winchester house san jose tours

GUIDED MANSION TOUR

A Guided tour through 110 of the 160 rooms.  Guests will be able to see the infamous rooms of Sarah’s stately mansion, known around the world as the Winchester Mystery House®, and see the bizarre attributes that give the mysterious mansion its name.

With the purchase of the Mansion Tour, access to the gardens is complimentary and an individual ticket for that is not required.

Tour Duration: 65 Minutes

Price:  Starting at $39.99 adults, $32.99 seniors, $17.99 children 5-12.

mansion Tour FAQs

The daily Mansion Tour at the Winchester Mystery House guides you through 110 of the 160 rooms in the home. During this tour you will learn about the amazing woman at the heart of this home and see all the unique architectural designs and features it holds. Come delve into the mystery and find out why this home is so captivating!

All that talk of paranormal sometimes worries parents that the tour will be to scary for children. Not to worry – all ages are welcome and the tour is very family friendly! Children five and under are free and ages 6-12 will need a ticket. 

That’s just part of the mystery, right? Since 1923, many guests and employees have experienced strange phenomena while inside Sarah Winchester’s beautiful mansion. We have been listed on plenty of “world’s most haunted places” lists, but we encourage you to come and find out for yourself.

Please visit https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/discounts-promotions/ for our current discount and promotions.

The duration of the Mansion Tour typically lasts approximately 65 minutes.

Photography is permitted during the Mansion Tour, but flash photography and videography is not. Please respect any guidelines provided by our tour guides.

Tickets for the Mansion Tour can be booked online through our website at winchestermysteryhouse.com or purchased at the Winchester Mystery House ticket office. We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot as availability may be limited.

Unfortunately, due to the historic nature of the Winchester Mystery House, not all areas may be wheelchair accessible. Please contact us in advance to discuss any accessibility requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We have ADA Video Tours available onsite if needed.

Cancellations and rescheduling are subject to our tour booking policies. Please refer to your booking confirmation or contact our customer service team for assistance with any changes to your reservation.

Explore more TOUR

Experience the ultimate exploration of Winchester Mystery House with our Explore More Tour — a unique  opportunity to see even more rooms in this historic mansion. Prepare to uncover hidden secrets and unlock doors to the oldest sections of the home.

Building upon the foundations of our classic mansion tour, Explore More promises to reveal new dimensions of the mansion’s history, architecture, and intrigue!

The explorations begins May 25, 2024. Tickets on sale now!

Tour Duration: 60 minutes

Price:  Starting at $39.99 adults, $32.99 seniors, $17.99 children 5-12.

Explore more Tour FAQs

Building upon the foundations of our classic mansion tour, Explore More promises to reveal new dimensions of the mansion’s history, architecture, and intrigue. As we delve into the decades-long construction saga spanning 36 years, guests will witness the evolution of Winchester Mystery House from its humble beginnings to its current iconic status. From Sarah Winchester’s initial visit to San Jose to the present day, every step of the journey unveils a new chapter in the mansion’s rich tapestry of history. With additional unique architectural elements and captivating stories to share, Explore More promises a deeper look into our story like never before.

We offer the Mansion Tour for guests to learn about the amazing woman at the heart of this home, and to see all the bizarre architectural designs and mysterious elements of the Winchester Mystery House. But there is only so much we can show you and tell you about in one hour. The Explore More Tour expands on more of the history and architecture of the mansion, taking you through the rooms you do not see on the Mansion Tour.

All that talk of paranormal sometimes worries parents that the tour will be to scary for children. Not to worry – the tour is very family friendly!

However, due to the exposed areas of the basement and the third floor, which require safety helmets, children under 5 are not permitted. It is recommended that children must be 5 and up and be able to walk unassisted. We do ask that any minor be accompanied with an adult at any time. 

During the Explore More Tour, you’ll have the opportunity to explore  rooms not included on the regular Mansion Tour, some of which include the Basement, Witches Cap, North Wing, South Turret, Crystal Bedroom, Staff Quarters and more. Plus, guests will have the opportunity to step into additional rooms never before accessible to the public.

The duration of the Explore More Tour typically lasts approximately 60 minutes.

Photography is permitted during the Explore More Tour, but flash photography and videography is not. Please respect any guidelines provided by our tour guides.

Tickets for the Explore More Tour can be booked online through our website at winchestermysteryhouse.com or purchased at the Winchester Mystery House ticket office. We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot as availability may be limited.

Unfortunately, due to the historic nature of the Winchester Mystery House, not all areas may be wheelchair accessible. Please contact us in advance to discuss any accessibility requirements, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

The Explore More Tour is a separate, premium experience and is not included in the regular Mansion Tour admission ticket. We do recommend purchasing the bundle experience of our Mansion Tour and Explore More Tour to have the ultimate Winchester Mystery House exploration during your visit.

