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A House With Many Doors

Jack and Emma talk about the famous Winchester Mystery House in California. They explain its strange rooms and doors, the legend behind it, and why so many tourists visit today.

PodcastA1Horror & mysteryFree to learnPrintable worksheet

11mAudioEnglish with translations in EnglishQuizzes

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Jack Dawson

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Heylangs Podcast. I'm Jack Dawson. Imagine a door. You open it. There is only a wall. Now imagine a staircase. It goes up to the ceiling. Strange, right?

Emma Wells

And I'm Emma Wells. Jack, that sounds like a bad dream! But today we are talking about a real house. It is a very strange house.

Jack Dawson

This house is in California, in the United States. Its name is the Winchester Mystery House. Many tourists visit it every year.

Emma Wells

A woman named Sarah Winchester built this house. She started building it in 1884. She kept building for many years.

Jack Dawson

Sarah's family made guns. People say she felt sad about that. Some people say she believed in ghosts.

Emma Wells

The story says a fortune teller talked to Sarah. The fortune teller said: 'Keep building your house forever. Never stop. If you stop, bad things happen.'

Jack Dawson

So Sarah kept building. Workers built new rooms every day. They never stopped. Sometimes they worked at night.

Emma Wells

The house has 160 rooms today. Some doors open to walls. Some stairs go up to the ceiling.

Jack Dawson

Some doors open to nothing. You open the door. There is only air outside. It is a very confusing house.

Emma Wells

There are also secret passages inside the walls. Servants used these small hallways. They moved around quietly.

Jack Dawson

Sarah lived in this house until 1922. Then she passed away. After that, the house opened to the public.

Emma Wells

Now, tourists walk through the strange rooms. Guides tell them scary stories about ghosts. Many visitors say the house feels cold and creepy.

Jack Dawson

Some people say they hear footsteps at night. Other people say they see strange shadows. Nobody knows if these stories are true.

Emma Wells

Historians have a different idea, though. They think Sarah just liked building things. She was very rich. She had a lot of free time.

Jack Dawson

Maybe she was not scared of ghosts at all. Maybe she just loved architecture and design. We cannot know for sure.

Emma Wells

Today, the Winchester Mystery House is a famous tourist spot. Thousands of people visit it every year.

Jack Dawson

Some visitors go there for the history. Other visitors go there for the spooky feeling.

Emma Wells

Either way, it is a fascinating place. One story can become a famous legend. This house shows that.

Jack Dawson

Let's talk more about the house. It has a big garden too. The garden has strange statues and small ponds.

Emma Wells

The house also has many windows. Some windows are tiny. Some windows are huge. Some windows have thirteen small panes of glass.

Jack Dawson

The number thirteen is important in the house. Sarah liked this number. Many rooms have thirteen steps or thirteen windows.

Emma Wells

People say thirteen is an unlucky number. Maybe Sarah used it on purpose. Maybe she wanted to feel safe from bad luck.

Jack Dawson

Guides walk visitors through the house at night, too. Night tours are very popular. People say the house feels spookier in the dark.

Emma Wells

Some visitors bring flashlights and cameras. They want to find something strange. Most people do not see a ghost, though.

Jack Dawson

The house is now more than one hundred years old. Workers fix the old wood and windows every year. It is a big job.

Emma Wells

Other old houses around the world have similar legends. People love stories about strange builders and mysterious rooms.

Jack Dawson

These houses show us something. History and legend can mix together. A true story gets bigger and stranger over time.

Emma Wells

Movies and TV shows also use the Winchester house. It gives them ideas. A film about Sarah Winchester came out in 2018.

Jack Dawson

Fans of horror stories often visit the house in October. They enjoy the spooky season. They love the twisting hallways.

Emma Wells

Local guides say children especially love the tour. They ask many questions about ghosts and secret doors.

Jack Dawson

Maybe you believe in ghosts. Maybe you do not. Either way, the house is wonderful. It is a great example of unusual architecture.

Emma Wells

It teaches us something. Curiosity, money, and fear can build a famous place. The whole world remembers this house.

Jack Dawson

The house also has a special ballroom. Workers spent many years on its beautiful windows. Sarah never finished it completely, though.

Emma Wells

There is also a kitchen with two ovens. Why did she want two ovens in one small room? Nobody knows.

Jack Dawson

Some rooms have low ceilings. Other rooms have very tall ceilings. Sarah was a short woman. So some rooms fit her perfectly.

Emma Wells

Visitors often lose their way inside the house. The hallways twist and turn many times. Guides always walk in front. They help everyone.

Jack Dawson

Photographers love the house too. Its strange shapes look beautiful in pictures. The shadows look amazing at sunset.

Emma Wells

Every October, the house adds extra spooky decorations. Staff members wear old-fashioned costumes for visitors.

Jack Dawson

Local schools sometimes bring students on field trips. Teachers use the house to talk about history and architecture.

Emma Wells

Many visitors leave with more questions than answers. That mystery is part of the house's magic. We hope you enjoy this strange story today. Maybe one day you can visit this house yourself.

Jack Dawson

The house also sells souvenirs in a small gift shop. Visitors can buy postcards, books, and small toy ghosts.

Emma Wells

Some people say the gift shop is not scary. Everyone feels relaxed and happy there.

Jack Dawson

Every October, the house also hosts a special candlelight tour. Visitors carry small lanterns. They do not use electric lights.

Emma Wells

That sounds beautiful and a little frightening. Shadows look very different by candlelight.

Jack Dawson

Many people say the Winchester house changes them. After the visit, they think differently. Old buildings and old stories feel new.

Emma Wells

It shows something amazing. One family, one choice, can create a legend. The legend lasts for over one hundred years.

Jack Dawson

Some tour guides work at the house for many years. They say they never feel bored in the twisting hallways.

Emma Wells

New visitors often say the same thing at the end. The house feels bigger than they expected. It also feels stranger.

Jack Dawson

A trip to this house is never boring. There is always a new door. There is a new staircase. There is a new little secret to find.

Emma Wells

A good mystery keeps people curious for a long time. Real or not, it does not matter. So, are you going to visit California one day? Then plan a visit. And remember to bring good walking shoes.

Jack Dawson

Bring a friend, too. A mysterious old house is more fun with someone else. I am going to take my friend Marco one day.

Emma Wells

You can also take a virtual tour online. Many websites show pictures and short videos of the rooms. That is good for people far away.

Jack Dawson

That is our story for today. Thank you very much for listening, everyone.

Emma Wells

Remember, a little practice every day makes a big difference. See you next time!

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What do you think?

What would you like to see first at the Winchester Mystery House? Why?
Why do you think Sarah Winchester kept building her house?
What do you think about ghost stories? Why do people like them?

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About this lesson

Jack and Emma talk about the famous Winchester Mystery House in California. They explain its strange rooms and doors, the legend behind it, and why so many tourists visit today. It is written at A1 level, so First words and simple sentences. Read it, listen where audio is available, tap words you do not know and finish with the quiz.

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