Last February, I finally got to fulfill a spooky dream I’ve had since I was a teenager: I visited the Winchester Mystery House!
I was 17 when the “Rose Red” miniseries aired on TV in January 2002, and looking back this was my first ‘horror’ story I ever fell in love with. Perhaps it was my viewing of “The Amityville Horror” that piqued my interest in sinister homes, but I was sucked into the story of a haunted mansion holding its inhabitants hostage.
The series aired over the course of three nights. After night one, a Sunday, I went to school and chatted with a friend about watching it.
“You know that’s based on a real house, right?” he asked.
No, no I did not. He told me a bit more, and I was off to the library during journalism class to learn more about the Winchester Mystery House.
Over the course of the week, I stole away time before school or during journalism to dig into more. I was fascinated that such a place existed, and I decided: someday, I was going to visit that house!
Fast-forward 20+ years, and I finally made it there. (Working remotely for a company in Santa Clara, CA has its benefits.) The Winchester was worth the wait — and made even better by visiting with Chelsea, who may as well be next in line as house historian with the depth and breadth of her knowledge about Sarah Winchester, the house, and its history.
If you’ve never been, here’s a peek inside my visit at some of my favorite things I saw.
My visit to Winchester
First, a quick history of this home if you aren’t already familiar with it:
The Winchester Mystery House is a sprawling Victorian mansion located in San Jose, CA, built by Sarah Winchester, widow of rifle manufacturer William Wirt Winchester. After the deaths of her husband and infant daughter, Sarah reportedly consulted a medium who told her she was haunted by those killed by the Winchester rifle, and that she must continuously build to appease the spirits.
Construction on the house ran nonstop from 1884 until her death in 1922, resulting in a labyrinthine 160-room structure full of architectural oddities: staircases that lead into ceilings, doors that open onto sheer drops, and windows built into floors. Whether or not the ghost story is true, Sarah was undeniably a fascinating and unconventional figure — a wealthy woman who oversaw decades of complex construction entirely on her own terms.
Today the house is a California landmark and popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors curious about both its eerie legends and its genuinely bizarre design.
Whether you believe in the hauntings or not, this house is such a stunning piece of architecture and history. Given how much new construction lords over what used to be acres of orchards, we are so lucky this home has been preserved the way it has.
One thing I learned quickly from Chelsea as we started our tour with the infamous switchback staircase: no two tours are truly the same here, because there are so many options and knowledgeable tour guides, which means you can return again and again…and see different parts of the house, hear different stories, and see new details.
Another thing learned quickly: a home built by a woman who was 4’10 at the start of the 20th century is not the easiest for a woman who is 5’11 in the 21st century to maneuver around at times. 😂
Speaking of details, you can swipe through this series of photos to see some of my favorites, from daisy patterns to spiderwebs.
I also loved all the little living spaces tucked into the home, like this atrium full of gorgeous greenery.
The infamous Door to Nowhere. Located on the second floor, this door looks unassuming on the inside…
…but open it, and you’ll find yourself in mid-air with no balcony, staircase, etc. to save you.
Some say features like this were included in the home to confuse spirits Sarah may have believed were trapped inside with her…but it’s much more likely the result of the fast pace of haphazard construction with no master plan.
Don’t forget to look up while you wander! You’ll find even more doors to nowhere or the occasional stunning glass roof.
Very little of the furniture in the Winchester these days is original to the home. Most of it was sold off after Sarah’s death in 1922, but there are plenty of well-curated reproductions, like this dining room.
Even as someone who prides herself on a good sense of direction, it was so easy to feel lost and turned around once you were inside looking back out at all the roof tops and spires.
If you don’t have time for a full tour of the house, you can always grab a grounds ticket, which allows you to wander around the exterior of the home. Any tour includes this option as well, and it’s worth the time once you’ve seen the house.
The very best tour guide, Cheers with Chelsea!
Have you been to the Winchester?
I’m already dying to go back as Halloween time and try a flashlight tour.
If you’re in the Northern California area, be sure to drop by the Winchester’s website or give them a follow on Instagram. There is always a fun event coming up (my rec: watch for more Vogel Victorian tea parties!)
Looking for more Winchester fun? Check out the 2025 issue of my magazine for Chelsea’s cocktails inspired by rooms in the house!
