Winchester Mystery Housereopened its doors for touchless, self-guided tours on Monday, July 13. But with the new state guidelines announced that same day, the popular 160-room mansion was shut down again by the next morning.
The fabled San Jose attraction, which closed on March 12 in accordance with Californiahealth officials’ recommendations for slowing the spread of the coronavirus,was hoping to allow guests back inside the houseusing audio and signs for self-guided tours, with staff members positioned throughout the estate to assist guests as needed.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Mondayordered the closureof many other recently reopened businesses across California, including bars, indoor restaurants, movie theaters and other attractions. Santa Clara County, where the Winchester Mystery House is located, will additionally be placed on a state watch list on Wednesday, July 15, with even tighter restrictions in place.
“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 and safety of our guests and employees. We truly appreciate your understanding and support,” Regina Merrill, a spokeswoman for the Winchester Mystery House, said in statement.
For the time being, guests will be able to visit the outdoor Sarah Winchester Garden. All guests and employees will be required to wear masks.
TheWinchester Mystery Houseis regarded as a Northern California treasure. The sprawling estate was the brainchild of Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearms magnate William Wirt Winchester. She spent 40 years and millions of dollars on the mansion.
According to lore, New Englander Winchester moved to California with an unusual purpose. After the premature deaths of her daughter, Annie, and her husband, president of the Winchester Repeating Arms Co.,她跟着波士顿中长期的建议construct a grand, yet strange, Victorian manor to appease the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles.
Sarah Winchester gave the name Llanada Villa to the rambling and still-unfinished mansion.
Using most of her $20 million inheritance and an income of $1,000 per day, she employed workers beginning in 1884 to transform a small farmhouse she purchased. They labored for 24 hours a day, year-round, until her death in 1922.
Some people believe the house is haunted. That possibility has lured the likes of Harry Houdini, paranormal investigators and psychics.
The home does possess quirky, unexplained architectural details, such as a staircase ending at a ceiling, a door opening to a sheer drop outside, and ceiling columns placed upside down. It also contains exquisite, custom-made stained glass windows, including several with images of daisies, designed by Sarah Winchester.
The mansion was the subject of a 2018 major motion picture, “Winchester,” starring Helen Mirren and directed by Australian filmmaking duo Peter and Michael Spierig (“Daybreakers,” “Jigsaw”).
The Sarah Winchester Garden Tour:10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Reservations required. Winchester Mystery House, 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose.winchestermysteryhouse.com
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the latest announcement by the Winchester Mystery House, which was forced to discontinue indoor tours again in accordance with the new state guidelines issued Monday, July 13.