Murder mystery camping can mean different things at different campgrounds. At Michigan's Petoskey KOA campground, a Murder Mystery Weekend takes its cue from traditional murder mystery shows. Actors present the mystery to campers throughout the weekend, and campers get the opportunity to guess the murderer at the end.
Some state campgrounds throughout Michigan present murder mystery scavenger hunts during the fall.
The Lake Huron Campground in Carsonville, Mich., hosts a Big Family Murder Mystery in the summer. Guests gather clues throughout the weekend to solve the "murder."
People attending a murder mystery camping event should consider what type of event suits them and their family best. Murder mystery weekends that feature a performance might not be ideal for some children. In fact, the Petoskey KOA campground's Murder Mystery Weekend does not allow children to attend. Other events are appropriate for kids and families; for example, Lake Huron Campground's Mystery Weekend bills its event as a family activity. State park murder mystery events are typically geared toward young people.
Another consideration is time. Some parks host an entire weekend of murder mystery events, while others, like state and county park events, might only take a day or just a few hours.
The features of a murder mystery camping event will depend on the host campground, but the main feature is the opportunity to solve a fictional murder case. Whether clues are presented by actors, written excerpts or riddles, participants can keep track of them and make a final guess once the entire mystery has been presented. Some campgrounds offer prizes for people who correctly solve the murder. The Petoskey KOA campground's Murder Mystery Weekend includes a T-shirt, food, a photo, camping and a prize for a correct guess. Lake Huron Campground lets families make invisible ink, then solve puzzles and gather clues to solve the mystery.
Some murder mystery camping events take place after Labor Day, during the fall when people start looking for Halloween seasonal events. Events after Labor Day might not be as long as summer murder mystery events because kids in Michigan are back to school, and it is outside of the tourist season. Families are less likely to travel very far to attend an event after Labor Day. State campground murder mystery activities in September and October are day-camping events.
Most weekend-long murder mystery events take place during the summer tourist season when people travel farther to camp and vacation. Both the Petoskey KOA and Lake Huron Campgrounds host their weekend event in August in 2010.
Murder mystery events can be fun and exciting for families and kids, but the subject matter of murder might not be appropriate for all children or very young children. Before choosing a murder mystery event to attend, parents should make sure the activities and the nature of the mystery will not be disturbing to their children.
