Winchester Mystery House

Don’t go on a hot day. No air conditioning and lots of trapped heat. Ugh.

I had always wanted to visit the Winchester Mystery House, but I never knew where it was. I was scheduled to go on a business trip to San Jose, and out of the blue, I decided to look up some information about the WMH. I was pleasantly surprised to discover I would be heading right to it!

I recommend spending the extra few bucks and taking the behind-the-scenes tour.

If you are willing to spend the money, take both the Mansion and Behind-the-Scenes tours (it costs about $6 extra). You will see how amazing and bizarre the house is on the first tour and then see how Sarah Winchester’s employees tackled the craziness of working for her with all her eccentricities and restrictions on the second.

I have known about the Winchester Mystery House since I was eight years old and have wanted to go there ever since. I finally got there at age 34 and, while I didn’t see any ghosts, I was not disappointed by the house at all. It is a fascinating story and, despite its inherent oddness, a beautiful home.

If you have to be in San Jose, you should at least visit the Winchester Mystery House. There doesn’t seem to be much else in that town, anyhow.

Spring for the extra $5 or so and take the behind-the-scenes tour.

It was the wildest place! Windows in the floor, doors that open to a one story drop, rooms with no doors to get into them, I remember seeing a show, that Ripleys Believe It Or Not, with Jack Palance about it when I was a kid, I always wanted to see it and it was so cool.. If you are ever in San Jose you gotta check it out.