What’s scarier than ‘The Shining’ hotel in Colorado? ‘The Shining’ hotel with a horror museum

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colo., where Stephen King was inspired to create his 1977 bestseller “The Shining,� wants to go one step closer to the dark side.

Last week, the landmark hotel near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park released plans to create a building that would house a horror-themed museum, film production studio and film archive.

Plans for the Stanley Film Center call for an auditorium, museum, traveling film exhibits such as “The Walking Dead� based on the film work of Charlie Adlard, a sound stage and post-production and editing space. It would operate as a nonprofit public-private partnership, a statement says, and partner with the Colorado Film School in Denver on educational projects.

Actor Elijah Wood of the “Lord of the Rings� movies and British actor Simon Pegg are among those on the museum’s founding board, the statement says.

But first the state has to say yes.

The Stanley is seeking $11.5 million in Colorado tourism funds to shore up the $24 million it would cost to complete the idea of housing a “year-round horror destination.�

The hotel is best known as the model for the Overlook Hotel in King’s horror novel -- a link it likes to showcase to visitors. It offers ghostly tours and hosts a horror film festival every year.

The 140-room hotel built in the Colonial Revival style opened in 1909. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

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