Ohio is home to a number of quaint, charming bed-and-breakfast inns where you can relax, soak up the scenery, enjoy some tasty home cooking -- and get away with murder. Book a stay at one of these inns for a murder-mystery weekend and you could find yourself playing the part of the murderer, the victim or even the daring detective who fearlessly tracks down clues and cracks the case.
The Garden Gate Get-A-Way located in Millersburg in the heart of Ohio Amish country has a variety of vacation tours and packages, including ones for wine lovers, equestrians and ghost hunters as well as mystery buffs. Murder-mystery weekends take place several times a year and recent themes have included a Mardi-Gras mystery, a murder aboard a cruise ship and a crime that takes place at a Hawaiian luau. The mystery unfolds over the course of two evenings, during which time guests not only play assigned roles but also are served two progressive dinners. The cost of the package includes two nights' lodging with breakfast both mornings as well as the two dinners with beverages.
At the Barn Inn in Millersburg, professional actors and actresses help facilitate the murder mystery that plays out Saturday night between dinner courses -- but all of the starring roles go to guests. You need to book at least 30 days in advance so you can be assigned your role ahead of time, and while you may dress the part if you wish, costumes are not required. One of the scenarios available is a 1920s speakeasy murder, while another mystery unfolds at a hillbilly family reunion.
At the The White Oak Inn in Danville, murder-mystery weekends are scheduled throughout the year. The "murders" take place in a variety of creative settings such as a gathering of sasquatch hunters, a medieval castle, a 1960s wedding, a convention of horrible lounge singers, an over-the-top game show and an unemployed-superhero meeting. These mystery events usually are one night only and include dinner as well as breakfast the following morning. Rooms may be booked for either one or two nights, and the White Oak will arrange private mystery weekends for groups of 14 to 21 guests. While the public mystery weekends are only for guests ages 18 and older, children can be accommodated during the private events.
Murder mysteries at Castle Inn in Circleville take place on the last Friday of each month as well as a special New Year's Eve event. Each guest is provided with an early 1900s-era costume and a character description at check-in, and the event kicks off with a cocktail party complete with an hors d'oeuvre buffet. While drink mixers are provided, you need to bring your own liquor. The murder mystery continues over a sit-down dinner and dessert buffet, but you don't find out "whodunit" until the big reveal next morning over breakfast. These events are adults only, and groups of six couples may book a mystery weekend at any time in the month instead of on the regularly scheduled dates.
