Image by Sgerbic via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nestled among palm trees in the heart of picturesque San Jose, California is one of America’s most enduring oddities. You’ve probably heard of the Winchester Mystery House–it’s often featured on TV shows about the strange and unexplained. From the bizarre story of its construction to the many legends of hauntings on the property, this sprawling Victorian mansion has fascinated the public for over a century.
If you crave a strange journey into its maddening corridors, we have everything you need to know about the history and lore surrounding this eccentric structure, as well as nearby lodgings and attractions to help you plan a visit.
Contents
History of the Winchester Mystery House
Why was the Winchester Mystery House Built?
Is the Winchester Mystery House Haunted?
Winchester Mystery House Ghosts
Visit Winchester Mystery House
Winchester Mystery House Gardens
Winchester Mystery House Events
Places to Stay Near the Winchester Mystery House
History of the Winchester Mystery House
In 1886, Sarah Pardee Winchester, the recently widowed heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune, moved to California from Connecticut under the advice of her doctor in the hopes that the warm, dry climate would improve her arthritis. She was joined by three surviving sisters. Once there, she purchased a 45-acre ranch outside San Jose complete with an 8-room farmhouse.
She named her new estate the Llanada Villa and planned to expand the farmhouse so her family members could live with her, hiring two architects to help with the project, but soon dismissed them when their plans failed to live up to her vision. In 1890, her adult niece Marion Merrimot, nicknamed Daisy, came to live with her and help with the project, acting as her administrative assistant until she married in 1903.
Image by Sgerbic via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Winchester took over the architectural planning, expanding the house room by room and tearing down any work that didn’t meet with her approval. In fact, in 1897, the San Jose News reported that a 7-story tower was demolished and remade 16 times. Because of all the ongoing additions, many windows, staircases, and doors that would normally have exterior access simply lead nowhere, adding to the building’s uncanny feeling. At its largest, the gargantuan mansion contained around 500 rooms.
The house was heavily damaged in the massive earthquake of 1906, which hindered construction and caused Winchester to abandon much of the structure, which was originally much bigger than it is today (if you can believe it). An entire wing of the house was lost, along with the late lamented 7-story tower. Winchester had the rubble removed but essentially stopped adding new construction after that point, and the damage led to even more strange features, such as doorways leading to balconies that no longer exist.
Image by Sgerbic via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Because of her health, Winchester would often pause construction, sometimes for months at a time, and the house was still unfinished at the time of her death in 1922. However, the stories of constant ongoing construction have been greatly exaggerated, as she had shifted her focus to business matters by 1910. As her biographer Mary Jo Ignoffo writes, "She was far more successful constructing an investment portfolio than a mansion." It’s a good thing she was a prudent investor, because the total cost of building and renovating the house would have been about $71 million in today’s money.
By the time of Winchester’s death, the house had fallen into disrepair, and it was considered to be mostly worthless. It was purchased by investors who wanted to turn it into an attraction, and tour guides and promotional materials emphasized the paranormal stories that had sprung up around Winchester’s unusual activities. In 1924, Harry Houdini visited the property as part of his nationwide tour meant to debunk spiritualism and the supernatural, but even he was impressed by its secrets; he reportedly suggested the name Winchester Mystery House to the owners.
The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and extensively renovated throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. Today, it remains a fascinating (and spooky) example of late Victorian architecture.
Why was the Winchester Mystery House Built?
Popular urban legend has it that Sarah Winchester was plagued by guilt about the people who had been killed by Winchester rifles–sometimes called “the gun that won the West”--and that she built the house to confuse their angry, vengeful ghosts. One story suggests she saw a medium in Connecticut who told her to build a house for these spirits, and that she must never stop building it. There is also a persistent belief that she thought if she ever finished building the house, she would die.
The strange architectural features of the house are sometimes used as evidence for these ideas, but the truth is we simply don’t know. Staff members she employed and other people who knew her have said that Winchester wasn’t particularly interested in spirits and the paranormal.
However, popular interest in seances and ghost stories was thriving during the Victorian period and early 20th century, which led to rumors that Winchester must be consulting with ghosts every night to determine the next day’s construction plans. Stories circulated about Winchester conducting seances late into the night in the “blue room.” The public became captivated by the idea of this eccentric millionaire who used her fortune to ease a tortured conscience and appease the unquiet dead, and the legend took on a life of its own. With ongoing, expensive construction that lasted for decades, it’s only natural that speculation ran wild about what would drive someone to create such a mysterious building.
