35 Best Stops Between Murphys and San Jose (2024)

The Winchester Mystery House is a sprawling landmark built by Sara Winchester in the late 1800's. It is said to be haunted by the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles, and contains many strange features designed to confuse ghosts.

Cool tour. The tour guides were amazing. I highly recommend taking the extra tour after taking the first tour, it made the overall experience that much better. Gift shop to shooting range, axe throwing to house tour, this site holds a lot of adventure to be had.Warning: I and my guests experienced paranormal activity while in the house. My experience was not nearly as bad as my guests but be aware, paranormal experiences are possible and my not be suitable for all people.

Drew L — Google review

In March we took the House tour and loved it. We came back in July to take the Walk With Spirits Tour.We had a blast! We love the tours here. Staff are so knowledgeable and friendly. The house is amazing, great for those into history and spirits.We bought our tickets online prior, which made it so easy, no wait at all. Highly recommend all of the tours they offer here.

Sheri M — Google review

I absolutely love the house. It's cute, quirky, and inspiring. However the tickets were way overpriced, considering it wasn't even the whole house and the inside was incredibly hot (I get that AC is quite impossible but feel like some of the money on the ticket could be spent on more and better fans), and that the tour is quite short for the price (the turnaround rate is high, which again I get, but I wish we had more time to check out every room, instead of being rushed by the next tour.) Worth visiting and it was super fun, but get ready to spend.

Yu H — Google review

We were in San Jose for a concert and found the Winchester Mystery House while searching for things to do during the day, and I'm glad we did. The one hour tour was great, and our tour guide gave us some great history while injecting a lot of humor as well. It was a really good time, and we enjoyed learning about and seeing the house. All of the different features meant to confuse the ghosts were fun to see.(They were set up for a Halloween event, so some of my photos have those items in there that normally aren't set up.)

Jamie L — Google review

Definitely a must see in San Jose, I attended a walk with the spirits tour. It lasted around 1 hour, or guide Katy was kind and very informative. The tour takes you through a lot of the house and there’s tight spots where you have to duck and wear a hard hat. So if you have mobility issues it could be a little challenging. Theres also stairs to climb. But overall a great tour. My group had a lot of fun!

Kennedy F — Google review

It was interesting, the house was a novelty and a fun piece of history. Sarah, our guide, was nice and very knowledgeable. My other thoughts: the tour ran about 90 minutes, which was a little long for me at the end, though the most elaborate rooms are at the end so it ends on a high note. The price is very high, totalling $90 for the two of us. I've been to a lot of historic monuments, palaces, castles, etc. and that's the highest price I've ever seen. I don't think it's worth it-as a comparison, the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey is almost half the price. Interesting, but priced too high. Tickets sell out so you might want to reserve online.

Michelle M — Google review

Whether you appreciate craftsmanship and architecture or are just interested after watching the movie, the Winchester house is pretty cool stop. The craftsmanship, stained glass windows, and attention to detail in every room were amazing, and these pictures do no justice. And if you know the history, of course, there are doors, stairs, cabinets of odd sizes, or that go to nothing/blocked or drop offs. It's clear that nothing was spared during the nonstop building. There is a shower, car wash, and elevators. She was very intellectual, and it shows everywhere. We did both tours while there. The main difference is the standard tour you see more rooms but do to the next group you don't always get check out as much as you may like. The explore more tour you can actually walk around more and they have opened areas not seen by public in about 90 years, you also get to go in the basement. There is a flashlight tour now that I would have loved to go on, but it wasn't an option at that time I went.

Mark W — Google review

Buy tickets in advance as the tour groups leave about once an hour with twenty people in them. Tours are interesting though I was expecting a lot more doors or staircases leading to nowhere. However it's a beautiful old mansion and the renovations that went on for decades most definitely did create a labyrinth of rooms and hallways at every turn that one could easily get lost in. I personally would prefer that the house were simply named Winchester House rather than using "Mystery" in the name as I feel it makes the house seem more of a cheap thrill of an amusement park oddity rather than a majestic old mansion built by an eccentric woman who had been troubled by her tragic past and association to the firearms that were the source of her wealth. That's just me however. It's worth a visit if you're in the Bay area and worth the price.

