Winchester Mystery House

I don’t care about any of the stories about the house, I just really like the house! I’d live in it if I could but that’s not possible. Has wonderful ambience for visual mediums such as photography and film. I’ve taken the tour several times, including the special at night by flashlight tour offered around Hallowen.

I had fun when we went but more for the fact that my Grandfather helped build the house!

It’s probably the kind of thing you’ll only do once, but the house is incredible, because of the ornate decorations, bizzare construction, and the unfinished portions.

I was that kid who read Ripley’s Believe it or Not and camped under the stars in hopes of seeing a UFO. After hearing about the Winchester Mystery House, I knew that I positively HAD to go! Unfortunately, my Dad is one of those hyper-logical people, and not into potential tourist traps. This place was far too off-the-wall for his taste, so therefore, it was never a stop during any of those week-long family car trips.

On a roadtrip about 2 years ago, I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream! I was somewhat disappointed that they mostly dispute claims of haunting; it kind of killed that childhood idea I had of this place. Then again, at least they’re not playing up that aspect of the house.

The house was fascintating, nonetheless. If you’re in the area, i.e., a roadtrip down the coast of California, take an hour or two to see this interesting site.

I’ve read so much about this place and want to go so badly! I read all about it from Sylvia Browne’s books, and it is an entirely depressing story, but so fascinating. Road Trip!

Overpriced, tourist-trapped out, smack dab in the middle of San Jose (in a movie theater parking lot, even) with zero ambience. It sounds great in theory, but in practice it’s not really worth it.

.... that “no one” knows the meaning of the two stained glass window panels in the ball room. There are two quotations from Shakespeare on the windows: “Unclasp the tables of my thoughts” and “these same thoughts people this little world”. Your tour guide may not know what it means, but in the context of 19th century spiritualism, and what Sarah Winchester purported to be doing at her house, the meaning isn’t unclear at all. “Unclasping the tables of her thoughts” is what she was doing in her seance room. And she was building the house for the spirits of victims of the Winchester rifle. So those channeled through her “thought” in her seance room people that little world… Whether or not you believe in spirits/ghosts/the afterlife, you have to admit, that declaration is a bit chilling.

The woman who owned the mansion lost her husband…and she apparently believed that if she continued construction on the mansion indefinitely that it would protect her.

So she built stairways leading to the ceiling, windows opening onto brick walls, doorways with 40 ft drops on the other side, and rooms with tiiiiiiny little spaces inside.

Very crazy & very cool to see.

They may still offer midnight tours on Friday the 13th.

This would just be one of the wildest tours out there. I would love to explore every inch of the place, would really love to go on my own personal tour but with a walkie-talkie in case I get lost (which I undoubtedly would).

I love the story that goes along with this house.