After being closed since March, the Winchester Mystery House reopening has finally been announced: Monday, July 13, 2020. It’s not a Friday, but it is a 13, a number that’s significant to the house.
What can visitors expect when they’re allowed back into the mansion? Here’s what’s stayed the same and what’s changing.
Re-imagined Tours
Visitors will now be allowed to navigate their way through the home via a touchless, self-guided experience.
As their newsletter put it, “Tour at your own pace in your own space.”
The tour follows a one-way pathway through the larger rooms in the mansion and allows guests enough time in each one.
Areas That Remain Closed
Not all areas of the estate are reopened yet, however. Here are the four spaces that will remain closed until further notice:
- Vintage arcade games
- Axe Throwing at the Stables
- Cafe
- Sarah’s Attic Shooting Gallery
Tickets
Ticket prices range from $19.99 (children ages 6-12) to $39.99 (adults, or anyone between the ages of 13-64). Seniors 65+ are $32.99.
Ticket prices also include a ticket for the Garden Tour, which reopened in May.
COVID-19 Precautions
The Winchester Mystery House reopening has taken social distancing protocols to heart in its reopening plans. Here are what the new safety measures entail:
- A no-exception mask policy. Masks are mandatory in California. Don’t expect exceptions if you can’t –or won’t– wear one for whatever reason. Winchester Mystery House won’t let you in.
- Limited capacity in the house and on the grounds. Tour groups will be limited to no more than six people, all of whom must be from the same household. They’ll no longer intermingle strangers.
- Health screening for both visitors and employees. Not sure if they’ll take guests’ temperatures, but they do say anyone registering a fever of 100.4 or more will not be permitted to enter.
- Enhanced cleaning protocols and increased presence of hand sanitizing stations.
- Reminders. Signage, markers and Plexiglass barriers in the gift shop, and hosts stationed throughout the house are in place to remind visitors about social distancing and to enforce it.
Another thing to note is that the house does not have a centralized HVAC system. Windows and doors will be opened to get fresh air circulating.
For More Info
For tour info, visit: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/tours/
For complete information on their health & safety policies, visit: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/health-safety-guidelines/
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, as well as obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of healing, to learn how she channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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