M J — Google review

This place is amazing. We were fortunate to go during the narrow window of time when they were offering an extended version of the tour to areas that are usually off limits. Very cool. The tower room with the crazy acoustics was probably my favorite part. I love the entire house and property though. Fantastic experience. I'm so grateful that this place has been preserved. It's really cool.

James A — Google review

What a fun experience. The house is lovingly maintained and the grounds are exquisite especially the garden. It was fun to walk around after the tour. The tour guide was informative if not rehearsed but I guess that's to be expected after saying the same thing all day every day. Kind of funny to see this house and grounds smack in the middle of the city with condos and offices around but also loved the old photos of what the area looked like when it was originally purchased. Gift shop was well stocked with everything you could imagine. Fascinating story of Sarah Winchester.

Allison M — Google review

We had a wonderful time at this fabulous old home! Our guide Griffin was exceptional; kind, patient and very knowledgeable. The home itself is fascinating and beautiful, and the gardens are lovely! Buy tickets in advance and for first thing in the morning during the summer months as it does get hot!

Traci B — Google review

Loved our visit to this place! Me and my bestie have always wanted to see the Winchester Mystery House and it did not disappoint! Only thing disappointing was that urban sprawl has encroached upon the surrounding area and has the essence of putting this beautiful property in a little hole. My friend always imagined it as being away from the city and on its own little land high on a hill somewhere. But still, the mansion was cool and mysterious, even during the day. My friend said she felt anxiety in one of the rooms and, for some reason, the seance room was much colder than any of the other rooms. I thought a window was open, but there wasn't! Our tour guide had a dry humor, but it was appropriate for this kind of establishment. Slightly creepy, very interesting, and just the right amount of historical facts to make the tour enjoyable. Bring your walking shoes! This place was huge!

Theron L — Google review

For 13 years I've been waiting for this tour and it was worth every penny. The tour guide was fantastic, the gardens were easy to navigate and the gift shop was pretty alright. The gift shop was a tad expensive but if you want memorabilia it was perfect. I love this place and I hope to return another time.

Casey J — Google review

The Winchester Mystery House tour is amazing and so completely worth visiting! Our guide, Kai, was knowledgeable, captivating, and friendly. He shared facts, not fiction, while sharing the story of Sara Winchester's life. The house is a piece of fascinating, historic architecture, full of interesting tales and visuals. I would totally take this tour again, it was so fascinating I am sure I missed things because I was so enthralled! The gardens are beautiful and so peaceful to stroll through. We went on the regular tour but will definitely go back for the Candlelight tour! Oh! And the Menagerie of Oddities & Curiosities Market that was taking place was super rad with local artisans and artists, can't wait to go back!

Cami C — Google review

Truly unique experience. This place is impressive just from driving by, but when you take the tour, it's even more amazing. I was a little bothered by waking through the physical manifestation of a very wealthy person's mental illness, but that aspect also became fascinating. The hour tour led us through many rooms and stories and was well organized. Our tour group of 20 barely fit in the rooms being discussed, but we didn't have to wait long after we arrived to start. Check out the grounds while you wait for your tour. The green screen photos taken at the start turn into surprisingly good monentos with nice Winchester House backgrounds to choose from.

Anne W — Google review

We had a wonderful time on our explore more tour with Jim and our mansion tour with Justin! The explore more tour was my personal favorite- I loved seeing the depths of the house. Also - loved the Halloween decor! Parking was free and easy and the gift shop had excellent variety.

Kristi M — Google review

Loved this place. The house and grounds are beyond stunning. Parking was easier than I expected and the tour guides were fun. I enjoyed learning about the history. We did both tours and felt the price for the explore more tour was not a great value, but the $ you pay helps fund the restorations needed so I'm okay with that. Also we arrived basically one minute before our scheduled tour and they were very accommodating and offered to change our time before I could even ask.

