The Stanley Hotel, built by F.O. (Freelan Oscar) Stanley of Stanley Steamer automobile fame, opened June 22, 1909. The Stanley Hotel story is the story of Estes Park, Colorado's oldest tourist town. Estes Park was a tourist destination as early as 1874, long before Rocky Mountain National Park opened in its backyard in 1915. There was no gold or silver here, and most ranchers soon gave up on...