The Stanley Hotel Opens Its Real-Life Shining Maze

Well, it's not quite as frightening as the one in the movie, but it is kinda cool.

Five months after announcing a competition to find a design, The Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for the 1977 Stephen King novel and 1980 Stanley Kubrick masterpiece The Shining, has unveiled its very own own hedge maze.

It attracted 329 entries from 31 countries, with a panel choosing a design by New York resident Mairim Dallaryan Standing. It's now been planted in the grounds of the hotel, with a ceremony to mark its opening last week.

Related: This Fan Theory About Jack Torrance From The Shining Will Blow Your Mind

Related: The Ultimate Shining Quiz

Before you ask - yes, it will grow considerably taller, although it's never likely to match the terrifying version found in the film, where Jack Torrence went a little crazy (to say the least). The maze doesn't actually feature in the book, but with the hotel, located in Colorado, being the place that inspired King to write his novel - where he renamed it The Overlook Hotel, many fans have visited and been a little disappointed not to see at least some reference to it.

For those interested in the version of the maze featured in the movie, be sure to check out this account of Adam Savage's attempt to build an incredibly detailed model version of it: it really is quite something; in fact, you could say it's a-maze-ing. OK, we'll leave now.