In 1951, a local graduate student named Bruce Spoon writing his thesis on Sarah Winchester conducted interviews with people who remembered her, and came to the somewhat anticlimactic conclusion that Winchester simply wanted to keep the construction workers employed and carry out her aesthetic vision.
The house was partially inspired by the pavilions housing the World’s Fairs that were popular in the late 1900s, such as the famous Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Winchester’s father was a carpenter, so she knew about construction. She and her husband had also developed an interest in architecture while building a house back in Connecticut, and she had the time and money to pursue this passion.
Whether the house is the result of ghostly designs or just one woman’s very eccentric architectural project, the strange magnetism of the finished product is impossible to deny.
Notable Features of the House
The Ballroom
Image by Sgerbic via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
The lavish ballroom features intricate hardwood floors inlaid with teak, mahogany, and maple in breathtaking patterns. Intricate wood molding on the ceiling adds to the room’s sense of fantastical opulence.
It also contains a pump organ that Winchester would often play late at night when she was unable to sleep, leading neighbors to tell stories of “ghostly music” emanating from the house.
Staircases
Perhaps the most famous feature of the house is its several blind staircases. Because the house was constantly being built room by room, some of the staircases don’t lead anywhere, stopping at the ceiling. This creates a deeply strange sensation of being trapped in a room that is supposed to have an exit, adding to the unsettling feel of the house.
Famously, there is one staircase that contains 44 steps and rises only 10 feet. However, this is likely due to Winchester’s declining health and trouble with mobility rather than any esoteric spiritual causes.
Windows
Image by Sgerbic via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
The house is adorned with many beautiful leaded stained glass windows and highly beveled windows in the popular Victorian style, including several with a spider web pattern. The often strange placement of these windows adds to the macabre allure of the house, since it’s a deeply unsettling sensation to look into a window and see a blank wall behind it. This adds to the disorienting quality of the house since it can be hard to tell where you are in relation to the outside.
There are also stained glass windows featuring Shakespeare quotations from Richard II and Troilus and Cressida on either side of a fireplace. The asymmetrical placement of some of the windows also creates a subtle feeling of unease when visiting the house.
Decorative Woodwork
Sarah Winchester employed many skilled carpenters and often sought their advice about what materials to use. The result is some of the most breathtaking Victorian-era woodworking you’re likely to find anywhere, from crown molding to wainscoting to balustrades to acres of warm wood panels.
Apart from the artistry and craftsmanship of the house, the sheer volume of rooms and features is truly overwhelming: it has 2,000 doors, 10,000 windows, 47 stairways, 47 fireplaces, 13 bathrooms and 6 kitchens.
The Number 13
It is often noted that there are 13 windows in certain rooms, 13 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, etc., with the reason being that Sarah Winchester was allegedly fascinated with the unlucky number. (There’s even a hedge in the garden shaped like the number 13.) Again, there is not really any evidence to support the idea that Winchester was very superstitious, and many of these features were actually added to the house after her death, as Mary Jo Ignoffo explains in her fascinating 2010 biography of Winchester, Captive of the Labyrinth.
Is the Winchester Mystery House Haunted?
Visitors and guides alike report strange experiences, cold spots, and a feeling of being “watched” when inside the house. The mansion has been visited by a lot of paranormal investigators over the years, with appearances on shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. There have also been mentions of doorknobs turning themselves and the sound of footsteps in what was once Sarah Winchester’s bedroom.
Many visitors report nothing out of the ordinary, while some insist that they were brushed or touched by a field of energy. Lots of people mention a “creepy” feeling permeating the house, but say that it isn’t outright scary.
Even if the house doesn’t contain literal ghosts, its uncanny windows and dead-end corridors still create a spine-tingling sense of claustrophobia and strangeness. As with most paranormal legends, this one has to be experienced to be believed.
Winchester Mystery House Ghosts
Visitors and staff have reported encounters with several recurring entities or apparitions on the property over the years. Some people have seen a “wheelbarrow ghost” pushing a wheelbarrow full of coal in the basement and even in the grand ballroom. Others claim to have encountered a ghostly woman in black in the tower known as the Witch’s Cap.
There’s even a ghost purported to be one of the workers who helped build the mysterious labyrinth, affectionately known as Clyde.
