John H. Brown had designed amusement rides, among them the Backety-Back coaster. In April 1923 he and his wife Mayme leased the house and its remaining grounds, planning a family park; when locals asked to see inside, they opened the house instead. Mayme Brown was its first tour guide, and the old gardens became Winchester Park for picnics. The Browns later bought the property, and their descendants’ company has run it since 1963.
Questions people ask
Who opened the Winchester Mystery House to the public?
John and Mayme Brown, on June 30, 1923.