10 Chilling Facts About Stephen King's The Shining You Might Not Know

Stephen King’s, The Shining, is a masterpiece of horror fiction, telling the chilling story of the Torrance family and their haunting experiences at the Overlook Hotel. However, many fans may be surprised to learn that there are many facets to the novel and its creation that often go overlooked. Here are ten chilling facts about The Shining that you might not know.

1. Stephen King’s personal experiences inspired the story

King and his wife visited the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, for a one-night stay. They happened to be the only guests in the hotel, as it was closing for the winter season. This eerie solitude and the hotel’s long, empty halls inspired King to write The Shining.

2. Room 217 wasn’t chosen at random

In the novel, Room 217 is where many horrific events occur. The real-life inspiration for this room was King’s own stay at the Stanley Hotel, where he and his wife were given the room 217. After a nightmare involving his young son being attacked by the hotel’s possessed fire hoses, King awoke with the seeds for The Shining firmly planted in his mind.

3. The Overlook Hotel is based on several real-life locations

Although The Shining’s Overlook Hotel is largely inspired by the Stanley Hotel, King also incorporated aspects from other famous haunted hotels, such as the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park and Flagstaff’s Hotel Monte Vista.

4. King wrote the novel in a matter of months

King has said that it took him about four months to write The Shining. This is an impressive feat for any author, let alone one writing about such complex and terrifying subject matter.

5. The Shining was not initially well-received by critics

Despite its current status as a horror classic, The Shining was initially met with mixed reviews. Critics found it too long, drawn-out, and full of clichés. However, the public’s opinion of the novel steadily improved over time, and it’s now considered one of King’s best works.

6. Stanley Kubrick’s film adaptation angered King

Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining is often hailed as a cinematic masterpiece. However, King himself was deeply disappointed by the film, stating that it missed the point of his novel entirely. The two creators even argued over the casting of Jack Nicholson, as King felt that Nicholson was too unhinged from the beginning, leaving no room for a gradual descent into madness.

7. The Shining has a sequel

In case you didn’t know, King wrote a sequel to The Shining, titled Doctor Sleep. Published in 2013, the novel follows the now-adult Danny Torrance as he battles his inner demons and faces a new supernatural threat.

8. A family of hedge animals had a planned appearance in the movie

In the novel, the Overlook Hotel’s menacing hedge animals come to life and stalk Jack Torrance. Kubrick initially wanted to include this creepy detail in his adaptation but eventually removed it due to logistical difficulties.

9. The Shining was almost titled “The Shine”

Before settling on “The Shining,” King considered naming his novel “The Shine.” However, after discussing it with his wife, Tabitha King, they felt that “The Shining” had a better, more mysterious ring to it.

10. The famous carpet pattern from the film is not in the book

One of the most memorable visuals from Kubrick’s film is the bold, geometric carpet pattern featured throughout the Overlook Hotel. Surprisingly, this design element never appears in the novel and was entirely a creation of the film.

Now that you know these chilling facts about Stephen King’s The Shining, you might want to read or listen to the book again with a fresh perspective. Get your copy by visiting https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Shining+Stephen+King.