Winchester Mystery House Readies For Reopening

SAN JOSE, CA — In less than a week, you won’t have to settle for experiencing one of the Bay Area’s most storied mansions on a computer screen.

Winchester Mystery House announced Thursday that it will open the doors to its 160-room mansion for self-guided tours on Monday.

A touchless, self-guided experience will allow visitors to independently navigate one of the world's strangest homes in accordance with new Santa Clara County health and safety guidelines.

Tours of the home have only been available virtually amid the coronavirus crisis.

Tickets will be available on Friday at Winchester Mystery House’s website. Admission includes access to the Sarah Winchester Garden Tour.

Winchester Mystery House General Manager Walter Magnuson said in a statement that his company worked with local officials to prepare for reopening, noting 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.

Visitors will be required to wear masks and groups will be limited to members of the same household.

“For 97 years, we’ve offered Mansion Tours, but over the course of the past few months we’ve been challenged to create a safe and compelling experience for guests that will be sustainable in the ‘new normal,’ ” Magnuson said.

“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.”

For tickets and additional information, visitwww.winchestermysteryhouse.com.

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