Why You'll Want To Explore One Of The Nation's Most Haunted Houses Now More Than Ever

The Winchester Mystery House is the former residence of Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune. In the late 1800s, Sarah came to believe that the ghosts of all those killed by her family’s rifles were haunting her estate. In order to confuse the spirits that she believed roamed her home, Sarah commissioned nearly constant construction on the Winchester property.

Over the course of 38 years, the home became a sprawling complex of hallways that ended abruptly, doors that opened into solid walls, and staircases that led nowhere. In total, the home contains about 161 rooms, 40 bedrooms, two ballrooms, 47 fireplaces, two basements, and three elevators.

Though the strange structure has been open to the public for tours since 1923, the home has recently begun operating a new "Explore More Tour." This guided experience takes visitors into rooms that have never before been seen by the public, including unfinished areas that were never completed due to Sarah Winchester’s death in 1922. This will be the first time visitors will be able to see these hidden parts of the home.