Physical Manifestations
Guests and guides have noted a feeling of their clothes being tugged, of feeling unexplained cold spots, and hearing footsteps above or behind them in empty rooms.
Shadow Figures
The most commonly reported sighting in the house is that of shadowy figures. Human-shaped shadows are said to appear and disappear in windows and around corners, and have sometimes been captured in photographs.
Although these apparitions are startling, they seem to be benign. In fact, there have been no reports of the malevolent or harmful spirits known as poltergeists.
Visit Winchester Mystery House
The house is open to the public, and you can come see its many, many architectural peculiarities for yourself. In fact, the house was so infamous it became a popular tourist attraction just nine months after Winchester’s death in 1922, when it was purchased by investors who saw how it had seized the public imagination.
Tours
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Guided tours take guests through 110 of the whopping 160 rooms on the property, and last about an hour. They start at $38.99 for adults and $17.99 for children, with senior tickets available for $32.99. The “Explore More” package offers access to the basement, Witch’s Cap, and other rooms for $23 more, while the self-guided Sarah’s Garden Tour allows guests to stroll the lovely Victorian gardens with a digital map and audio tour.
Access to the gardens is complimentary with the purchase of another tour, or you can purchase a garden-only tour for $21.42. This touchless, outdoor tour is a perfect COVID-safe option.
Visit the Winchester Mystery House website to plan your visit and get tickets.
The house has souvenir photos available to commemorate your visit, as well as a quaint gift shop. The Winchester Mystery House has received a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award as one of the top 10% of attractions, and it’s well worth checking out its creepy corridors and beautiful flourishes for yourself.
Hours & Parking
The house is open from 10-5 on weekdays, 10-6 on weekends from September through April. From May to August, hours are 10-6 on weekdays and 10-8 on weekends. The house and garden are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The house has a parking lot in front as well as a nearby overflow lot, and some street parking is available as well. If you can’t find a spot, there are also two parking garages within easy walking distance.
Accessibility
Much of the house is not wheelchair accessible due to the eccentric nature of the construction, however virtual tours are available for inaccessible portions of the house. ASL interpreters are available on certain days to assist hearing impaired visitors.
Winchester Mystery House Gardens
There’s a lot more to this place than spooky lore and endless staircases out of a mind-bending M.C. Escher drawing. The Victorian garden is sure to be a hit with anyone who loves heritage flowers and horticulture. (You can even do a garden-only tour if you’d rather avoid the maze of rooms inside the mansion.)
It has thousands of manicured hedges and flowers, including boxwoods and cherry laurels, making the grounds a beautiful retreat all year round. Many of the trees were originally planted by Sarah Winchester during the house’s construction, and you can find a delightful magnolia as well as a Spartan Juniper and Creeper Trumpet Vine. In addition to the hundreds of varieties of plants in the gardens, Winchester had several greenhouses installed in the house designed with slanted floors to drain excess water into pipes that would feed the exterior gardens–one of her many innovations.
The exterior also features a distinctive serpent fountain, as well as various statues, trellises, and shady spots to take a seat and admire the exterior of the mansion. The self-guided tour of these lovely gardens is one of the best things to do in San Jose for a relaxing afternoon that is (mostly) free of ghostly visitors.
Winchester Mystery House Events
Starting Friday Sept. 13, the Halloween-themed Unhinged:Hotel attraction opens its doors on select nights to thrillseekers looking for some horror-inducing fun in the Bay Area. This immersive Halloween maze is sure to deliver some thrills and chills, with a 45-minute journey that will take you through 3 floors of the mansion complete with special effects and jump scares. An outdoor scare zone will take you through the mystifying mist, and a vintage Halloween museum has all the nostalgic spooky decor you could desire. The experience also includes themed foods, desserts, and drinks, as well as creepy cocktails. Learn more here.
The house also has private bookings available for events such as weddings, although they are on pause until 2025.
Places to Stay Near the Winchester Mystery House
Hayes Mansion San Jose ($183 per night)
Looking for that secluded manor vibe? Then this historic hotel could be just the one for you. Located just 15 minutes from downtown on a lush, gorgeous property, this retreat is just a quick drive from nearby wineries and world-class shopping. You’ll love the pool, jacuzzi, and amazing breakfasts–and it’s pet friendly.
