Ghosts were People too~~

  All Work and no Play makes Johnny a dull Boy.

      The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado was the catalyst for Steven King's novel, The Shining, a cult favorite.   The "Overlook Hotel" is where the disturbing story of isolation and horror unfolds.  The legend goes that Stephen King stayed in room 217 the "haunted" room, where he penned most of the novel The Shining.

     The hotel was constructed in 1906 by F.O. Stanley, he also had tuberculosis. His doctor suggested he move out west where the air quality was better.  The hotel opened it's doors in 1909 and entertained famous guests like the Unsinkable Molly Brown(who stayed in room 217), John Phillip Sousa, President Theodore Roosevelt, the Emperor and Empress of Japan and Stephen King, who was a guest for five months. This hotel was unique in that it had running water, electricity and telephones, the only thing it lacked was heat, and that was provided by fireplaces on the first floor.

     The hotel has many permanent guests, that never want to leave like, the Stanley's themselves.  Mr. Stanley likes to frequent the lobby, Billiard Room and the bar perhaps in an attempt to still exert his ownership.  Mrs. Stanley still loves to entertain guests with her ghostly piano playing.  The most haunted area of the Stanley Hotel is the Fourth Floor, which was the old servant's quarters, and room 418 has the most paranormal activity.  The echos of children playing fill the hallways, even though there are no children.  Guests and employees report ghostly figures disappearing into closets. Chambermaids report seeing impressions left on the bed when the room had been unoccupied.

     Whether you want to enjoy the crisp mountain air or delve into ghost hunting, I am sure The Stanley Hotel Ghost Tours will get you started. On October 31st, you can attend the annual costume party--The Shining Ball or take a spooky wagon ride in the aspen and evergreen haunted woods at Aspen Hollow. Scary Wagon Rides . When your ready for a bite to eat visit Smokin' Daves BBQ and Taphouse at the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park, they have generous portions, a friendly staff , live entertainment and 15 years experience giving the public "The American Barbecue".

Potato Chip encrusted Rocky Mountain Rainbow Trout

4 trout fillets
1/2 cup crushed potato chips
1/2 flour
1 lemon
1 egg
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 oz olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
2 ounces butter
1 tablespoon fresh chopped tarragon
juice of one lemon
salt and pepper to taste.

Combine the potato chips, flour and salt and pepper. In another bowl mix the egg and buttermilk.  Rub the fillets on both sides with the lemon and dredge in potato mixture, dip into buttermilk mixture and then back again into the potato mixture.  In a saute pan, heat the olive oil to almost smoking, cook the trout on both sides until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside.  In another pan, melt the butter add honey, the juice of one lemon, fresh tarragon and season.  Pour over the trout and enjoy.

Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake.~Author Unknown