Oct. 28, 2002 - The Stanley had a stand-in. 

Stephen King conceived his horror classic "The Shining" while staying at the rambling Stanley Hotel just outside Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park, Colo. 

But when it came time to shoot the 1980 movie version of the novel, director Stanley Kubrick opted to use the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood in Oregon as the exterior of King's mythical inn, the Overlook Hotel. 

According to Timberline Lodge's official history, Kubrick was inspired by a hauntingly beautiful moonlit picture of the lodge by photographer Ray Atkeson. The snow-enveloped hotel was used for outside shots, and a chase using a "snow cat" tracked vehicle took place on West Leg Road leading to the lodge. 

Fans of "The Shining" won't find much to remind them of the movie once they step inside the Timberline Lodge. The movie's interiors were shot on soundstages in England. So was the final murderous chase sequence in the hedge maze. An exterior mock-up of the maze was created at Timberline Lodge, but removed after filming was completed. 

In King's novel, the hotel is closed for the winter, allowing for supernatural madness to wreak havoc on the caretaker family. 

It's a bit too crowded and joy-filled for ghosts at the Timberline Lodge in the winter. The hotel is open year-round and sits within easy driving distance of three ski areas. Snowplows keep the roads open for the crowds of holiday merrymakers, who enjoy the roaring fires and special seasonal meals served at Christmas and New Year's. 

The hotel sits regally alone atop a small hill about 6,000 feet up on the side of Mount Hood. From the lodge's windows, visitors can see a panorama that takes in Mount Washington, Three Finger Jack and other nearby mountains. 

Just 15 months elapsed between groundbreaking for the Timberline Lodge and its opening in September 1937 in a gala ceremony featuring President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

Thousands of workers employed by the federal Works Progress Administration used local timber and stone to fashion an art deco-inspired lodge whose gray exterior meshes with the volcanic stone of the mountain. 

Floors are fashioned from white oak, while fir was used for the walls and stairs. Craftsmen accented the inn with hemlock, cedar and juniper to give the interior its contrasting look and feel. 

The hotel is a masterpiece of art deco-era craftsmanship, with all the woodwork, ironwork, fixtures and fabrics made by hand. 

A massive fireplace sits at each end of the main lodge building, dubbed "the head house." The lodge is topped with a steep copper roof crowned by a 750-pound bronze weathervane. 

The massive yet cozy feel continues inside. Hand-carved ram heads flank the surprisingly small main entrance, and a thunderbird inspired by American Indian art is etched over the 1,800-pound ponderosa pine door. Look for them on the supports of the hotel's huge buffet table. 

The center of the lodge is a fireplace rising nearly 100 feet to the roof. The chimney is shared by six fireplaces -- three on the lobby level and three more on what is called the first floor. 

Complementing the stone and woodwork is beautifully handcrafted wrought iron, made by a master craftsman who works full-time for the hotel. Look for the coyote design on the grill covering the entrance to the Cascade Dining Room, along with chandeliers and other items that feature rabbits, beavers and woodchucks. 

More than 1,000 yards of fabric went into the signature wall hangings, upholstery and other furnishings that give Timberline its bright but relaxing palette. Many of the originals deteriorated over the years and were replaced by lovingly re-created textiles that echo the woodland and wildlife motif of the 1930s designs. 

Artworks celebrate the laborers who built the lodge or are a salute to the seasons, such as the "Calendar of Winter Sports" mural in the Barlow Room. A favorite is the Paul Bunyan mosaic in the Blue Ox Bar. 

Mount Hood offers three ski areas: Mount Hood Ski Bowl, Mount Hood Meadows and Timberline Ski Area. Mount Hood Ski Bowl's colorfully named runs include Cutoff, Outback and Fistful of Willows. Mount Hood Meadows is home to Shooting Star, Half Moon Bowl and Heather Canyon. Timberline Ski Area, at 8,500 feet, offers year-round snow. It's two-thirds of the way up the 11,239-foot dormant volcano. 

One thing the Timberline Lodge doesn't have: There's no room 237, the number of the haunted room in the movie version of the "The Shining" (it was Room 217 in the book). CHECKLIST 

GETTING THERE: Portland International Airport is the nearest gateway to Mount Hood. From there, it's about an hour's drive to the ski areas, off Highway 26 and Highway 35. 

HANG YOUR HAT: Timberline Lodge's 60 rooms sell out well in advance, so call early. Room rates range from $80 to $230, depending on room size. Check for last-minute cancellations. Call (800) 547-1406 or see www.timberlinelodge.com. 

If you can't get into Timberline, there are lodgings in the nearby communities of Welches, Government Camp and Hood River. 

GETTING IN: Visitors are required to get an Oregon Sno-park Permit, which must be displayed on the vehicle windshield Nov. 15-April 30. The fees pay for plowing of roads and parking lots. 

The permits are sold in surrounding cities or at the visitors center. If you are a guest at Timberline Lodge, the staff will make arrangements to get the permits for you. 

JUST ASK THEM: For more information, contact the Mount Hood Visitors Center; 65000 E. Highway 26; Welches, OR 97067; (503) 622-7674. 

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(c) 2002, The Orange County Register, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.