Fans of the horror novel The Shining are being encouraged to pay a visit to the US state of Colorado, where they can book into the hotel which is reported to have inspired Stephen King to write the book.

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, has made the most of its reputation as a haunted house. According to the Colorado Tourism Office, Stephen King once stayed in the hotel’s presidential suite, room number 217. During his night in the suite he is said to have experienced a variety of supernatural experiences which inspired him to write the novel The Shining. Horror fans now ensure that room 217 is constantly booked for up to six months in advance, making it necessary for visitors wanting to stay in the presidential suite to plan their stay as far in advance as possible.

The tourist authority also claimed that actor Jim Carrey has once booked into room 217, only to leave in the middle of the night and spend the night in the nearby Holiday Inn. For guests not wanting to risk a disturbed night’s sleep, the hotel also runs 90-minute tours of the facility, covering its history and stories of haunting and encounters from over the years. A medium and paranormal investigator are also on hand at the hotel, offering readings and ghost-hunting experiences.

While the Colorado hotel may have inspired the novel, the building most people will associate with the story is the one used in Stanley Kubrick’s acclaimed film adaptation, released in 1980. Kubrick chose the Timberline Lodge in Oregon to represent the fictional Overlook Hotel in King’s novel.