FRIDAY THE 13TH FLASHLIGHT TOURS

Starting Friday the 13th we will be hosting Flashlight Tours every Friday evening till February 24th. These self-guided tours give guests the opportunity to roam through the halls of the purportedly haunted Victorian mansion while hearing tales of its former and (possibly current!) inhabitants. Guests will guide themselves through the mansion that is famous for its dizzying floorplan and lack of formal blueprints. Tour Hosts will be stationed throughout the house to ensure guests don’t get lost.  Advanced tickets are required.

holiday tours

Built during the Victorian era, Sarah Winchester’s eccentric house is a sight to behold any time of year, but it’s especially inspiring during the holidays. From  November 25, 2022 through January 1, 2023 , Winchester Mystery House will present daily mansion tours developed specifically for the holiday season. Guests will be treated to a sprinkling of Victorian holiday traditions, beautiful décor, festive music, and more.

Due to the historic nature of the Winchester Estate, the Mansion Tour is not wheelchair accessible.  An ADA Tour is available for guests with mobility issues.  The ADA tour includes a video tour and the self-guided Sarah Winchester Garden Tour.

Price: $19.99 Adults (13 and up)

IMMERSIVE 360° TOUR

The Winchester Mystery House is offering guests unprecedented access to the most beautiful and bizarre Victorian Mansion. Enjoy unlimited virtual access in 360° and go behind-the-ropes.

Price:  $8.99

SARAH’S GARDEN TOUR

Looking to enjoy the sunshine and stay outdoors? Book the Sarah Winchester Garden Tour.  This tour does not include access to the mansion.

Price:  $19.99 adults, $15.99 seniors, $9.99 children 5-12.

Winchester Mystery House

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Winchester Mystery House - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is the beautiful but bizarre mansion built by Sarah Pardee Winchester, heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Construction began in 1884, and didn’t stop for 38 years until her death in 1922. Tormented by the guilt of victims lost to the Winchester Rifle, Mrs. Winchester built the dizzying Victorian-style structure with many odd and mysterious features. Doors that open to walls, stairways that lead to the ceiling, and many more oddities in the massive 160-room mansion. Was she simply interested in architecture, or haunted by spirits?

Open to the public since 1923, the Winchester Mystery House offers daily guided tours of the estate where guests will have the opportunity to explore the mystery and unlock the secrets to the world-famous home. Also on the estate, Axe Throwing, Annual Public Events, and the seasonal Halloween experience, Unhinged.

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Virtual Travel

A Smithsonian magazine special report

Take a Free Virtual Tour of the Winchester Mystery House

The California landmark is closed, but you can explore its bizarre architectural features from afar

Brigit Katz

Correspondent

The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, is one of the nation’s most curious landmarks. Built by a millionaire widow over the course of 36 years, the sprawling mansion features more than 200 rooms , 10,000 windows, trap doors, spy holes and a host of other architectural oddities.

A popular tourist attraction, the house, along with many other cultural institutions in the United States, has closed to help curb the spread of coronavirus. But as Michele Debczak reports for Mental Floss , you can now explore the Winchester House from afar via a detailed video tour posted on the mansion’s website.

The narrated video tour spans more than 40 minutes, providing insight into the property and the mysterious woman who built it: Sarah Winchester , wealthy and reclusive heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, which manufactured an innovative rifle that became a fixture of Westward expansion.

Sarah Lockwood Pardee married into the Winchester family in 1862. Four years later, she gave birth to a daughter, Annie, who died about a month later. Her husband, William Wirt Winchester, died in 1881, leaving his widow with a vast fortune: 50 percent ownership in the Repeating Arms Company and a $20 million inheritance.

Winchester decided to leave her home in New Haven, Connecticut, and head to California, where two of her sisters lived. In San Jose, she purchased an eight-room farmhouse that she began to renovate in 1886. The construction project continued until Winchester’s death in 1922, producing an enormous, labyrinthine mansion filled with logic-defying features: staircases that end at the ceiling, indoor balconies, skylights built into floors, doors that open onto walls. The designs, wrote Pamela Haag for Zócalo Public Square in 2016, were Winchester’s; she sketched them onto napkins or pieces of brown paper, then handed them over to a team of carpenters. Sometimes, she would have features built and plastered over the next day.

Exactly why Winchester embarked on this dizzying cycle of building, undoing and rebuilding is impossible to say. Popular lore has it that she was a keen follower of the Spiritualist movement , which was rooted in the idea that dead souls can interact with the living, and consulted a medium who told her she had been cursed by victims of Winchester rifles . The medium reportedly instructed her to constantly build a house for these ghosts. If construction ever stopped, she would die.

But as Katie Dowd of SFGate points out, there is “scant proof” for this theory. Winchester could have been engaging in an eccentric brand of philanthropy, as she built her home during an economic depression, and the continuous construction project provided jobs for locals. When she died, in fact, the heiress left most of her money to charity.

“She had a social conscience and she did try to give back,” historian Janan Boehme told Robin Abcarian of the Los Angeles Times in 2017. “This house, in itself, was her biggest social work of all.”

