Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 horror masterpiece, The Shining, continues to captivate audiences with its chilling atmosphere and psychological depth. A key element contributing to the film’s unsettling nature is its masterful use of locations. While the story is set in the Colorado Rockies, the reality of where The Shining was filmed is far more geographically diverse, adding to the movie’s dreamlike and disorienting quality. This article delves into the real places that brought the Overlook Hotel and its terrifying world to life, revealing the fascinating story behind the film’s iconic settings.
Timberline Lodge, Oregon: The Overlook Hotel Exterior
For the unforgettable exterior shots of the Overlook Hotel, Stanley Kubrick chose the Timberline Lodge, nestled on the slopes of Mount Hood in Oregon. This location, far from the Colorado setting of the film, served as the imposing facade of the haunted hotel. Interestingly, the Timberline Lodge doesn’t architecturally resemble the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, which was Stephen King’s original inspiration for the Overlook in his novel.
Despite this difference, the Timberline Lodge’s rustic charm, its history involving the U.S. government, and even subtle Native American design influences, aligned perfectly with Kubrick’s thematic vision for The Shining. The lodge, designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood – also the architect behind the Ahwahnee Hotel (which inspired the Overlook’s interiors) – presented an intriguing contrast. Constructed in the late 1930s, it differed from the Overlook’s fictional timeline of 1907-1909, adding another layer of subtle disorientation.
Eagle-eyed viewers might notice that the establishing shots cleverly avoid showing the area directly behind the Timberline Lodge. This is because the vast hedge maze, a critical location in the film, couldn’t physically fit within the Timberline’s actual grounds. This deliberate inconsistency, much like the intentionally illogical interior layout of the Overlook, contributes to the film’s pervasive sense of unease and spatial distortion.
Elstree Studios, England: Crafting the Overlook Interiors
A wide hallway inside the Overlook Hotel set at Elstree Studios, showcasing the meticulous detail and unsettling atmosphere.
The majority of The Shining, particularly the intricate and claustrophobic interiors of the Overlook Hotel, were meticulously constructed and filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England. Stanley Kubrick, who had resided in England for a significant portion of his life, chose to film all his later movies there, regardless of their geographic setting. This decision afforded Kubrick complete control over the set design and filming process.
Filming the interiors at Elstree allowed Kubrick to fully realize his vision of a spatially confusing and psychologically oppressive Overlook Hotel. The set’s layout deliberately defies logic and architectural norms, enhancing the audience’s disorientation and mirroring Jack Torrance’s descent into madness. Iconic and practically challenging scenes, such as the elevator doors flooding with blood, were made possible within the controlled environment of a studio set, something that would have been impossible to achieve in a real hotel.
While the design of the Overlook interiors was inspired by the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, no actual filming took place at the Ahwahnee. An interesting detail arising from the location choice is the change of the infamous room number. In Stephen King’s book, the haunted room is 217. However, in Kubrick’s film, it became Room 237. One reason for this alteration is that the Timberline Lodge, used for exterior shots, does not have a Room 237. Legend says the Timberline management was concerned guests would avoid Room 217 if it was featured in the film. Ironically, Room 217 at the Timberline Lodge is now one of their most requested rooms, due to its cinematic notoriety.
Glacier National Park, Montana: The Opening Drive
The breathtaking opening sequence of The Shining, where we follow Jack Torrance driving to the Overlook Hotel, was filmed in Glacier National Park in Montana. Since the Timberline Lodge isn’t situated in the dramatic, mountainous landscape depicted in the film’s opening, Kubrick’s second unit crew ventured to Montana to capture the necessary aerial shots.
The winding roads showcased are part of the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. This location, geographically distinct from both Oregon and Colorado, further emphasizes the film’s intentional displacement of reality. Intriguingly, some of the footage captured during this aerial filming in Glacier National Park was later reused in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, adding another layer of cinematic history to these locations. The choice of Glacier National Park also subtly resonates with the themes of isolation and the vast, indifferent power of nature, which are central to The Shining. Furthermore, the area’s connection to Native American culture adds another layer of thematic depth, aligning with the Overlook Hotel’s dark history and implied spiritual disturbances.
