There wasn’t a ghost of a chance anything could go wrong.
After all, it was a Winchester Mystery House tour and they do this all the time, taking folks through the twisty-turny, willy-wonky passages of the historic San Jose mansion. Sure, this particular tour was dubbed “Unhinged,” but that could merely have referenced a hardware problem with the hundreds of turn-of-the-last-century doors. Right?
Our sweet young guide, sporting an oddly pale complexion and 19th-century housemaid’s garb, giggled nervously as she shared lore about the spirits of those who’d met their demise on the business end of a Winchester rifle. Then she led us on our way and astray, off the beaten tour path and through the stone-cold, brick-walled, cob-webbed basement where no tourists have gone before — or at least, they haven’t returned to Yelp about it.
Then all hullabaloo broke loose. The lights snapped off. It was black as a vampire’s heart. Where in heaven’s name was our guide? The lights flickered back on and a security guard was yelling, scolding us for veering off-tour.
“It’s dangerous down there – get out, get out!” Then he was gone, too. Was he for real? An actor? A ghost?
Upstairs, an eerie fog filled the corridor, cloaking a still eerier butler — think Christopher Walken and Jack Nicholson, dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight. In the garden room, a corpse-like woman conversed with an invisible friend: “No, I’m not going to help you kill them, Walter. If you want them dead you’re going to have to come down and do it yourself!” Eek!
OK, so this was not your everyday Winchester tour after all. Unhinged is a walkthrough Halloween extravaganza held on select evenings through Nov. 2. It’s intended to shiver your timbers and thrill your soul, but not in a jump-out-with-a-chainsaw kind of way. Oh, there are some startles and blood-curdling screams, but that’s mostly from the guests. This is immersive theater with talented actors performing vignettes in various rooms, some moaning as lingering spirits, others warning you to vacate the premises … or DIE!
It’s all from the warped minds of ThemeDream Productions and the writers of San Francisco’s popular “The Speakeasy” show. And while the Winchester has offered Halloween events in the past — a popular candlelight tour and even a professional haunted maze a few years back – those can rest in peace because this is very different. Unhinged takes advantage of the Winchester’s built-in storyline, its creepy Victorian vibe, narrow passages and already peeling wallpaper – they barely needed to decorate at all.
The tours, which take about an hour, are not recommended for kids under 13. But all ages can check out an amazing 3D-projection light show on the mansion facade on Unhinged nights, complete with ghosts and crumbling walls. And in the gift shop, there’s a giant must-see gingerbread-house replica of the Winchester house, created by Christine McConnell of Netflix’s “Curious Creations of Christine McConnell.”
But wait, there’s more
At this time of year, there are plenty of things that go bump in the night in the Bay Area. Here’s just a sampling.
Winchester Mystery House: The mansion offers a full slate of events, including “Unhinged” tours ($44-$54) through Nov. 2, Sarah’s Spirited Supper ($259), a gourmet Halloween-themed dinner in the ballroom on Oct. 19, and a free kids’ Trick-or-Treat Trail in the gardens from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 26-27. 525 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose; www.winchesterunhinged.com; https://winchestermysteryhouse.com
Sweets, Spirits & The Beyond Tour, Oakland: This spooky two-hour cemetery tour, held at 4 p.m. on Saturdays in October, leads brave guests to the final resting places of some of the Bay Area’s most famous and infamous residents at Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery and the Chapel of the Chimes columbarium, designed by Julia Morgan (she’s buried in the cemetery too). But it’s not just a tour. There are treats and libations along the way including Ghirardelli chocolates at the mausoleum of Domingo Ghirardelli, and mai tais to toast the life — and death — of the drink’s creator, Trader Vic. Tickets are $40; 21-and-over only. Meet at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland; www.localfoodadventures.com.
Terror Vault, San Francisco: This interactive and fully-immersive haunted attraction ($62) weaves through the basement of the historic San Francisco Mint. This year, they’ll also debut “Apocalypse” ($35), a zombie-filled escape room experience. Plus, there will be themed cocktails and tasty treats at The Gold Bar and Madam Zola’s pop-up café, a haunted arcade with spooky vintage pinball games, an Instagram room, psychics and more. Shows run evenings Tuesdays through Sundays from Oct. 10 to Nov. 10; www.intothedarksf.com.
Dead Time Dreams, San Jose: Expect two new frighteningly immersive haunted attractions, Demon House and Seven Deadly Sins, as well as a bigger and better Midway of Terror to entertain guests and get the blood flowing before and after the main attractions. Tickets are $20 for select nights from Oct. 4 to Nov. 2; located at the corner of Tully Road and Capitol Expressway, next to the ABC Pumpkin Patch; www.deadtimedreams.com.
Halloween Haunt at Great America: The Santa Clara theme park’s annual Halloween event features haunted mazes like the Backwoods Hunting Resort and Spa, set deep in a creepy swamp, or the Chaos House with its dizzying maze of mirrors, glass walls and blindingly thick foggy haze. Plus, live shows, scare zones and hundreds of monsters at every turn. Tickets are $32 online; weekends and select nights from Sept. 27 to Nov. 2; www.cagreatamerica.com.
Fright Fest at Six Flags: Zombies and ghouls take over the entire Vallejo theme park with family-friendly thrills during the day, and truly frightening fun after the sun goes down. Fright Fest offers several haunted houses and scare zones. New for 2019: Toxic Terror, a post-apocalyptic wasteland with glowing inhabitants, and the Darke Market, where you can find unique food, macabre merchandise and ghoulish games. Tickets start at $47. Select nights Sept. 21 to Nov. 2; www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom.
Pirates of Emerson, Pleasanton: Get your Halloween “arrrr” on at five haunted attractions including Pirates of Emerson, Mystery Mansion, Hillbilly Holler, Dorm of Doom and Maze Haze on the six-acre compound staged at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Tickets $35. Oct. 4 to Nov. 2; www.piratesofemerson.com.
Fear Overload Scream Park, San Leandro: You’ll find some of the scariest haunted attractions around at the Bayfair Center mall. New this year: Night Terrors, a haunted house where the previous owners were found months after their murders by a deranged killer, and The Tooth Collector – dental nightmares at the hands and torturing tools of Dr. Pearly. Tickets start at $26. Frights start at 7 p.m. select nights from Sept. 27 to Nov. 2; 15555 E. 14th St., San Leandro; www.fearoverload.com.