Turn your property into a destination experience guests book months in advance.
Murder Mystery Weekend Getaways
Murder mystery weekends transform overnight stays into fully immersive getaways that encourage longer visits, premium pricing, and repeat bookings.
Murder Mystery Games for Weekend Getaway Events
Why Murder Mystery Games Work So Well for Weekends at Inns, Campgrounds, & Resorts
Inns and destination properties thrive on experiences, not just accommodations.
Murder mystery weekends work because they:
- Encourage multi-night stays
- Create urgency and advance bookings
- Build community among guests
- Justify premium, all-inclusive pricing
- Turn one weekend into a signature annual event
Guests arenât just booking a roomâtheyâre booking a story they get to step into.
What Is a Murder Mystery Weekend?
A murder mystery weekend is a themed, interactive experience where guests:
- Are assigned characters
- Interact with one another throughout the stay
- Uncover clues during meals and social time
- Work together to solve a fictional crime
The mystery unfolds naturally alongside your normal hospitality flowâdinner service, cocktails, breakfast, and leisure time.
Turn Your Property Into a Destination Experience
Murder mystery weekends are one of the most successful themed events because they naturally fit a getaway experience:
â Guests stay on-site for the full weekend
â Shared meals create built-in interaction
â Costumes instantly elevate the atmosphere
â The story unfolds over timeânot all at once
Instead of simply hosting guests, your property becomes the setting of the story.
Popular Murder Mystery Weekend Formats for Inns, Campgrounds, & B&Bs
Thereâs no single ârightâ way to host a mystery weekend. Properties across the U.S. adapt them to fit their style and schedule.
đïž Classic Weekend Getaway
- Friday: Arrival, welcome reception, character introductions
- Saturday: Mystery unfolds during dinner and evening social time
- Sunday: Final reveal at breakfast or brunch
đ Seasonal or Themed Weekends
- Fall or Halloween mystery weekends
- Winter or holiday-themed stays
- Valentineâs or anniversary getaways
đČ Retreat-Style Experiences
- Small-group immersive weekends
- Perfect for adult groups, reunions, or special interest retreats
With Night of Mystery, you can easily offer:
- Open-enrollment murder mystery weekends
- Private group getaways (friends, families, teams)
- Corporate retreats & team-building weekends
- Birthday, bachelorette & milestone celebrations
- Holiday and seasonal themed events
Each event becomes a reason to travel, not just a place to sleep.
How Inns & Resorts Host Murder Mystery Weekends
Hosting is far easier than most innkeepers expect.
Step 1: Choose a Mystery That Fits Your Property
Select a theme and group size that works with:
- Your room count
- Common spaces
- Typical guest demographic
Night of Mystery offers a wide variety of tones and themes, from lighthearted to dramatic.
Step 2: Purchase the For-Profit License
If you are charging guestsâthrough room packages, event tickets, or bundled experiencesâa for-profit license is required.
Night of Mystery licenses:
- Allow legal, for-profit use
- Cover weekend packages and repeat events
- Are written specifically for hospitality businesses
Step 3: Create Your Weekend Package
You decide:
- Number of nights
- Package pricing
- Meals included
- Optional add-ons (wine, cocktails, tours, etc.)
The mystery becomes the centerpiece that ties it all together.
Step 4: Host Using Our Step-by-Step Guide
Each game includes a Host Guide that walks you through:
- When to introduce story elements
- How the mystery progresses
- How to manage timing with meals and downtime
- How to reveal the solution
What You Receive With Every Night of Mystery Game
Each business-ready mystery includes:
- A professionally written mystery materials
- Character packets for guests
- A detailed Host Guide
- Planning timelines and checklists
- Optional themed extras
Everything is delivered digitally, so you can plan on your schedule.
The For-Profit License â Designed to maximize your profit!
Night of Mysteryâs for-profit license allows you to legally use our copyrighted murder mystery games as part of a paid guest experience.
This license:
- Is far more affordable than live theater or actors
- Allows reuse for multiple weekends and groups
- Is designed specifically for hospitality businesses
- Makes premium experiences scalable and profitable
- Have your event featured on our community page
Itâs an ideal way to add high-value themed events without high overhead.
Bonus: Get Your Event Seen Worldwide
When you host a Night of Mystery event, you can have it listed on Night of Mysteryâs community events page, putting your murder mystery weekend in front of a global audience actively searching for unique getaways.
â Increased visibility
â New guest acquisition
â Experience-driven branding
Once you purchase, your events can be published on our community page. To  be  featured:
Try This At Your Property
OPTIONAL PRO TIPÂ
These ideas are designed to be adapted. Many properties start with a single mystery weekend and expand into seasonal events, repeat bookings, or private group experiences.
đš Create a Weekend-Long Murder Mystery Getaway
Turn a standard weekend stay into an immersive experience guests book months in advance.
- Bundle lodging with the murder mystery experience
- Assign characters before arrival to build anticipation
- Let the story unfold during meals and evening gatherings
This works especially well for inns, resorts, and destination properties looking to increase multi-night stays.