Charlie R — Google review

We toured on our weekend getaway. What an AWESOME experience! Very unique! Just wish there was a little more time in between rooms; not only for pictures but to allow the available presence(s) to come through more. Faces are within paintings/pictures in pictures. Definitely does not sell short of the energy in that building! Beautiful architecture! Captivating! Now, we just need a midnight tour or sleepover! ☺️

Elaina K — Google review

We were driving through and I wanted to stop to see it. I have heard so much about the house. My wife and just gone on the house tour and "spirits" tour several weeks before with her girlscout troop. The girls really enjoyed both tours. We walked around the grounds and gift shop, but did not go inside. It is a beautiful home. They do a great job taking care of it! It is amazing to think it used to be a working farm, surrounded by orchards. Now it is surrounded by office buildings and apartments. If you are in the area, you have to stop and see it.

Scott W — Google review

Historical aspects that were beautiful to see. Great tour guide with a sense of humor. We went in August so it was hot but we still enjoyed the tour. Lots of walking, lots of stairs, some original items, but most things were brought in to recreate the home dynamic. We definitely want to go back and see the other tour options.

Teasha V — Google review

Have never been here before so I will review everything I did individually….Oct 6- Unhinged experience VIP 930pmThis is a fun experience for kids, but pricey and in my opinion not worth the price.Oct 7- spirit tour 150pmFun and informative. Vic was a great host with a lot of stories and experience (I believe he has been there since 2018)Answered any and all questions- great host! A+Oct 8- mansion tourAlso fun and informative! Victoria was our host this day. It was only her second day and you would have never known it! She was wonderful. Answered all questions and was so much fun. Everyone truly enjoyed her, I feel she has a long time employment here (maybe even into the afterlife 🤣)I bundled the last 2 tours which made it a great deal. Also, these 2 tours take you to different parts and rooms of the house so I highly recommend doing both! I really loved all the stained glass in the house.

Robin M — Google review

A must-see experience for every fan of the eccentric or unusual or even Victorian architecture. It's difficult to convey my feelings about the Winchester Mystery House. I'm not a believer in spooks or spirits, so the exact reason why my memory of the house has lingered at the front of my consciousness for weeks after my visit is peculiar to put it mildly. My initial impression was simply how overwhelming the maintenance of the house must be on an ongoing basis. We paid for the 10:50 am "Guided Mansion Tour" on a Saturday. Tickets were $41.99 each. Our tour guide was Marissa, a lovely young lady wearing a period costume. She was professional, enthusiastic about the property (she referred to the Winchester House as a "home" throughout the tour), and a delightful host. We heard some of the other tour guides that overlapped ours due to the layout of the house, and I am pleased that we were lucky to be assigned Marissa for our tour. She was great! Highly recommended!!!

Lloyd I — Google review

We absolutely loved this house! Our tour guide Olivia Maldonado went above and beyond for our tour. We loved the architecture, history, "haunted" part and everything else. Olivia let us rest when my Make-a-Wish kiddo needed a break and we got to use ghost hunting tools in the house. We got to hear the history behind doors that lead to nowhere, the stairs that lead to nowhere, the number 13 throughout the house and so many more fun tidbits. Their gift shop is huge and super well priced. Olivia made the tour so enjoyable! 100% worth your time to go and enjoy as there's something for everyone.

Briana T — Google review

We made a detour on our camping trip on our way home from the Coast of California and visited the Winchester Mystery House. You must do this tour! You'll be telling friends forever that they should go too! After we had a really great lunch in town at an upscale Mexican Restaurant just a 5 min. Walk from there. Great day!

Shelley M — Google review

We did an afternoon tour on a weekday. Drove there and was able to purchase tickets for the next tour. Each tour lasted about an hour and it was packed with fun facts about the house.I highly recommend this tour. Very unique house full of mystery and history. My kids and I all enjoyed it. Our guide was awesome!

Sharon B — Google review

So cool to experience this house during their annual Halloween event. It was my first time there and I was surprised that the house is literally next to Santana Row. That was helpful parking-wise because the event parking was full (even the overflow lot). The maze experience was long and felt like a fever dream afterwards. Be aware that it gets very dark and there’s lots of narrow steps involved. Would love to go back and see this on a daytime tour.

