The Gable House Bed and Breakfast Inn is flirting with the makings of a tradition as it gears up to host its third consecutive immersive murder mystery on inn grounds.
This year’s mystery, called Shadows Over Statehood, will take place Jan. 23 through 25 as a compliment to this year’s Snowdown programming.
The case’s theme is a nod to the 1876 statehood of Colorado, with a few sinister undertones tossed in. Innkeeper Tracie Trotter intentionally ensured it fell right in line with this year’s Snowdown theme, Uniquely Colorado – Then and Wow!, meant to celebrate Colorado's 150th birthday and highlight the state’s rich and varied history.
Participants will be given three days to solve the case as one of more than a dozen characters – some of whom might just be real historical figures.
This year’s case can accommodate between 12 and 15 players – but slots are already filling up fast, according to Trotter. Both inn guests and non-lodging participants can register for the game, but players planning to stay on the premises for the weekend are given registration priority.
Trotter – who will take part in the mystery as the narrator – has been working on the script and story for the mystery since this year’s Snowdown theme was announced in February.
“My happy place is creating the character names, (adding) some historical characters and then having fun with it, you know?” Trotter said. “It’s very, very fulfilling for me, and I have a blast doing it.”
Trotter’s partner and Gable House co-owner Charles Goodman will also step into a role in the mystery, she said, and her daughter may also make an in-character appearance.
Participants will be given a list of characters to choose from once they’ve registered, and getting into character for the weekend – including through the use of costumes – is highly encouraged. Anyone can choose any available character, Trotter said – regardless of whether the gender of the character matches with that of the participant. The most intriguing part? Participants might just choose the culprit as their character and unknowingly spend the weekend solving their own crime.
Awards will be given out at the conclusion of the game for best costume, best actor, most congenial, and first to guess murder and motive.
Trotter didn’t consider any other possible themes to align with Snowdown this year, she said; the statehood was an easy choice.
“Celebrating the statehood is, to me, a natural thing to do,” she said. “And it makes for a really fun game.”
After more than a decade’s worth of attempts, Colorado entered the Union as the 38th state Aug. 1, 1876 – the same year the United States celebrated its centennial. The timing of the milestone garnered Colorado the “Centennial State” title.
To register
VIP Investigator Slots (for lodging participants) go for $250 to $289 per person, depending on room accommodation. A VIP Investigator reservation includes character assignment and participation in the game, lodging for two nights, the opening reception, two breakfasts and a closing celebration.
Super Sleuth Detective slots (for non-lodging participants) go for $100 for basic character assignment and participation in the game and $150 for access to the opening reception and breakfast Jan. 24 and Jan. 25.
For more information, visit www.durangobedandbreakfast.com/murder-mystery-event
To register, call the Gable House Bed and Breakfast Inn at 247-4982.
Trotter is no stranger to instilling real-world history into the inn’s faux murder mystery investigations.
Last year’s theme combined a classic game of Clue with storylines and anecdotes from the 1892 inception of the bed-and-breakfast.
After being built by mercantiles James and Eliza Schutt in the late 19th century, the Gable House moved between owners several times before finding new life as a hospital in 1913. The property opened its doors as a bed-and-breakfast for the first time in 1970 at the hands of then-owner Heather Bryson.
According to Trotter, the overwhelmingly positive response to the cases held at the Gable House so far may encourage the inn to add murder mysteries to its regular programming.
The ability to extend a unique type of hospitality to guests through the game, and the extent to which participants get into character and immerse themselves in the story, are highlights of the event for Trotter.
“It’s so much fun,” she said. “I have a mother and daughter who booked yesterday that are coming together. … When people come in with that attitude of, ‘I’m going to have fun, and we’re going to play,’ it’s just a wonderful experience.”
Trotter’s advice for eager sleuths planning to pull out their magnifying glasses and join the case this month: Always pay close attention – you never know what clues you might find.
epond@durangoherald.com