The Westin San Jose ($149+)
If you want to be right in the heart of downtown, this luxurious hotel is right in the middle of it all (and with its central location, it’s very close to both the Winchester Mystery House and the airport). With pet-friendly rooms and convenient amenities, this could be the stay of your dreams.
Hotel Clariana ($206)
This hotel is right downtown and features a fitness center and private parking, and it’s just steps away from restaurants and nightlife. You’ll love the location near local attractions like the Municipal Rose Garden.
San Jose Marriott ($186+)
Convenience meets comfort at this classic hotel, which has a 24-hour gym, an outdoor pool, and a rooftop patio with fire pits to relax beside. It also has 3 restaurants and a bar, pet-friendly rooms, and it’s right in the heart of everything downtown has to offer.
Hotel De Anza ($167+)
Another downtown favorite, this convenient hotel has a gym, and breakfast is included. It’s highly rated by guests, with a welcoming lobby and great amenities. Rooms fill up fast, so book your stay today.
The Flamingo Motel ($110+)
Convenient to the Winchester Mystery House, this motel has everything you need to enjoy a stay in San Jose, including free parking and wi-fi and a refrigerator and microwave in every room. It’s also within easy walking distance of the J. Lohr Winery for a fun wine tasting adventure–and you can’t beat the price.
San Jose Vrbo
These Vrbo rentals are all within walking distance of the Winchester Mystery House if you don’t drive or you’d like to avoid parking or taking rideshare:
Posh Place Near Santana Row ($245)
This luxurious 2-bedroom rental is just an 8-minute walk from the Winchester Mystery House, and a short walk from the amazing shopping and dining of Santana Row. Plus, it has a relaxing outdoor space.
Unit with Jacuzzi ($360)
You cannot beat the convenience of this rental just a few blocks away from the sprawling Winchester Mystery House. This listing is for a hotel room, so it has all the conveniences you’d expect, plus an outdoor pool and fitness center, and a rooftop terrace with a wine bar and beautiful mountain views.
This one-bedroom condo can accommodate up to 4 guests thanks to the double futon in the living room, and it’s just a quick walk to the Winchester Mystery House and all the great local shopping in the Row. It also has a gym, a barbecue for cookouts, and a great mountain view.
This cute 1-bedroom apartment can sleep up to 3 guests, and it’s a short walk away from the lovely Municipal Rose Garden. It’s about a 20-minute walk to the Winchester Mystery House and the shopping destinations in the Row, and dogs under 20 pounds are allowed.
Attractions Near Winchester Mystery House
Municipal Rose Garden
This gorgeous park is free and open to the public every day, and it spans over 5 acres of green grass, winding paths, and, of course, countless varieties of bright, fragrant roses. In fact, it was even named the best rose garden in America by the prestigious All-America Rose Selections organization. With beautiful fountains and benches to enjoy, it’s the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s beautiful year-round, but most species of roses there reach their peak bloom in May.
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
If you have young kiddos, they’ll love this fun and educational museum located right downtown. Here, kids can explore the pneumatic tubes of the AirMaze, see real mammoth fossils, and get creative in the art studio. Whether your little one likes to dig in the dirt or create magical bubbles, there’s bound to be something here to captivate and amaze.
Tickets are $18 for adults and children 1 and older. Babies get in free, and tickets for seniors are $16. The museum is open Tues.-Sun. from 9:30-4:30. Get your tickets here.
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
Just blocks away from the Winchester Mystery House is another attraction full of the secrets of the dead. This museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in western North America, and it has hundreds of paintings, mummies, pieces of jewelry and pottery, and more. They also host fun workshops like “Scribe School” where you can learn about hieroglyphics. A must-visit for lovers of all things dark and gothic.
At just $10 for admission, it’s also a great value. Seniors, students, and kids are just $8, and children under 6 get in free. The museum is open on weekends, Fridays from 10-5 and Saturday and Sunday from 11-6. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but keep in mind they do not accept cash. Visit their site to plan your visit.
Triton Museum of Art
In nearby Santa Clara, this museum is a place for local artists to exhibit their works alongside important international painters and sculptors. This vibrant community museum offers rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection of 19th and 20th century work from artists from North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim, as well as a huge collection of Native American art. They also offer in person and online workshops for painting, drawing, and collage.
Admission is free, and the museum is open Tues.-Sun. from 11-4:30.