Silvia — Google review

My wife and I had the opportunity to attend a TAPS Paranormal investigation at the Winchester Mystery House. I have been to the Winchester house about 4 times with my first time being about 55 years ago, but never at night and in the dark. The event was top-notch with friendly staff and knowledgeable staff from TAPS West Coast. The TAPS crew were using a vast array of equipment, and each of the guests had their own K2 EMF detector. We went into areas previously unavailable to the public. If they ever offer this experience again, do it.

Phil W — Google review

This is my second time to tour this house, however it's been about 20 years since my last time.The house is beautiful as always and the gardens and renovated rooms are beautiful. If you've never been, you need to go at least once to experience.My biggest issue with the experience was our tour guide Brenda and gift shop workers. Upon being greeted for my 10:25 tour, our tour guide was friendly and greeted us. However, she was wearing a cloth face mask and most of those in my group had a hard time hearing and understanding her throughout the tour. Apparently the group just 5 minutes before ours went long on every stop so we were awkwardly forced to stay in the room we were in before we could advance. Our tour guide knew her script, but had no additional knowledge or stories to pass on while we were waiting to move on. Not sure what the tour guide ahead of us was saying but was evidently a lot more than what we were getting. She would only awkwardly ask if there were any questions and then gracefully give evasive answers when she didn't appear to know the actual answer to them. There were also several times we would move from one room to another, but due to the size of our group we could not all fit in the same room. Those as the back would be stuck in a hallway and again with Brenda's quiet voice and mask, none of what she said could be heard.The tour has added some special effects like the earthquake and videos in some of the stained glass. Those were a cool update.Lastly, I generally found the staff in the gift shop were not very helpful. They seemed to be more interested in having their own non work related conversations between each other than to help customers. When trying to check out, one employee rang me up and gave me a total, told me I had to go to another register after I said I was paying with cash. At the next register my total was almost 10 dollars more. Upon bringing it to the cashiers attention, she found she made the mistake however there was no apology or any indication that she had cared she over charged me.In the gift shop there were several old vending games but every one of them was out of order. Throughout the property a lot of things seemed to be out of order.All in all, still a cool place to visit but it doesn't seem the employees are nearly as invested in giving a great customer experience as they had been in the past.

Craig B — Google review

This place is awesome! It's a little costly but it's worth the hour long tour through 110 of the 160 rooms. We did the normal tour which is 110 rooms and the "Explore More" one is all 160. We had a very nice funny tour guide, his name was Will, and he was so nice. There was only one downside that would be that all of the areas we were going through had so many doors everywhere and we wanted to see them but they were usually blocked off or had a chain, and I think you can see them for $30 to $40 more dollars per person for the Explore More. So I recommend checking out the Winchester house

Rom P — Google review

Been wanting to go here for years and finally had the opportunity. This house was amazing. It wasn’t as creepy as I was hoping for. However, I was pleasantly surprised learning about the woman who made the house. The architecture was absolutely fascinating. Very peaceful garden. Super interesting history.

Gloria W — Google review

We had a great time! Tours are led by knowledgeable guides and in small groups. Emily did a great job telling us all about Sarah and her beautiful mansion. There was some info about spirits and such, but mostly very interesting and factual information. The cost of the tour goes to upkeep and restoration with original materials found on site. Truly a one of a kind place and mystery is a very fitting name for this home.

Jeff W — Google review

Creepy but fun! Definitely has spooky vibe, but we had a good time. We had a novice guide so she did her best. Would like to go back during October and do the nighttime tours! 👻

Sweet N — Google review

Impromptu visit on Saturday--reserve your tour ahead of time online. They seem to fill up fast!Wish the tours had a smaller group limit so that we could see a little more of the house and spend more time with tour guide.Overall, the home is amazing.If you enjoy Victorian design and stained glass, then this is a must see.Great way to spend some time in downtown San Jose if the weather is nice.Brenda was our guide and she was very friendly and hospitable.

