Three things are very great and very true. One: You can visit The Stanley Hotel, the very establishment that notoriously inspired Stephen King to write The Shining after a stay in room 217. Two: The Stanley Hotel will soon be home to The Stanley Film Center — a multi-genre film and music venue with the horror film genre as the theme of the museum. Three: The very axe Jack Nicholson wielded in Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation of The Shining (light of my life!) will be on display in the hotel. And to add to all that good news, here’s a bonus bit: that axe was reportedly sold at auction for $175,000 and anonymously given to The Center. What a gift to kick off what is planned to be a world-class collection of horror film items to be housed in the Film Center’s planned museum space.
“I can’t think of anything more appropriate than this piece of film history to start the museum’s collection,” said incoming Stanley Film Center CEO Rand Harrington. “The Center and its museum are going to be a must-go destination for film lovers from around Colorado, the country and world.” Construction for The Stanley Film Center is currently underway, with plans to open in Spring of 2024. The axe will be incorporated into tours at the Stanley Hotel until the film center officially opens.
“This is the first of many exciting announcements we expect to make over the next two years,” said Harrington. “We look forward to sharing more about the center, its mission, its construction milestones, and its opening events, so definitely stay tuned.” Oh, we will! Fango Field Trip, anyone?
