Historical by Day, ‘Unhinged’ by Night (A NoPro Adventure)

Each year, I get wanderlust for Halloween. Every town has something fun and spooky to do, and with Unhinged happening at the Winchester Mystery House (a place I have always been fascinated by, but had never visited), I took the opportunity to explore Halloween in Norther California.

Our first stop on the tour was Unhinged, happening at the main attraction of San Jose- The Winchester Mystery House. Having never experienced the house before, I was eager to see it during the day as it is, before the show. The tour of the Winchester lasts about an hour and covers over 100 rooms (according to the website). There were stairs of all shapes and sizes and doors much the same. We walked through the room where Sarah Winchester passed on, as well as the room where she purportedly conversed with the spirits.

I loved the historical nature of the tour, and it was fun to pass through certain rooms and see indicators that they would be part of the show later that evening. I’m so glad we took that opportunity to explore before the sun went down.

Arriving for the show, you walk up to the gates, and are met by a man in a sports coat with a desperate plea to turn back. He explains through his warnings that his daughter went into the house and never came out. He suggests the same thing will happen to you if you continue onward. But you have tickets to the show, so you do.

The courtyard/garden area is transformed into a carnival with games and prizes, and a modest bar is set up in the center, offering cocktails, beer, and wine.

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An announcement over the loud speakers reminded us to check out the light show happening in mere moments, so we headed out to the front viewing area.

The light show was phenomenal! The 3D projection mapping was so well done! At times, it looked like the house caught fire, and at another point, there was a nod to the 1906 earthquake that did major damage to the mansion. The light show was a beautiful prelude to Unhinged, in my opinion. It told the story of several people who entered the mansion and never exited, which also happened to be the through-line of Unhinged. Our time slot came for Unhinged and we were broken up into groups of about 8–10. The show began where the day time tour ended and it felt like we were retracing our steps. The house was transformed! I was shocked at some of the effects used in the show, especially considering how minimal the footprint for them was during the day.

The show was a collection of vignettes. It told the (fictional) story of multiple people who have visited the house and gone missing. Having followed along on their social media, that plot was very clear. There were a few moments where a genuine connection with the audience was made, like when we met the daughter of the man who had warned us to stay away. And then again when we found out what happened when he, himself went in to look for her. Another very memorable moment for me was when we watched a man pray to be reunited with his wife and daughters, whom were taken by the house, just to see his prayer get answered. The setting was almost a character in and of itself. The room that served as Sarah Winchester’s bedroom was now the backdrop for a heart-broken bride, aching to be reunited with her lost love.

After the show, we paid a visit to the gift shop to see Christine McConnell’s edible miniature replica of the estate. Every detail was accounted for and even a few creative liberties were taken that perfectly captures the spirit of the house and the legacy that Sarah Winchester left behind. Click here to read my full account of that day at the Mystery House.

Our second stop was at The Gravermind Estate- click here to read that review.

The last visit was to a winery in St. Helena called Flora Springs. This winery is one of Napa’s ghost wineries, which we learned on our visit that during prohibition, some successful wineries were abandoned and left to crumble. But when prohibition was lifted, some of these wineries picked right back up and continued to produce wine. But for some wineries, like Flora Springs, the phrase “ghost winery” takes on two meanings. Yes, it was abandoned during prohibition, but it is also haunted! Some would argue most places that old are purportedly haunted. And Flora Springs embraces their spirits, of both kinds, by offering many fun things to do and taste during Halloween, including elaborately decorated hand-painted and etched seasonal bottle! One of these events we were able to take advantage of was the Sixteen Spirits Historical Ghost Winery Tour and Tasting, with the ghost tour led by local paranormal experts Napa Ghosts. With the tour beginning at 10am, those who arrive early are treated to a pour of the white wine to encourage more…spirit, if you will.

The tour portion is very interactive, as you are handed ghost hunting equipment and given a quick crash-course on what to say if your K2 meter goes off. Along the tour of the barrel cave, you are introduced to 3 ghosts who demonstrate their abilities in various ways. You are encouraged to participate and communicate with these spirits using the dowsing rods, and the spirit box.

Once the tour is over, you exit the cave and are greeted by the most beautifully set table! With a glass on the right and a glass on the left, you know you’re in for a sensational time. Your guide on this wine adventure is Ted, formerly the wine purchaser at the Four Seasons, Ted knows his stuff. What followed was a parade of delicious red wines! With each glass, he explains he history behind it as it pertains to Flora Springs, as well as any interesting fact you may not know about that certain type of wine. It was fun, educational, and the wine was delicious! Click here to read about the rest of my day in Napa.

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