The true nature of Winchester’s motivations is likely to remain a mystery. But as the video tour points out, the house she built was not only bizarre—it was innovative. Take, for example, the north conservatory. Winchester loved to garden, so the conservatory featured an indoor watering system and wooden floorboards that could be lifted up to water plants resting below.

Though visitors can watch the video tour for free, the Winchester Mystery House is asking visitors to consider purchasing a voucher for use at a later date.

“Like many other [Bay Area] businesses, closing our doors until April 7th will severely impact the employees who maintain the estate,” the website explains . “Come when you are ready, but please come!”

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Brigit Katz | | READ MORE

Brigit Katz is a freelance writer based in Toronto. Her work has appeared in a number of publications, including NYmag.com, Flavorwire and Tina Brown Media's Women in the World.

©Sanseven/Shutterstock

Winchester Mystery House

This ridiculous yet fascinating Victorian mansion is filled with 160 mostly non-utilitarian rooms with dead-end hallways and a staircase that runs up to a ceiling. The standard hour-long guided mansion tour includes a romp through the gardens plus entry to an exhibition of guns and rifles.

Sarah Winchester – heir to the Winchester-rifle fortune – spent 38 years constructing this mammoth white elephant. No expense was spared in the construction, the extreme results of which sprawl over 4 acres. Apparently, it was commissioned because she claimed the spirits of the people killed by Winchester rifles told her to.

The house is west of central San Jose and just north of I-280, incongruously across the street from the upscale Santana Row .

525 S Winchester Blvd

Get In Touch

408-247-2101

https://​www​.winchestermysteryhouse​.com​​/

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Winchester Mystery House: Mansion Tour

Getting there.

Winchester Mystery House.

525 South Winchester Boulevard, San Jose, 95128-2537

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Winchester Mystery House Opening September 12th

• September 9, 2020 September 9, 2020 By Jacob Gospodnetich
• Winchester News

WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE REOPENS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th WITH SELF-GUIDED MANSION TOURS

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

SAN JOSE, CA (September 9, 2020)—The Winchester Mystery House announced today that on Saturday, September 12th, visitors will once again be able to explore the 160-room mansion on a new Self-Guided Mansion Tour. The touchless, self-guided experience allows guests to independently navigate the world’s most bizarre home and expansive estate. Tickets will be available today at winchestermysteryhouse.com/buy-tickets and also include access to the estate gardens.

Said Walter Magnuson, Winchester Mystery House General Manager: “We are so pleased to be able to once again reopen our doors – all 2,000 of them! We have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to share this iconic attraction with the public, and the Self-Guided Mansion Tour will allow our visitors to explore the various rooms like never before. This experience leverages the house’s unique design elements and provides guests with ample time and space to engage with the estate’s history while remaining compliant with social distancing guidelines.”

Winchester Mystery House management and staff have worked extensively to prepare for reopening. The new self-guided tour has been designed to prioritize the safety of guests and staff and is compliant with all current county and state guidelines.

Tour Hosts will be positioned throughout the estate to assist guests as-needed, but the experience will be entirely self-guided with educational and engaging audio and signage. To ensure social distancing protocols can be followed, tour groups are restricted to members of the same household, tour capacity has been reduced to meet the state guidelines for indoor museums, and the tour route has been modified to focus on the largest rooms of the estate. Additional safety measures include mandatory masks for all guests and employees, timed ticketing, a one-way linear tour path, and sanitization stations throughout the estate. For a complete list of health and safety guidelines, visit winchestermysteryhouse.com/health-safety- guidelines

About Winchester Mystery House For nearly 100 years the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, has stood as a testament to the ingenuity, singular vision and lore that surrounds its namesake, Sarah Pardee Winchester (heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune). Originally known as Llanada Villa, today it stands as an architectural wonder, a time capsule of a bygone era and one of America’s most celebrated haunted mansions. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a California Historic State Landmark, a San Jose City Landmark, and is one of the leading attractions in the Bay Area. Since tours began in 1923, more than 13 million people from around the world have toured the ornate rooms of the Winchester Mystery House. It has intrigued visitors, scholars, and media from throughout the United States, and around the globe, with its combination of the beautiful and the bizarre, its story of heartbreak, tenacity and invention and its legends of the paranormal. For tickets and additional information, visit www.winchestermysteryhouse.com.

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The Winchester Mystery House: California’s Original Haunted Mansion?

A creepy house, stairways to nowhere, fake doors, séance rooms, and tales of mysterious spirits; you may be thinking that this sounds like a visit to the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland, but California has its own original haunted mansion in San Jose; the Winchester Mystery House. 

I have known about this famous mansion since I was a child.  Many years ago, a publishing company put out a series of books that featured cut-out paper models of various haunted, mysterious houses.  I took the time to meticulously put together a model of the Winchester Mystery House.  I even remember that one of the windows had Sarah Winchester peering out from behind a curtain.  I often wondered what it would be like to visit the real home.  Almost fifty years later, I had the opportunity to do that with my daughter.

