Ever wanted to play Clue without actually sitting around a table? Well, residents and visitors in Muskegon, Michigan, are getting pretty close! The Hackley and Hume Historic Site is being transformed into a life-sized version of the classic murder mystery game this September, giving players the chance to investigate a real historic mansion while trying to crack the case. Called Clue Live, the event will see teams of four explore the historic property and work together to figure out three important questions: who committed the crime, where it happened, and which weapon was used. Basically, everything you love about Clue, except now you're actually walking through the rooms instead of moving a tiny plastic token across a board!
Solve the case!
The idea behind Clue Live is pretty straightforward. Teams will move around the mansion, searching for clues and piecing together the mystery. Once they've gathered enough information, they'll need to make their accusation. The first team to correctly identify the culprit, location and weapon wins! It adds a whole new dimension to a game that most of us know from the dining room table. Instead of simply saying you're heading to the library, you're actually heading into a historic building and investigating the rooms yourself.
The Hackley and Hume Houses were built in the late 19th century for lumber barons Charles Hackley and Thomas Hume, and the site is now operated as a historic attraction by the Lakeshore Museum Center. That makes the setting particularly fitting for a mystery game. There's already plenty of history inside the walls, so organisers are adding a fictional crime on top!
Grab your team!
Clue Live is taking place on September 11 and 12, 2026, with two sessions available each evening. The first runs from 6pm to 7pm, while the second takes place from 7:30pm to 8:30pm. Each session can accommodate five teams, with four players per team. Tickets cost just $20 per team, making this a pretty unusual way to spend an evening without breaking the bank. Players should check in at the City Barn, the carriage house located between the Hackley and Hume Houses. Free parking is available nearby on Webster Avenue and Sixth Street.
Board games beyond the table!
Events like Clue Live show just how easily board games can jump out of the box and become something much bigger. Clue has been challenging players to solve fictional murders for decades, but turning an actual mansion into the game board takes the concept to another level! So, if you've got a group of four mystery lovers and fancy putting your detective skills to the test, Muskegon's historic streets could be calling. Just remember, when someone says they found something suspicious in the dining room, don't trust them too quickly. They're probably holding cards under the table!
