What Ski Resort Was the Shining Filmed At?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a fan of Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic ‘The Shining’, you might have found yourself wondering where the eerie Overlook Hotel is located. The answer might surprise you: it doesn’t exist.

The interiors of the hotel were filmed on a set in England, but the exterior shots were taken at a real-life ski resort in Colorado. So, what ski resort was ‘The Shining’ filmed at? Let’s find out.

The Stanley Hotel

Contrary to popular belief, ‘The Shining’ was not actually filmed at the Stanley Hotel, which is located in Estes Park, Colorado. However, the hotel did inspire Stephen King to write the novel on which the movie is based. King and his wife stayed at the Stanley Hotel in 1974, and he became so intrigued by its eerie atmosphere that he began writing ‘The Shining’ shortly after.

The Timberline Lodge

While the interiors of the Overlook Hotel were filmed on a set in England, Kubrick chose the Timberline Lodge in Oregon as an exterior location for some shots. However, this wasn’t enough to create the full exterior experience of the Overlook Hotel that Kubrick had envisioned.

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Kubrick also considered filming exteriors at The Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, but ultimately decided against it due to lack of snow during filming.

The Overlook Hotel

Finally, Kubrick settled on filming exterior shots of ‘The Shining’ at The Timberline Lodge and Mount Hood Ski Bowl in Oregon as well as several locations near Glacier National Park and St. Mary Lake in Montana. These shots were then seamlessly edited together to create the illusion of one grand hotel: The Overlook.

Conclusion

So there you have it – ‘The Shining’ was not filmed at a single ski resort, but rather a combination of different locations. The Timberline Lodge in Oregon and Mount Hood Ski Bowl provided the exterior shots, while Glacier National Park and St. Mary Lake in Montana were used to create the iconic opening sequence of the movie. While ‘The Shining’ may not have a real-life location for fans to visit, its haunting imagery has left a lasting impact on audiences for decades to come.