The United States has many unique roadside attractions throughout the country that focus on the strange and unusual.  Mysterious houses designed and constructed by eccentric owners are featured in almost every state.  Each of these homes is a mixture of history, folklore, and P.T. Barnum.  There is the Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts, Craig-E-Clair Castle in New York, the Asa Packer Mansion in Pennsylvania, the House on the Rock in Wisconsin, Coral Castle in Florida, and the actual home of P.T. Barnum in Connecticut. 

But, at the top of any list of creepy homes in the United States is always the Winchester Mystery House.  I genuinely enjoy visiting and seeing places that have become a part of American folklore.  I often find that they have an interesting back story and often reveal a great deal of cultural history.

The story of the Winchester House usually focuses on the eccentricities of its builder, Sarah Winchester.   Sarah Lockwood Pardee became Sarah Lockwood Winchester in 1862 when she married William Wirt Winchester, the treasurer of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and the only son of its founder Oliver Winchester. 

In 1866, Sarah and William had one daughter, Annie Pardee Winchester, but she died only one month after her birth.  William Wirt Winchester died at the age of 44 of tuberculosis soon after the death of his father and mother.  Sarah’s inheritance was said to be more than 20 million dollars and included a 50 percent stake in the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.  In 1881, Sarah was one of the wealthiest women in the world.

A few years after the death of her husband, Sarah left her home in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1885 to relocate to San Jose , California.  Most likely, she moved west to live in a drier and warmer climate due to problems with rheumatoid arthritis, an illness that plagued her all her life.  Here she purchased an eight-room farmhouse and ranch in 1886, which she called Llanada Villa.  This would eventually become the Winchester Mystery House. 

Over her lifetime until she died in 1922, Sarah expanded and renovated her home until it grew in size to 24,000 square feet and featured 160 rooms.  Most of Llanada Villa was built in the Queen Anne Revival style, but some sections featured Victorian, Gothic, and Romanesque features.  Originally, Sarah hired the services of two architects but eventually dismissed them and drew up many plans for her home herself. 

She died on September 5, 1922, of heart failure.  Most of her wealth was donated to charity and her niece, who inherited the contents of her home, which she quickly auctioned off.

Why is the Winchester House so famous?

The legacy of the Winchester Mystery House is embedded in its many unusual architectural and interior design novelties.  Today the home is known for its maze-like labyrinth of rooms, walled-off exterior windows, doors to nowhere, stairways that end in a ceiling, trap doors in the floor, unfinished spaces, a bell tower rebuilt many times, ghostly music, architectural features that appear 13 times, stairways with 3-inch risers, and spider-web motif windows. 

The legend of Sarah Winchester and her unusual mansion was propagated soon after her death.  Whether true or not, the mystique surrounding Sarah Winchester and her home has grown to include supposed hauntings, frequent séances, and claims of obsessive superstitions.  Coincidentally, the period in which Llanada Villa was built coincided with the popularity of spiritualism in the United States.  The mysteriousness of séances, speaking with the dead, and ghostly encounters captivated the fascination of many Americans during the early 1900s.  It is not surprising that the uniqueness of the Winchester House became associated with the legacy of these practices. 

Today, a deeper dive into the current research on the home questions the truthfulness of many of the mysteries and attributes much of the notoriety of the Winchester House to exaggeration, misrepresentation, and overly sensationalized promotion.

Knowing very few details about the history of the Winchester Mystery House, my daughter, Liz, and I booked a weekday noon tour and drove from San Francisco to San Jose . The Winchester Mystery House is just off Highway 280 and across the street from Santana Row .

How much does it cost to go into the Winchester House?

A 1 hour 5 minute guided tour of the Winchester House costs $41.99 for adults, $34.99 for seniors,  and $19.99 for children 5-12.

We joined a group guided tour that included 12 other people.  Our tour guide was entertaining and energetic as she led us on a 65-minute scripted tour of the mansion.  Along the way, we encountered a lot of unusual spaces, strange-looking rooms, quirky construction features, and stories of peculiar behavior by the mansion’s owner.  Our guide also enhanced the strange and unusual parts of the home with corny jokes, intriguing ideas, and spooky suggestions.  Even though it seemed a little too well rehearsed at times, all in all, it was a lot of fun.

In many ways, the house was not what I expected.  The first part of the home took us through the later construction in the back of the house.  The rooms appeared to be an eclectic collection of fully and partially constructed spaces.  The quality of the construction did not seem mansion-like to me in that the rooms did not display wealth or exceptional architectural features. 

On the other hand, the front and older parts of the home had a traditional mansion feel to them and featured some well-furnished rooms for entertainment.  We saw a ballroom, formal dining room, sitting rooms, organ, stained glass windows, chandeliers, and rooms finished to impress visitors.  This part of the mansion displayed wealth and taste.