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo
This family-friendly amusement park is located right in central San Jose, the perfect spot for a family outing. It has a rollercoaster and merry-go-round, as well as animals like lemurs, a jaguar, red pandas, meerkats, and goats. Kids can learn about nature conservation and visit the petting zoo. General admission is $18, and children under 2 get in free. Hours are 10-5, and 10-4 on weekdays starting in September. The park is open daily, but it sometimes closes due to inclement weather. Get your tickets here.
Kelley Park, where Happy Hollow is located, is also known for its beautiful, serene Japanese Friendship Garden. It also has a frisbee golf course for you to test your skills–just watch out for wind gusts.
Hiking Trails
Just east and west of the city, numerous beautiful hiking trails await lovers of nature who want to escape the gridlock and breathe some fresh mountain air. If you feel the need to commune with nature after your brush with the paranormal, check out the many trailheads that are just a quick drive from downtown.
Alum Rock Park on the east side of the city has a number of fun hikes. The Creek trail there offers an easier hike for beginners, while steep, challenging trails like Boccardo and Sierra Vista are adventures for seasoned hikers. An app like AllTrails can help you find the perfect hike for you.
Mexican Heritage Plaza
This cultural center has an art gallery, theater, and beautiful gardens to wander, as well as classrooms and meeting spaces. With vibrant murals and mosaic tributes to Chicano and Mexican-American artists, musicians, and authors from the region, this is the perfect downtown spot to soak up some culture while you enjoy a cup of coffee or an ice cream.
Santana Row
The premiere outdoor shopping destination in Silicon Valley has a lot to offer even if you aren’t on the lookout for designer finds. It’s a great spot for some evening people watching if you’re staying nearby, and with some 30 incredible restaurants, you’ll never run out of options. Visitors love the European feel of this area, with outdoor cafe tables and shady trees to lounge under.
Restaurants Near Winchester Mystery House
The house is just a few minutes’ walk away from the fabulous shopping and dining of Santana Row. Here are just a few nearby options to help you narrow the search:
The Counter ($$)
3055 Olin Ave Ste 1035, San Jose, CA 95128
This build-it-yourself gourmet burger bar has everything you need to create a satisfying meal after a trip through the gothic corridors. With tasty chile chicken taquitos, onion strings, and customizable salad bowls, there’s a lot to love.
Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse ($$$)
377 Santana Row # 1090, San Jose, CA 95128
This classic Brazilian-style steakhouse offers every cut of meat imaginable, with an array of amazing South American and local wines to pair it with. Come for the flame-roasted steaks, stay for the amazing all-day happy hour. Check out their menu here.
Zazil ($$)
377 Santana Row # 1120, San Jose, CA 95128
This charming restaurant offers contemporary Mexican fare and a lovely outdoor seating area. From fresh ceviche to rich mole, their extensive menu is sure to offer something new and surprising. Their creative cocktail selection is well worth checking out as well.
Original Krung Thai ($-$$)
642 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128
This local favorite Thai restaurant has a big menu, rave reviews, and very reasonable prices. It’s a quick 10-minute walk down South Winchester Boulevard–and the grilled duck is definitely worth it. Read their menu here.
Veggie Grill ($-$$)
3055 Olin Ave # 1030, San Jose, CA 95128
This vegan & vegetarian restaurant has sandwiches, salads, Beyond burgers, and tasty bowls, as well as house-made iced teas and lemonades. Perfect for a meatless lunch option. Plus it’s located right in bustling Santana Row. Check out their menu for more info.
Image by Sgerbic via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.
This handy guide should help you discover the bizarre mysteries of the Winchester mansion and plan an amazing stay in San Jose. Whether you want a brush with the paranormal or just a glimpse into an eccentric mind, the house is an unforgettable experience–but it’s just one of many that make the city special. With its mix of urban life and scenic mountain vistas–and fantastic local vineyards–San Jose has a lot more to offer the living than a chance to rub elbows with the dead.
The Winchester Mystery House is undoubtedly one of America’s great roadside attractions, offering spectacle and drama, with an irresistible story made up of tall tales and grand embellishments. The tale of a crumbling gothic manor filled with ghosts slowly driving its perpetual builder insane is a ripping good yarn, even if it might not have much basis in reality. What we are left with is an ambiguous monument, a mind-bending labyrinth which might have nothing at its center after all.
But then, half the fun of stepping through its uncanny doors is finding your own meaning in the chaos.