(ESTES PARK, Colo.) — Governor Polis, alongside Espes Park Mayor Gary Hall, members of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and Jason Blum, CEO of film production company Blumhouse, made the trek up to the historic Stanley Hotel to break ground for the new Stanley Event Center and Blumhouse Space.
Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office
“Colorado’s artistic culture, strong workforce, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes are skyrocketing us to the best state to work in the film industry. We are proud of our booming film industry and the incredible art it creates. That’s why the state has doubled down on our investment into this important sector. This new space will continue to drive horror film buffs from across the world to the Stanley Hotel and Estes Park, supporting our growing film workforce and economy.”
– Governor Jared Polis
Founded in 1909 by F.O. Stanley, The Stanley Hotel was the primary inspiration for The Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining. And when the time came to film Stanley Kubrick’s masterful adaptation, The Stanley Hotel also served as one of the filming locations. Even when shots were recorded elsewhere, Kubrick’s production team meticulously recreated the interiors of The Stanley in their soundstage at Elstree Studios in England.
On Sept. 25, Polis and Blum joined the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority and the Stanley Partnership for Art, Culture, and Education to announce the $60 million arts and culture destination, which will be the first phase of a three-year project to preserve and improve the Stanley Hotel’s historic campus.
“I started Blumhouse 15 years ago because I love to build. And I’ve been thinking a lot about how we will build out this Blumhouse exhibit space. Horror fans are the best fans in the world, and they deserve a world-class, must-visit destination. And horror itself deserves a rightful place at the center of culture. We plan to celebrate the art and icons of horror, including key filmmakers, stars, and the amazing cinematic villains who’ve terrified us over the years. And there’s no better place to do it than the iconic Stanley Hotel.”
– Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum
Photo courtesy of the Governor’s Office
This is far from the first time Governor Polis has pushed support for Colorado’s film industry. He and the State Legislature established the Film Incentive Tax Credit to bring more film industry business to Colorado, as well as the Tax Incentive for Film Festivals, which will support festivals like the Sundance Film Festival.
The Economic Development Commission and the OEDIT approved the Stanley Film Center as a Regional Tourism Act (RTA) project in 2015, recognizing its draw to out-of-state visitors. Through this approval, the State is putting $46 million toward the project.