The most notable date in the construction of Llanada Villa was April 18, 1906, when the great San Francisco earthquake caused tremendous devastation throughout the region, and Sarah Winchester’s home suffered severe damage.  The house was forever changed when chimneys collapsed, a wing was destroyed, and a prominent seven-story tower toppled down.  Damage from the earthquake can still be viewed at the property even today, and the mansion was never restored to its former prominence. 

After the dwelling was returned to a livable condition in 1910, Sarah did very little work on her residence in San Jose until she died in 1922.  Amazingly, the Winchester House became a tourist attraction shortly after Sarah’s death.  With the quarters in much disrepair, a group of investors purchased the home and leased it to John and Mayme Brown.  They immediately turned the structure into a tourist attraction and eventually purchased the property in 1931.  Even Harry Houdini visited the structure in 1924, and it’s remembered that he suggested promoting the dwelling as a mystery house.  Later owners of the dwelling began to insinuate rumors, enhance stories with exaggerations, and propose links to the supernatural to create the mystique of a mysterious haunted house.

My daughter and I agreed that the house undoubtedly felt creepy, but not scary.  Many of the rooms were dark, unremarkable, and surprisingly small.  We did feel like we were walking through a maze as we took a spiraling tour that included various ups and downs, but is also possible the route we followed was intended to create this effect. 

For every claim about the mysteriousness of the home, there has been research to indicate that much of the legacy of the property was the result of exaggeration, conjecture, and over-promotion.  Historical research has revealed there is little evidence that Sarah suffered from guilt from the money she inherited from the gun business. 

The tale that she believed she had to keep building or she would experience death is not backed up by the actual construction record of the building.  There are no records of séances being held in the house and staff members claimed that Sarah had no interest in them.  Sarah’s relatives did not back up the claims of her being superstitious and her reclusiveness may have been due to her many physical ailments.  It is also likely that the labyrinth construction of the home may have been the result of making the home functional after the earthquake.  Furthermore, there are very few actual recorded incidences to back up the claims of the home being haunted by spirits.

If you are in or near San Jose , you should investigate the Winchester Mystery House for yourself.  Today, a private company called Winchester Mystery House, LLC manages the home on behalf of the Brown family that purchased the home back in 1931.  The home is open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

On most days, two types of tours are offered, the Guided Mansion Tour and the Walk with Spirits Tour.  The Mansion Tour takes guests around 110 of the 160 rooms and provides visitors with background information on Sarah Winchester and the construction of her home.  The Spirits Tour invites guests to look beyond the ordinary by experiencing a wake in the parlor of the house, taking part in a Victorian-era séance on the third floor, and ending in the dark, spooky basement of the home. 

All tours are 1 hour and 5 minutes in length.  In addition to daily tours, guests are encouraged to stroll around the property by taking the self-guided Sarah’s Garden Tour.  In true roadside attraction fashion, all visitors exit through an extensive gift shop featuring a variety of souvenirs.

Throughout the year, the Winchester Mystery House organization also hosts seminars and special speaker programs that focus on the supernatural.  Of course, Halloween is a big deal at the mansion.  From late September until the end of October, the Mystery House has a special guided night-time haunting experience called “Unhinged: Housewarming” that centers around the story of a Hollywood couple who purchase the house.  The spooky evening begins with a garden party and progresses through a haunted tour of the premises.  Halloween tours are very popular and book up quickly.

So what is the truth about the Winchester Mystery House?  It would be difficult for anyone to give a definitive assessment of the motivations of Sarah Winchester since she was a private person who did not reveal much to the public.  Her home was probably a reflection of her personality.   What I do know is that she left us with a mystery and an unusual home as an artifact. 

The Winchester Mystery House is in many ways the perfect American roadside attraction in that it is a combination of history and folklore built around the eccentricities of a mysterious, private person.   It is everything we love in a great story.

My daughter and I found visiting the Winchester Mystery House to be an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.  Overall, the presentation about Sarah Winchester was informative and intriguing while the home offered a view into the history of the early 1900s in California. 

At the end of the tour, I could not decide whether the legacy of the home was the tale of an eccentric person, over-the-top promotion, or a misrepresented widow trying to find purpose in her life.  I don’t think anyone will ever know, but I suspect that the truth, like most things in life, lies somewhere in the middle.  The Winchester Mystery House is a great piece of American history and folklore, but even more so, it’s a fantastic and captivating story worth experiencing!

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by Barry Kramer

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Visit Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is an enormous 19th-century mansion with fascinating architectural details, a rich history and tales of hauntings. Belonging to the widow of a gun tycoon, its rooms are decorated with intriguing trinkets that tell her story. Inspect the many rooms for a glimpse into the opulent and turbulent life of the Winchester rifle heiress.

Upon arrival, choose from several guided tour options. Try the Grand Estate Tour, which includes a look behind the scenes at the basement, stables and other staff areas that supported operations in the house. This option also includes the Mansion Tour, where you will explore 110 of the 160 rooms. Consider how the mansion got its haunted reputation as you encounter staircases to nowhere, doors that open to blank walls and other eerie features.

