Are you planning to travel this summer and still looking for an unusual place to stay? Consider some of one of these infamous hotel rooms:
Room 217 – The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, CO
The Stanley Hotel was built in 1909 and is elegant and historic but apparently Stephen King saw more than that when he stayed in room 217. It is said that The Stanley Hotel was his inspiration for his thriller The Shining, although none of the movie was actually filmed here. Still, legend has it that the 138-room hotel is haunted, so maybe that provided inspiration for King.
Room 538 – Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Clearwater Beach, FL
Another room that was the downfall of a leader, room 538 was the one where televangelist and head of the PTL Ministries Jim Bakker met his church secretary, Jessica Hahn, in December 1980. She claimed she was raped while he claimed it was consensual sex. Whatever it was, it ruined Bakker’s marriage to Tammy Faye, his PTL Ministries, and sent him to jail for almost five years. Bakker eventually recovered, now having a very popular ministry located in Branson, MO.
Room 607 – The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL
It was in room 607 that larger-than-life actress and former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith would collapse on February 8, 2007, eventually being pronounced dead upon arrival at the Memorial Regional Hospital. Anna Nicole had lost her 20-year-old son Daniel only five months before, three days after the birth of her daughter Dannielynn.
Bungalow 3 – Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles, CA
Chateau Marmont has always been the hangout of the cool, yet troubled – Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, actress Judy Garland, author Hunter S. Thompson, and James Dean all like to frequent the Marmont. On March 15, 1982, another troubled soul was there – comedian John Belushi. The Saturday Night Live star was injected with a heroin and cocaine speedball and overdosed, dying at the age of 33. You can still stay in Bungalow 3 – provided you can pay the $1,700 a night rate.
More infamous hotel rooms to come!