More proof 13 is an unlucky number? It wasn’t a Friday but one of California’s most mysterious houses decided to reopen on a 13th. Monday, July 13, 2020, to be exact. Sadly that was the same day the state announced new coronavirus guidelines, which meant the Winchester Mystery House closed. Again. After only getting to be open for one day!
The house first closed on March 12, 2020, when California –like the rest of the world– found itself confronting the invasion of the novel coronavirus.
The gardens were able to reopen a couple of months later, on May 15, but at that time the house still remained closed.
The house was set to welcome visitors back with re-imagined tours that implemented plenty of COVID-19 precautions, which included:
- 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.
- Self-guided tours. Visitors would be allowed to navigate their way through the home via a touchless, self-guided experience.
- One way pathways.
- 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.
But the popular San Jose attraction was forced to close down again when California’s governor announced attractions like the Winchester Mystery House, as well as bars, indoor restaurants, and movie theaters, needed to close again to try and squelch a rise in COVID-19 cases.
But even though the Winchester Mystery House closed again, the gardens are still open for visitors to enjoy.
For More Info
Visit: https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/tours/
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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