Speak with docents to learn background information about Sarah Winchester, who lived here until her death in 1922. She is said to have kept construction workers busy 24 hours a day for 38 years because she believed the continuous building activities would appease spirits after the untimely death of her baby daughter and husband, William Wirt Winchester.

Capture photos of the extraordinary manor and admire its Queen Anne Style Late Victorian architecture. Stroll through the stately grounds of the Victorian Gardens, restored with elegant paths, hedges and thousands of trees.

If you prefer not walking, take the Video Access Tour for a 45-minute presentation about the rifle heiress, her bizarre lifestyle and the spooky mansion.

Note that each tour has its own price, with discounts for children and seniors. The tours generally open from the morning until the final circuit in early evening.

The Winchester Mystery House is located in the western outskirts of San José. Take a bus to one of the nearby stops or drive to the site and leave your car in the parking lot. Nearby landmarks include the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Westfield Valley Fair shopping mall and Frank M. Santana Park.

Plan a trip to see Winchester Mystery House

Marbella Lane Triplex San Jose

Reviewed on May 3, 2024

DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose

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Marbella Lane Duplex San Jose

Reviewed on Jan 3, 2024

Reviews of Winchester Mystery House

5/5 - excellent.

We enjoyed our visit to the Winchester Mystery House. The tour guide we had was very informative. Beautiful garden. Magnificent mansion.

Make an evening of it and visit the nearby mall which features live entertainment on weekends.

Very interesting and worth the money (IMHO). Make sure you are on time - they lock the doors promptly at tour start time (or earlier based on "please try to arrive a few minutes early".

Fun, tours were frequent so not much waiting. Lots to do while you are waiting.

Close to high end shopping area known as Santana Row

Popular places to visit

• Santana Row Shopping Center

You can browse for souvenirs with a trip to Santana Row Shopping Center, a favorite shopping spot in San Jose. Attend a sporting event or discover the mountain views in this family-friendly area.

San Jose Municipal Rose Garden

Stop and smell more than 180 varieties of blooms, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings in one of the country’s best rose gardens.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

Travel back to Ancient Egypt and discover artifacts from thousands of years of Egyptian civilization including mummies, hieroglyphs and everyday objects.

American Firearms Museum

You can enjoy some culture when you stop by American Firearms Museum in San Jose. Discover the mountain views and top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

• Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Mall

During your visit to San Jose, you can browse for the perfect souvenirs at Westfield Valley Fair Shopping Mall. Take in the great live music and mountain views in this family-friendly area.

O'Connor Hospital

Though O'Connor Hospital might be what brings you to town, perhaps you'll have a chance to explore more of San Jose while you are here.

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Breaking News

San jose: man shot and wounded by police after gun call, winchester mystery house invites guests to explore more, new areas of tourist attraction are open to public.

Explore more mystery

The Explore More Tour is returning to the Winchester Mystery House starting May 25, when guests can explore sections of the house never before accessible to the public.

“Among our most frequent requests is the chance to delve into rooms previously off-limits to guests,” Walter Magnuson, executive director of Winchester Mystery House, said in a release.

The tour is designed to give guests more insight into the house’s 36-year construction process and the stories behind some of its more iconic features.

Tickets for the Explore More Tour are available at  winchestermysteryhouse.com .

History day trip

Bay Area Older Adults is hosting a Walnut Creek History Day Trip on May 24, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Participants can learn about the history of Walnut Creek in the 1800s and 1900s  via a walking tour of the downtown area, a tour of an historic home and a homestyle Peruvian lunch. For more information and to register, visit www.bayareaolderadults.org/BAO-May2024-day-trip .

 Neighborhood Notes

WILLOW GLEN>>The San José Chamber Orchestra presents “Concerto Night” Sunday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1205 Pine Ave.

Conductor Anthony Quartuccio will lead the orchestra in a program including “Hildegard” for string orchestra by Bay Area-based composer Anica Galindo, “Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite 3” for strings by Ottorino Respighi, and Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 for soloist, strings and paired oboes and horns, featuring Klein International String Competition Laureate Audrey Goodner, 18, as violin soloist.

Tickets are $15-$75 at https://sjco.org or at the door.

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The Most Romantic Places in San Jose California 2024

L ooking to romance that special someone in San Jose? As a local, allow me to take you on a tour of my favorite romantic spots in the heart of Silicon Valley! From intimate restaurants to scenic trails, San Jose has plenty of unique date options. In this article, we’ll uncover hidden gems, revisit classics, and dive into spots that are sure to impress your partner. So grab your date and let’s get started on the most romantic places in San Jose!

Romance in the Heart of Downtown San Jose

Venturing into the heart of downtown San Jose can lead to numerous delightful surprises for couples seeking a romantic retreat. The downtown area is alive with an energy that combines urban vibrancy with a touch of romance. One of the most iconic spots is the  California Theatre , a historic venue that hosts a variety of performances, including concerts and live shows. Imagine sharing a quiet moment with your loved one, surrounded by the timeless beauty of the theater’s architecture.

