UPDATE: In accordance with the new state guidelines issued Monday, July 13, Winchester Mystery House is temporarily unable to offer Self-Guided Mansion Tours as previously announced.  We are still able to offer tours of our gardens. The Sarah Winchester Garden Tour will be available today, Tuesday, July 14 through Sunday, July 19 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Beginning Wednesday, July 22, Garden Tours will be available Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every week until further notice.

While we are disappointed that we are temporarily unable to welcome visitors back inside the mansion as planned, our number one priority is the health & safety of our guests and employees. We truly appreciate your understanding and support. 

One of the most mysterious, yet inviting homes in the world is finally opening its doors again! The Winchester Mystery House announced that beginning Monday, July 13, in accordance with new Santa Clara County Health & Safety Guidelines, 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 are available now at winchestermysteryhouse.com/buy-tickets and also include access to the Sarah Winchester Garden Tour.

According to management, and of course, with the strict oversight of Sarah herself, the stewards of her home have worked extensively with local officials 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 dramatically reduced, 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.

Said Walter Magnuson, Winchester Mystery House General Manager: “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.”


Guests interested in exploring Winchester Mystery House from home can take the Immersive 360 Tour ($8.99) or the Video Tour ($13.99 to purchase, $5.99 to rent) available online at winchestermysteryhouse.com/video-tour.

About the Author

Norman Gidney is a nearly lifelong horror fan. Beginning his love for the scare at the age of 5 by watching John Carpenter's Halloween, he set out on a quest to share his passion for all things spooky with the rest of the world.