Where Was “The Shining” Filmed?

“The Shining” is an absolute horror movie classic! But where was “The Shining” filmed? Here’s everything you need to know about where “The Shining” was filmed, the inspiration behind the original book, and how you can rent an amazing horror movie venue on Peerspace for your “Shining”-inspired production!

Where is the Overlook Hotel from “The Shining” located?

When you are looking for answers to the question, “Where was “The Shining” filmed?” we can make an educated guess your first curiosity is probably about one specific location — the Overlook Hotel! Interestingly, the hotel that inspired Stephen King’s novel “The Shining” is a different location than where the movie was actually filmed. Here’s the scoop on both the hotel that inspired the book and the hotel used for filming the movie.

The Stanley Hotel

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, is the inspiration behind Stephen King’s book “The Shining” that was later adapted into the film of the same name.

How the Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King

According to Screen Rant, writer Stephen King and his wife, Tabitha King, were staying in the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. They were the only guests staying in the hotel that night, as staff were shutting things down for the winter. The eerie feel of being alone and isolated at a large, empty hotel in the middle of the Rocky Mountains gave King a spark of inspiration. And the idea behind “The Shining” was born!

Is the Stanley Hotel actually haunted?

During King’s stay, Screen Rant claims he allegedly claimed to have seen a young boy while walking to his room. An impossibility considering they were the only guests! But was this an actual ghost?

The best way to know is to check it out for yourself! The Stanley Hotel offers an hour-long “Spirited Night Tour” of the hotel. You can buy tickets for the tour. 

The Timberline Lodge

With Stephen King’s inspiration in mind, the answer to the question, “Where was “The Shining” filmed?” must be The Stanley Hotel, right? Wrong! The movie’s director, Stanley Kubrick, had a different hotel in mind to represent the Overlook.

How the Timberline Lodge inspired Stanley Kubrick

The Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood in Oregon is a stand-out choice to shoot the exteriors of the Overlook Hotel. This picturesque 55,000 square foot hotel is perched 6,000 feet above sea-level. In 1977, President Roosevelt declared it a National Historic Landmark. While it wasn’t King’s vision for the hotel, we can see what drew Kubrick to the location.

Is the Timberline Lodge actually haunted?

While there haven’t been nearly the number of ghost sightings reported at the Timberline Lodge as at the Stanley Hotel, the lodge does work to stay connected to its horror fame!

The Lodge hosted the 4-day “Overlook Film Festival” in 2017. The location of the film festival changes every year, though, so if you’d like to attend, check the Overlook Film Festival website to see where it is this year!

Interior shots of the Overlook Hotel

While the exterior shots of the Overlook are from the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, if you visit the lodge, you’ll notice the interior doesn’t match the scenes from “The Shining.” That’s because the interior shots of the Overlook were shot inside Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England. This was not Kubrick’s first film shot in Elstree Studios.

Kubrick also shot “A Clockwork Orange” here and other titles such as “Lolita” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Interestingly, George Lucas chose to shoot “Star Wars” at Elstree Studios just a year later! Unfortunately, you can’t tour the Elstree Studios to get a feel for where “The Shining” was filmed, but you can book a party there.

Where can I rent a space like the Overlook Hotel?

Unfortunately, the interior of Timberline Lodge and Stanley Hotel won’t match the vibes of the movie’s interior and the interior sets at Elstree Studios have long been removed. Luckily, on Peerspace, you can find venues near you that are perfect for “The Shining”-inspired photoshoots, movie productions, and events! Here are a few fun spots you may want to consider.

1. A spooky, abandoned space in Georgia

What would the future of the Overlook Hotel have been if this story was a reality? Maybe it would not look something like this abandoned building in Cave Springs, Georgia, with too many hauntings for anyone to dare enter. If you are looking to film a follow-up to “The Shining” and “Doctor Sleep,” this would be the perfect venue to do so!

2. An eerie dollhouse chamber in Chicago

Love the ’80s horror look of “The Shining?” Re-create it in a super chilling venue, like the pictured above in Chicago! As the host of this Peerspace venue says about their creepy photoshoot location, “The Dollhouse was designed to be as nostalgic, creepy, and cheesy as the 1980s.” The doll-filled dungeon would be particularly fun for a horrific 80s-inspired photoshoot or film!

3. A real-life Hollywood horror set

If you are looking for the best spot to shoot your own horror film, why not use a spot used by the greats? For example, you can rent out one of the spooky homes in Los Angeles featured in American Horror Story for an affordable price on Peerspace! This venue has also been featured on True Blood, Ghost Adventures, and many more productions.

Find unique film production venues on Peerspace