Lauren B — Google review

What a nice experience. I loved the tour exploring the House and all of the details of the house. The stairs that led to the ceiling the doors that let to the wall Etc etc. The funny thing is that my friends phone stopped working when we got in the house And my phone called people all by itself 🤔 a friend of mine called me back saying you called me I was just returning your call 🤔 it was nice going through the House and Sara was a very Smart lady. The only thing is you are not allowed to do videos only take pictures.

Rose S — Google review

What a cool place!!! They offer a Mansion tour and also a “explore more” tour which brings you to places in the house you don’t see on the first tour. Tour guides are friendly and are entertaining through out the experience. During the fall they also offer Halloween events.

H R — Google review

Experience: really good experience. The house is exactly how you would imagine, quirky rooms, strange staircases, lots of windows and very unique features.The tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable but he went too fast. As soon as he finished telling us about the area we were in, it was time to walk on to the next area. So there was not much time to take it all in.It would have been nice if he spoke just a tad slower and paused before moving on.In their defense though, there is ALOT of information to cover. The house has so much character.I recommend visiting if you have a spare couple of hours.

Holly B — Google review

The Winchester House offers an unforgettable experience. The mansion's beauty is matched only by the quality of the guided tour. Each corner reveals intriguing stories, expertly explained by the guides. Exploring its mysteries is a true delight, making it a must-visit destination for anyone seeking an enriching and captivating experience in history and architecture.

Clément M — Google review

Very interesting tour. Took so many photos and the guide, Griffen(?), was great and well versed in his subject. This is a place that needs to be seen, describing it only does a disservice to the place. Highly recommend.

Edward T — Google review

This was a MUST-DO experience and the only reason we booked an extra night of our trip in San Jose and I have no regrets.Arizona was a fantastic tour guide and you could tell she had a real appreciation for the house and Sarah Winchester. I love the architecture and the storytelling of the mansion and the people in it. Also thought I lost my wallet for a few minutes and the person in the gift shop was immediately on her radio, asking everyone to keep an eye out. I was very appreciative of her compassion. (I had not lost it, just misplaced)Speaking of the gift shop, it was fantastic too! I love a good gift shop.

Rosalee G — Google review

This was our first time visiting. For some reason I wasn’t expecting this beautiful mansion to be surrounded by large commercial type buildings and concrete but that’s exactly what it was. The mansion tour itself was interesting. I appreciate the fact that the “earthquake room” was left as it was the day Ms. Winchester was rescued. I do wish that the furniture would have been the original furniture but that’s out of the hands of the museum as all of the original contents was removed by family or sold off in an estate auction long ago.Our tour guide was Alexis. She was AMAZING! and full of energy and knowledge about the history of the mansion.

Little C — Google review

It was a fascinating visit, very interesting to see the weird architecture of this house. Tour guide was great and informative. Though she does sound very scripted which takes a bit away from the tour. Tickets are extremely expensive - especially when you don’t even get to see the all rooms (arguably the best rooms) in the house. It was still worth to visit once.

Rachel K — Google review

I love this place. It's been twenty plus years since I've been over here so I thought I should check it out again. It's amazing how much you forget over the years. It's just a neat old quirky house. The story behind it really does enhance the experience. We only did the house tour because it was raining. Like I already said, I loved it. The guide was great and there was plenty to see. Would recommend. Not a lot of pics because I was too busy looking with my eyes.

Herb B — Google review

Beautiful house. I did enjoy my tour guide, Milo. Very quirky and fun. Gets really into it and knew a lot of other facts not mentioned. Although the introvert in me wouldn’t mind a self guided mobile tour as well. Very touristy with the gift shop but I did get a shirt and magnet. Was a nice piece of history. The cool part of history. Was eye easy to buy tickets online and go right inside to the waiting area.

Allieya D — Google review

We were there on March 12, 2024. Amazing house. We loved some of the woodworking details. Sarah had put a lot of thought into the details of the house. Some things weird, like stairs going up but nowhere, walls behind doors, etc. Our guide was knowledgeable. I would like to see a smaller group (about 4-5 persons less) so everyone can get into the rooms. Loved the bedroom areasIf you are in the area, you must visit. We enjoyed it.