đČ Host a Murder Mystery Campout or Glamping Weekend
Perfect for campgrounds and outdoor resorts.
- Introduce the mystery around a campfire or welcome gathering
- Let clues unfold during shared meals or group activities
- End with a final reveal under the stars
This format works well for adult groups, themed weekends, and shoulder-season bookings.
đ· Add an All-Inclusive Experience Package
Position the mystery as part of a premium package.
- Include lodging, meals, drinks, and the mystery experience
- Offer optional upgrades like wine tastings, cocktails, or tours
- Price it as a full experience, not just a stay
Guests are often willing to pay more for a complete, curated weekend.
đ Make It a Seasonal or Annual Signature Event
Tie your murder mystery weekend to the calendar.
- Fall or Halloween mystery weekends
- Holiday or winter getaway events
- Annual themed weekends guests return for year after year
Repeat events build anticipation and make marketing easier each season.
𧩠Use Shared Spaces to Encourage Guest Interaction
Murder mysteries thrive on conversation.
- Host key story moments in common areas
- Encourage guests to mingle between clues
- Use meals, lounges, fire pits, or patios as story hubs
This creates natural bonding and a memorable group experience.
đ Keep the Tone Flexible for Your Guests
Not every guest wants full theatrical immersionâand thatâs okay.
- Encourage costumes, but donât require them
- Let guests participate at their comfort level
- Focus on fun, curiosity, and interaction
This approach works especially well for mixed groups and first-time mystery guests.
đ Turn One Mystery into a Repeat Revenue Event
If your first weekend sells well, run it again.
- Offer multiple dates for the same mystery
- Use it as a recurring seasonal attraction
- Host private group or retreat bookings
With the right license, one mystery can support many profitable weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions About Murder Mystery Weekends for Inns, B&Bs & Resorts
A murder mystery weekend is a themed, interactive getaway where guests play characters, uncover clues, and solve a fictional crime over the course of their stay.
The mystery unfolds naturally during meals, social time, and shared activitiesâmaking it ideal for inns, B&Bs, resorts, and campgrounds that want to offer guests a unique, story-driven experience rather than a standard overnight stay.
Yes â with the proper business license.
If your property is running a Night of Mystery pmurder mystery, you need permission to use copyrighted materials. Night of Mystery offers for-profit licenses specifically written for for-profit hospitality use, allowing properties to host murder mystery weekends legally and confidently.
No.
Night of Mystery games are guest-driven, meaning your guests play the characters themselves. Your staff simply follows the included Host Guide, which explains when to introduce clues, how the story progresses, and how to reveal the solution.
This makes murder mystery weekends ideal for small hospitality teams.
4.
Most properties host murder mystery experiences over one or two nights, though the format is flexible.
Common setups include:
- FridayâSunday weekend getaways
- One-night themed stays
- Multi-night retreat or glamping weekends
The mystery adapts easily to your existing schedule and guest flow.
Night of Mystery offers games suitable for a wide range of group sizes.
Some mysteries work well for smaller, intimate groups, while others support larger guest counts and shared experiences. This makes them ideal for:
- Small inns and B&Bs
- Boutique resorts
- Campgrounds and glamping properties
- Retreat centers
You can choose a mystery that fits your propertyâs capacity and layout.
6.
Costumes and role-play are encouragedâbut never required.
Guests receive character information and participate at their own comfort level. Some enjoy dressing up and fully embracing the story, while others prefer a more relaxed, social experience. Both approaches work well and keep the weekend enjoyable for a wide range of guests.
7.
Yes. With the for-profit license, many properties:
- Run the same mystery on multiple dates
- Offer it as a monthly signature event
- Host private group or retreat bookings
This allows you to turn one successful mystery into a repeatable revenue experience.
No. Night of Mystery games are designed to blend seamlessly into your existing hospitality flow.
The mystery unfolds during meals, gatherings, and downtime, allowing your staff to focus on service while guests enjoy the experience. The Host Guide provides clear timing cues to keep everything running smoothly.
Yes. Murder mystery weekends are successfully hosted by inns, resorts, and campgrounds in cities, rural areas, resort towns, and destination regions alike.
Because the experience is interactive and ticketed, it appeals to guests looking for something unique to do in your areaâmaking it an effective way to stand out in your local and regional market.
Why Thousands of
Hosts Choose Night of Mystery
- 128,000+ satisfied customers
- Downloadable kits you can start using today
- Priority support for business customers
- Wide selection of themes, genres & difficulty levels
- Trusted by companies, nonprofits, and planners worldwide
Hear What Our
Customers Say!
âThis was the BEST team event weâve ever done. It was inclusive, creative, and so easy to execute with your kit. Everyone had a blast!â
âI’ve had three parties over the years. This year we will be doing it again! Normal parties have their groups. High school over there, church over there, family over there. Well with the murder mystery dinner there is none of that. Plus your free to not be you for the night. Every party has been a success! Last one we had over 100 people come.â
âI purchased the Night Of Mystery packet for a work team building event. All of my co-workers said it was the best team event they’ve been to. The packet was very straightforward and had so many ideas and tips to help make running the event super simple. Highly recommend!â
