Coronavirus lockdown restrictions are easing in a lot of places, including California and Arkansas where the Winchester Mystery House and the 1886 Crescent Hotel are located, respectively. Both places recently announced they’re reopening starting Friday, May 15.
But they’re not going directly back to business as usual. Let’s look at how they’re both adjusting to new ways of living with a contagious disease in our midst and the restrictions they’ll be following and asking guests to abide by.
Winchester Estate Garden Tour
You still won’t be able to go inside when the Winchester Mystery House reopens on May 15. You will be able to tour the grounds, though, by way of the Winchester Estate Garden Tour.
The tour features 20 stops in the Victorian garden. It will be a self-guided audio tour and a “completely touch-less experience.”
Touch-less even though it’s self-guided and audio?
Much like they’ve done with their virtual tour and 360-degree interactive tour, they’re utilizing modern technology.
They’re instituting “no contact ticket sales,” meaning you’ll have to buy them online. Visitors will access the audio guide and a digital map on their mobile devices.
Other health and safety guidelines that they’re implementing include:
- Restricting tour sizes to only those in your immediate household and no more than six people per tour.
- Not allowing more than 60 people on the grounds at one time.
- Requiring visitors to only visit with members of their own household.
- Requiring face masks.
- Following enhanced cleaning procedures.
- Utilizing hand washing and hand sanitization stations.
They’ll also be operating under reduced hours: Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The gift shop and cafe won’t be open either.
Tickets cost $19.99 for adults, $15.99 for seniors, and $9.99 for children.
Find more information and to buy tickets, visit: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/buy-tickets
Weekends at the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa
Beginning Friday, May 15 at 3 p.m., the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa is prepared to “carefully reopen” and once again welcome guests.
The hotel will only be open on weekends and all guests are required to check out no later than 11 a.m. on Monday mornings.
The Friday through Monday “lodging pattern” will remain in place indefinitely. The hotel will also limit occupancy to 50% to help ensure social distancing.
There will be a limit of three people to a room max, and all guests will be issued a mask and asked to review and agree to travel protocols.
The hotel will only be open to guests, not day-trippers or tram and trolley riders.
Guests from states that the Arkansas Department of Health deems as “hot spots” will not be allowed to “overnight in Eureka Springs,” including the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa.
As far as where you can eat and get food, they’ll have the following options:
- SkyBar Gourmet Pizza will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. You can eat in, space permitting, but delivery and pick up options are also available.
- Breakfast will be room service only.
Most importantly, what about the ghost tours? The Crescent Hotel Ghost Tours will offer a nightly activity for guests, but participation will be limited to provide for social distancing. Other resort activities will be handled the same way.
But before participating in anything, guests will have to have their temperatures taken.
Room rates range from $117 to $260 per night.
For more info or to book a room, visit: https://crescent-hotel.com/index.shtml.
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How do you feel about the reopenings and the new protocols they’ll be implementing?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and 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. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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