London Stansted Airport: Halloran’s Airport Scene
In a brief but crucial scene, Dick Halloran, the Overlook Hotel’s chef, receives Danny Torrance’s psychic distress call at an airport. Surprisingly, this scene was not filmed at Elstree Studios but at London Stansted Airport. Kubrick’s legendary attention to detail is evident even in this short sequence. To maintain authenticity, American payphones were shipped to England and temporarily installed at Stansted Airport for filming. The somewhat cropped framing of the payphones in the shot might be attributed to their temporary and perhaps less-than-perfect placement within the active airport terminal.
Elstree Studios Backlot & Radlett Aerodrome: Other Exteriors & Maze
Beyond the Overlook Hotel interiors, Elstree Studios and the nearby Radlett Aerodrome served as locations for various other exterior scenes. The back exterior of the Overlook Hotel, seen when the Torrances arrive and when Wendy and Danny explore the maze, was partially constructed on the Elstree Studios backlot. Segments of the hedge maze itself were also built and filmed at the studio and at Radlett Aerodrome.
Radlett Aerodrome is also reported to be the location for the road scene where Dick Halloran encounters traffic due to a truck accident. While some reports suggest this scene was also filmed at Elstree, Radlett Aerodrome was definitely used for the summer maze sequences. Keen observers will notice that the back of the Overlook is often filmed from a limited number of angles. This is because only a portion of the hotel’s rear facade and maze were actually constructed, requiring careful camera placement to create the illusion of a complete and expansive exterior.
Boulder, Colorado: Torrance Apartment Exterior
Remarkably, The Shining features only one exterior shot that was actually filmed in Colorado, the state where the story is set. Before Jack takes the job at the Overlook, the Torrance family resides in an apartment in Boulder, Colorado. While the interior scenes of their apartment were built at Elstree Studios, the establishing shot of the apartment building’s exterior is genuinely from Boulder, Colorado. This single, geographically accurate shot stands in stark contrast to the rest of the film’s deliberately displaced locations.
The Myth of American Legion Post 43: The Gold Room Bar
A persistent myth surrounds the filming of the Gold Room bar scene in The Shining. It’s been rumored that pickup shots for this iconic location were filmed at the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood. Even the American Legion Post 43’s website and some media outlets have perpetuated this claim. However, numerous individuals involved in the film’s production, including dedicated Shining enthusiasts like Lee Unkrich, have refuted this rumor.
It’s highly likely that no part of The Shining was filmed in Hollywood, let alone at the American Legion Post 43. The resemblance between the Post 43’s interior and the Gold Room bar might be coincidental, or perhaps one was designed to resemble the other. Regardless, the enduring confusion surrounding this supposed filming location perfectly mirrors the enigmatic and often contradictory nature of The Shining itself.
Visiting The Shining Locations Today
Despite being filmed nearly five decades ago, many of The Shining‘s filming locations are still accessible and popular tourist destinations. For fans, a visit to the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, is a pilgrimage. While not used in Kubrick’s film, it was Stephen King’s inspiration for the Overlook Hotel and fully embraces its Shining legacy. “The Shining Tour” at the Stanley Hotel is a major attraction, offering fans a chance to immerse themselves in the atmosphere that sparked the story.
The Timberline Lodge in Oregon, the Overlook Hotel’s exterior in the film, is also open to the public. While it doesn’t offer Shining-themed tours like the Stanley Hotel, its recognizable facade and stunning natural setting are a draw for fans. Unfortunately, Elstree Studios in the UK does not offer public tours, and the sets from The Shining are long gone. For fans seeking a tangible connection to The Shining, the Stanley Hotel tour remains the most immersive and readily available option.
The diverse and sometimes geographically misleading locations used in The Shining are not just production trivia; they are integral to the film’s unsettling and dreamlike power. By blending real and fabricated places, Kubrick crafted a cinematic space as psychologically complex and labyrinthine as the Overlook Hotel itself, ensuring The Shining‘s enduring impact on audiences.
