What Only True Horror Fans Know About The Shining's Room 237
The Shining remains one of the most notable works to exist within the horror genre. Whether it's the original Stephen King novel or Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of the book, both versions of this haunted hotel story tell a truly terrifying tale. Both the film and novel follow Wendy, Danny, and Jack, a family staying in the Overlook Hotel for the winter after Jack takes on a job that requires him to look after the hotel. After settling in, the family begins to experience horrific events that slowly chip away at their sanity until it comes to a boil in a climactic ending.
Despite how universally praised the horror film is, it does take some serious departures from the Stephen King novel. While at its core, the plot remains intact — an alcoholic father goes on a murderous rampage in a hotel once cabin fever sets in — but there are a few key moments that were changed in the film. One of these instances involves Room 237, a room in the Overlook Hotel that houses a malevolent spirit. In the novel, however, this room was Room 217, which at first might seem like a minor change. It turns out, this was intentional for a reason that many fans might not realize at first.
Why was Room 217 changed to Room 237?
In both versions of The Shining, Danny experiences a traumatizing encounter with one of the hotel's many ghosts in this specific room. Additionally, when Jack goes to check out the space, he also experiences a fright that worsens his already fragile mental state. Fans of The Shining know that the ghost that haunts this room is Lorraine Massey, a former Overlook Hotel guest who took her own life. Due to these terrifying moments involving this ghost, reps for the real-life Timberline Lodge (which was the Overlook Hotel's exterior in the film) requested that Kubrick change the room number in the film.
This information can be found on the hotel's website under the Timberline Lodge's history page. "Kubrick was asked not to depict Room 217 (featured in the book) in The Shining, because future guests at the Lodge might be afraid to stay there," the page states. "So a nonexistent room, Room 237, was substituted in the film." Funny enough, guests are actually interested in the room. "Curiously, and somewhat ironically, Room 217 is requested more often than any other room at Timberline," the page reads.
Despite Kubrick's best efforts to mask Room 217, fans of The Shining will definitely continue to connect with the horrifying story. Hopefully anyone who checks into Room 217 in the Timberline Lodge stays away from the tub.