For an unconventional romantic activity, check out the  Improv Comedy Club  downtown. Letting loose with laughter is a sure way to break the ice and get to know someone. The intimate theater setting makes you feel part of the show. And who knows, you could find yourself part of an improv skit on stage! Even if you’re just enjoying drinks and comedy from the audience, it’s a lighthearted and fun date night.

After laughing it up, head over to romantic dinner spot  Paesano  in San Jose’s Little Italy neighborhood. The romantic restaurant has European vibes with candlelit tables making it a go-to spot for amorous dining. Their Italian-inspired menu features exquisite plates with handmade pasta – perfect for sampling and sharing. I recommend the Pollo Saltimboco and the Veal Parmigiana for a true taste exploration. Make sure to save room for their tiramisu or cannoli! The intimate ambiance and culinary delights hit all the right notes for romance.

For sweeping city views, book a bay-view room at the  AC Hotel  downtown and admire San Jose’s skyline from your window. Then take a romantic stroll around  Plaza de César Chávez Park , stopping by the waterfall feature. Continue through the corridors of the San Jose Museum of Art, pausing to enjoy the paintings and sculptures.

End at Fountain Alley, home to colorful street art and lights strung overhead. It’s an urban oasis made for romantic evenings. Fountain Alley is home to Scratch Cookery and Good Bar, a new organic wine bar that is perfect for a tasting for two.

If you are close to downtown San Jose, be sure to check out the San Pedro Square Market. This historic public market has an array of options for a fun date night, from live music to craft cocktails. Grab a table at one of the restaurants lining the square, like French-inspired The Market or Tuscan-style Patxi’s Pizza . Share small plates while people watching in the bustling square – it feels like a European patio! Cap off the evening sipping local wines at Vino Vino or cocktails at Paper Plane.

For wine lovers, head to  J. Lohr  near Julian St. in Downtown San Jose. Sample elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in their refined yet relaxed tasting room. Sip side-by-side at the bar or cuddle on the outdoor patio with sweeping views of the vineyard. Booking a reservation takes the romance up a notch with a private table and specialized wine and food pairings. Share a bottle on the patio as the sun sets for a truly amorous wine country escape.  Often J. Lohr will have live music and we recommend making a reservation.

Los Gatos Creek Trail and Almaden Quicksilver County Park

For those who like romantic walks, San Jose has much to offer. Both the Guadalupe Trail and  Los Gatos Creek Trail  meanders through lush landscapes, offering couples a chance to take a leisurely walk hand in hand. This trail is a true haven for those seeking a quiet escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.

Another natural wonder is the  Almaden Quicksilver County Park , where scenic beauty and history converge. The park’s extensive trails and picturesque views provide an ideal backdrop for a romantic hike or a serene picnic. As you stroll through this haven, you’ll feel a sense of timelessness that only nature can provide.  The natural splendor and seclusion of this hike make it a romantic outdoor adventure.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Japanese Friendship Garden

For couples with a shared passion for culture and history, the  Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum  is a captivating destination. Wander through its exhibits filled with ancient artifacts and immerse yourselves in the stories of the past. This unique experience can spark thought-provoking conversations and deepen your connection.

For a more serene and tranquil ambiance, the  Japanese Friendship Garden  provides an oasis of calm within San Jose’s bustling landscape. The meticulously manicured gardens, serene ponds, and traditional Japanese architecture create a great spot that is both serene and romantic.

Romantic Dining Experiences

No romantic escapade is complete without savoring delicious food in an enchanting setting. San Jose is home to a plethora of romantic dining options that cater to various palates.  Le Papillon , a renowned French restaurant, offers an exquisite culinary journey and an extensive wine list. Imagine indulging in a sumptuous meal while surrounded by an ambiance that exudes elegance and romance.

For couples seeking a spectacular view,  The Grandview Restaurant  offers a blend of sophistication and innovation. The diverse menu, featuring top-quality steaks and delectable dishes, ensures a memorable dining experience that overlooks the city’s lights.

With its warm lighting, dark wood interior, and intimate yet lively atmosphere, Black Sheep Brasserie offers an ideal fine dining experience for a romantic date night in downtown San Jose. Between the stellar service, quieter dining rooms perfect for conversation, and the French-inspired decor, you’ll be transported to a cozy Parisian bistro that’s still stylish and modern.

The food is beautifully plated and full of rich flavors like bone marrow and truffle mac and cheese – sure to delight. So if you want to impress your sweetheart with a memorable meal in a setting that feels upscale but relaxed, Black Sheep Brasserie hits all the right notes.

Movie Theaters and Foreign Films

If you and your partner share a love for cinema, San Jose has you covered with its array of movie theaters that screen everything from the latest blockbusters to indie gems. However, for a unique and romantic twist, consider exploring the world of foreign films. The  San Jose Museum of Art  occasionally hosts screenings of foreign films, offering a cultural and intimate cinematic experience that can lead to thoughtful discussions and shared moments.

