Plan a Murder Mystery Weekend in Ohio
Murder mystery weekends at The White Oak Inn are a whole lot of fun! Our Ohio murder mystery weekends and dinners are set up for guests to dress in costume and play along. Don’t worry – there are no lines to read or scripts to follow. Just bring along your sense of humor and be prepared to be entertained.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are murder mystery dates available?
Our season runs from November to April. The list of dates and plots can be viewed below.
Can I book a murder mystery dinner for a group?
If you have a group of 14 to 21 friends who would like a private mystery party, we can create a one or two-night package for you. See below for more details or call us at 740-599-6107 for more information.
What can I expect?
Each mystery has a specific theme and guests are encouraged to dress according to that theme. Mysteries usually begin at 6 p.m. and end about 9 p.m. They begin with a “meet and greet” during which our facilitator will explain how the evening works, and everyone will be given their assignment for the evening. You might be a murderer, a victim, or a sleuth. Then we’ll move everyone into the dining room to enjoy one of our delicious dinners, prepared in-house, using the freshest ingredients. The mystery will continue during dinner, as all our sleuths try to figure out who is the murderer in our midst.
Will alcohol be available or served?
The inn will provide non-alcoholic beverages. Guests are welcome to bring their own adult beverages to enjoy during the evening. Our only request is that you drink responsibly so as not to spoil the evening for other guests.
Are the murder mysteries family-friendly?
Our mysteries may contain adult content and are not suitable for guests under the age of 18. We can provide family-suitable themes for private parties with younger guests.
2024 Murder Mystery Dates
Best Laid Plans
Saturday, January 27
Come to the quintessential whodunnit thriller at the estate of Sir Warren Peace and get thrown into a night of mystery, intrigue, and murder you will never forget. With a killer crowd of people just waiting for murder to arrive on the scene, this night will keep everyone looking over their shoulders and guessing who the next victim will be! You’ll try to bribe suspects for clues and gather information to uncover the unhinged guest who is whacking all the invitees. Just be careful, because you could be next! Dress your best in evening wear and suits—this is a refined party, after all.
Crime and Pun-ishment
Saturday, March 2
Things take a turn for the gutter at Mafia Don Lou Zar’s juice joint when someone is put on ice. The crowd will be chock-full of potential suspects. Jilted lovers, a rival Mafioso, and an undercover fed will make an appearance at this speakeasy and not a single person is muttering a word! Help find out who’s on the level and who’s on the lam by trading clues, gathering information, and solving the crime before the murderer hotfoots it out of here!
Love the 80’s to Death
Saturday, April 6
It’s the 80’s again, and all of the big names are here for a big concert. Tensions run rampant as backstage secrets spill out into the spotlight with like, totally tragic results! This isn’t an episode of Miami Vice! This is like…murder. It’s up to you to bust it like a ghost, for sure! Peg your jeans, slouch your socks, flash some neon, put on way too much eyeliner and get that hair up! You are going to solve this crime in style. No time to be Too Shy! You are a Smooth Operator, and you know to listen to those Careless Whispers. It’s time to put on your Sunglasses at Night and Relax. Time after time…You will solve the case.
Murder Mystery Packages
One Night Package
Our one night package includes dinner and a hearty country breakfast. Pricing starts at $389 a night for two guests in a room.
Please note: A limited number of rooms are available for single-night stays. Cottages and fireplace rooms are generally two-night minimums on weekends.
Two Night Package
Our two night package includes breakfast both mornings and the murder mystery dinner on Saturday. Pricing starts at $529 for standard rooms and $569 for fireplace rooms. The rate for the White Oak Room starts at $589 and Luxury Cottages with fireplace and Jacuzzi-style whirlpool tub start at $789.
A third person in a room for a one night package is $159, for a two night package is $199. A third person in a cottage is $239 for the two night package.
Private Mystery Parties For Groups
- Group mystery parties can be arranged for 14 to 20 people. (Subject to availability of the inn and the theater group for the date requested)
- Groups can choose whichever plot they wish from our list below.
- We will allocate specific rooms based on the number in the group. Cottages are not included.
- One-night group mystery package includes overnight stay, dinner, and breakfast. A group must book a minimum of 7 guest rooms. The group rate is $389. Single-night Saturdays are available only in January, February, March, April, June, and December. For all other months, we require two-night stays on weekends.
- Two-night group mystery package includes two nights’ stay, with breakfast each morning and the murder mystery dinner on the evening of your choice. The cost is $499 per room (2 guests).
- For group bookings, a 50% non-refundable deposit is due three months ahead of the mystery date, or at time of reservation if it is made less than three months in advance. The remaining balance is due 30 days before the mystery.
- All deposits should be considered non-refundable. If anybody in a group cancels, it is their responsibility to find somebody to take their place. If another person takes the place, we will refund the original guest’s deposit less a $50 handling charge.
The Plots
Midnight at the Masquerade
Anticipation is building in the world of the rich and famous as everyone waits for their invitation to The Billionaires’ Club annual Masquerade Party at The White Oak Inn. Unfortunately the rustle of silks and feathers under muted conversation will be the last thing heard by the tragically and unexpectedly deceased. With a mystery guest under each feathery façade, unmasking the killer may be quite a challenge.
I Love the 80’s to Death
Help the crowd and the detective figure out who ruined this totally tubular evening so everyone can, like, take a chill pill.
Best Laid Plans (An old Hollywood Style Whodunnit)
Come to the quintessential whodunnit thriller at the White Oak estate of Sir Warren Peace and get thrown into a night of mystery, intrigue, and murder. With a killer crowd of people just waiting for murder to arrive on the scene, this night will keep everyone looking over their shoulders and guessing who the next victim might be. If you loved playing Clue as a kid, this plot is for you!
Now You See It, Now You Don’t
The White Oak Museum is having an opening night gala party, and the cream of Danville society will be there, showing off their finest furs and diamonds. But wait, there’s a jewel thief in the house! We’ll need all the help we can get to find a thief and restore a missing diamond to it’s rightful owner.!
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year – A Murderously Festive Holiday Comedy
Silver bells are ringing at this seasonal standup performance, but the jolly jokester will be upstaged by an event far worse than bad holiday comedy – a murder! With humbug hovering over the holiday it will be up to the audience to unravel the mystery faster than last year’s tacky knitted holiday sweater. To restore the evening’s merry and bright, you must gather information, bribe the other guests for clues, and solve the crime before this comedy act becomes a tragedy. Wear your most festive holiday clothes to make this evening a colorful spectacle. Ugly sweaters, garb gifted from the in-laws that is fit only for the back of the closet, and garish color clashes will be the dress code for the evening.
Crime and Pun-ishment
Things take a turn for the gutter at Mafia Don Lou Zar’s juice joint when someone is put on ice. The crowd will be chock-full of potential suspects. Jilted lovers, a rival Mafioso, and an undercover fed will make an appearance at this speakeasy and not a single person is muttering a word! Help find out who’s on the level and who’s on the lam by trading clues, gathering information, and solving the crime before the murderer hotfoots it out of here!