a diverse range of destinations and experiences. From theme parks to tropical islands to fantasy kingdoms, AWM Destinations is your one-stop shop for inside access to the most exciting and exclusive destinations in the world, and beyond.
Matthew Masino is the Social Media Coordinator for the AWM. He is also a content creator, writer, and theatre director based in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated with a B.F.A. in Theatre Directing from Columbia College Chicago in 2019. As a theatre artist, Matthew has worked with the International Voices Project, the Chicago Fringe Festival, and BYOT Productions. You can learn more by visiting his website www.matthewmasino.com.