Pam S — Google review

Jennifer at the 4:50pm tour today was incredible. Super friendly, very knowledgeable and had lots of great insider tips. After 56 countries, one of the best tours I’ve done.Tip: It seems like the tours at :30 and :00 are far busier than those at the less common minute marks (since people like round numbers), so recommend booking those.

Anthony G — Google review

I have a mixed feeling about this place. The tour and the guide were great. She walked us through the house and showed some parts of the house and the history behind each part. It was great to see how people at the time were living. However, I have two complains about the tour: 1) It’s very expensive for what you get. 2) They didn’t manage to show the yard and some other parts of the house. They could have managed the one hour time much better.

Rouzbeh S — Google review

This was my favorite part of our trip. The house was absolutely beautiful, if you love architecture and history this is the tour for you. I am spacing the name of our guide but she was fantastic, we had a larger group with a couple of kids and that made it harder to hear a few times and she was so patient and willing to answer any questions or repeat herself if necessary. The house has so much history and Sara's story is sad and amazing at the same time. It's sad to see how much of her land is gone to massive buildings surrounding the current grounds but happy to know it's a historical landmark now so it will be preserved. A must see for sure.

Life L — Google review

What an immaculate building! I've heard about this house for years with ghost hunters going through it. Did not realize until the day before I went that there is actually a Haunt going on during the Halloween season! It brings you through basically the entire house (don't quote me on this, it felt like it) during the maze, like a speed run. So many stairs, small rooms and hallways that lead to nowhere. It was super fun to see everything in Haunt mode and finally able to see this historic beast in person.

Atalia R — Google review

Well worth a trip to see the kooky Winchester mansion. It's well furnished, and the Christmas decorations were fun and fitting in the house. The multiple sets of stairs on the standard tour are worth consideration if you're going with children, seniors, or mobility restricted people. The tour is about a mile of walking. They do offer ADA tours as well.

Jessi H — Google review

Emma. The tour guide was awesome and lovely to listen too Very outgoing and well prepared and spontaneous. Loved every minute was thrilling and exciting to learn very informative. Definitely recommend to take some time and take the tour of this beautiful home.Look forward to do the extended tour with spirits soon.

Triple777black — Google review

We went on the mansion tour. Jessie gave a wonderfully entertaining and educational tour of the Winchester Mystery House. The tour was a bit fast paced but he did give us 30 seconds here or there in certain rooms to take photos and ask questions. He was well informed on the history of the mansion and was able to answer all questions. He was also patient when asked duplicate or obvious questions.He was funny and quick witted with his tour and made our time at the mansion memorable.I am definitely interested in returning in the fall for a spookier nighttime tour.

Shanley — Google review

A fascinating and enjoyable behind the scenes tour. The regular tour is fine, but the Explore More tour is ace. Quite a few unnatural/unexplainable incidents occurred. Oh yes, this place is haunted (cheeky wink)

Even P — Google review

We absolutely loved this visit and our tour guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. The history and facts are mind-blowing. Would love to visit again on our next trip up north. I would absolutely recommend buying your tickets in advance. While you wait for your tour you can browse the gift shop or wait in a beautiful shaded courtyard

Jerry C — Google review

This has been on my bucket list for decades and boy did it deliver. We went on both the Basic Mansion tour and the Explore More tours. All together it took around 3 hours for both tours and walking through the gardens. Both tours are so fun and entertaining. The tour guides tell stories and share details. Both tours are so different, that I am glad I took both. The Explore More really takes you into the bowels of the Mansion. You even wear a hard hat and do a lot of bending as you Explore the cellar and never before seen rooms. This was so fun and my 18 year old son and my wife all agree that it is in the top destinations we have ever visited. This should be on everyone's bucket list. It delivers!!

Jared H — Google review

I really enjoyed this place. The house is amazing and beautiful. We did the more tour so we got to use doors and see rooms other haven't. Jennifer was our guide and she was sweet, knowledgeable, and fun. Definitely recommend.

Jesse V — Google review

35 Best Stops Between Murphys and San Jose (2024)
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