Movie fans can get cozy at the   West Wind Drive-in Theater  on Capitol Expressway. This retro Drive-in Theater theater shows the occasional classic and cult films like The Princess Bride and it also shows the latest releases. Relaxing in the front seat with your popcorn and milk duds feels deliciously retro. You are also allowed to bring in chairs and blankets to set up near your car.  For couples who love old Hollywood romance, this is a fun place for a cinematic date night. It’s a good idea to check their schedule online for upcoming romantic films.

Wine Tasting and Romantic Hotels

Wine tasting is a quintessential romantic experience, and San Jose’s  South Bay  region is home to numerous wineries that are some of the most romantic places in San Jose. Sipping on fine wines while enjoying the company of your loved one amidst scenic vineyards is an experience to cherish.  We already mentioned J. Lohr but did you know San Jose has another winery?  

Coterie Winery  is an urban winery located in downtown San Jose, providing a great experience offering wine-tasting right in the heart of the city. Coterie offers walk-in tastings Wednesday through Sunday with a variety of tasting flight options ranging from $20-$30 per person. This allows you to sample several of their small-production wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Rosé.

Parking is street parking or garage parking nearby. The location right downtown makes it convenient to pair with dinner or drinks in the area afterward. Coterie Winery provides an intimate setting with dim lighting, brick walls, and warm tones. It’s small and cozy, with friendly and knowledgeable staff providing personalized guidance through the wines. Outside, the patio has bistro lights strung overhead for a romantic vibe. Sipping wines side-by-side at the bar is perfect for couples looking for a romantic but laid-back date night. With its charming ambiance, downtown location, and quality wines, Coterie Winery is a lovely place for a romantic wine-tasting date night in San Jose.

To fully embrace the romantic getaway, consider staying at one of San Jose’s many  romantic hotels . These establishments are designed to cater to couples, offering luxurious amenities and an ambiance that sets the stage for a truly romantic escape.

The Westin San Jose  is a modern high-rise hotel right in downtown San Jose, putting you close to great restaurants and nightlife. The rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, comfortable beds, and marble bathrooms with separate tubs and showers. Some rooms also have scenic city views. Unwind together at the rooftop pool or get pampered side-by-side at the spa. The Westin caters well to couples with its candle-lit lobby bar, in-room dining, and central location for exploring the city.

With its marble floors, elegant décor, and plush rooms featuring city views, the historic  Fairmont San Jose  offers a luxurious, romantic place in San Jose perfect for a getaway or staycation. Couples can enjoy thoughtful amenities like rose petals and sparkling wine upon request, relax together at the rooftop pool or spa, and sip cocktails in the lounge near the lobby. Its ideal location near museums, theaters, and restaurants makes exploring the city’s vibrant culture easy and convenient. Between the first-class service, relaxing amenities, historic 1920s charm, and proximity to attractions, the Fairmont provides an indulgent, romantic atmosphere for couples looking for quality time together in the heart of San Jose.

A new option is Rollati Restaurante in downtown San Jose. Share plates of lemon pasta and an Aperol spritz in a beautifully modern setting directly with a view of City Hall.

Sporting Events

Hockey may not be the first thing that comes to mind for a romantic first date, but hear me out. Catching a  San Jose Sharks  game at the SAP Center is a great place for a lively, fun-filled date night. The energetic atmosphere inside the arena already sets the mood. Cheering and clapping with thousands of excited fans gets your adrenaline going. Sit side-by-side and feel the thrills as the players zoom by and pucks hit the net. With the crowd on their feet and the Jumbotron flashing, a Sharks game delivers nonstop entertainment you can bond over.

For a unique and exciting couple’s night out, head to Axe-Men Axe Throwing San Jose in downtown San Jose to try your hand at axe throwing. This indoor venue offers coached axe-throwing lanes where you and your partner can learn proper throwing techniques and safety, and then compete in a fun axe-throwing tournament together. With a fun environment and a lively bar area serving local beers and ciders, Axe-Men Axe Throwing San Jose provides an energetic backdrop as you bond over launching sharp axes at wooden targets. The coaches make sure everyone has a great time while staying safe.

Other Activities

As the weather warms up, plan a romantic picnic in the roses at the  San Jose Municipal Rose Garden . Spread your blanket under a blooming arbor and pop open a bottle of bubbly surrounded by thousands of lush roses. Botanical beauty and intoxicating floral scents set the mood for romance. It’s an Instagram-worthy setting that still feels hidden and intimate. Then wind through the adjacent Japanese Friendship Garden, crossing picturesque bridges and pausing at the Zen rock garden. These gardens are some of the most romantic places in the heart of San Jose.

 Winchester Mystery House

If you’re looking to add an element of mystery and intrigue to your romantic escapade, the  Winchester Mystery House  is an excellent choice. This historic mansion, known for its peculiar architecture and legends, offers tours that take you through its winding corridors and secret passageways. The air of mystery surrounding the house can be the perfect catalyst for a thrilling and bonding experience with your partner.