Kutak Rock is pleased to announce its role as bond counsel and disclosure counsel in the nearly $400 million financing supporting the acquisition and redevelopment of the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. The firm represented both the issuer, the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA), and the borrower, the Stanley Partnership for Art Culture and Education, LLC (SPACE), a wholly owned subsidiary and instrumentality of CECFA.

This project includes the acquisition of the Stanley Hotel—famous for its mountain views, historic charm, and status as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining—as well as major expansion and cultural enhancements to the property.

The financing will support a new 65-room expansion connecting the Stanley’s two historic lodging buildings and the development of a 65,000-square-foot event center. A key highlight of the expansion is a first-of-its-kind horror film museum, which will be curated by Blumhouse Productions, the studio behind films such as Get Out, The Purge, and Paranormal Activity. The museum is expected to become a destination for horror film enthusiasts, bringing increased tourism and cultural attention to the region.

In addition, the Stanley served as the site of the Sundance Institute’s 2025 Directors Lab, further cementing its role as a hub for the arts, film, and education.

Kutak Rock was instrumental in helping bring this complex and visionary public-private partnership to life. The firm worked closely with multiple stakeholders, including CECFA, SPACE, private investors, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and the Colorado Economic Development Commission (EDC), to help navigate the financial aspects of the deal.

The Kutak Rock team included Scott Beck, Tom Lauth, Erich Kennedy, Matthias Edrich, and Anna Wilbourn.