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Pere Marquette Boasts Murder Mysteries & Magnificent Grounds
Story and photo by Nichole Richardson
Roughly 22 miles up the Great River Road rests the magnificent Pere Marquette State Park. The park, located at 13653 Lodge Blvd., in Grafton, sits atop an extensive 8,050 acres and is the home of the elegant Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center and its many various and ever-popular murder mystery dinner theaters.
Recently I was able to land two tickets to Jest Mysteries’ “A Dickens of a Killing” murder mystery dinner and all the jovial holiday madness that came along with it. As I drove along the scenic Illinois Route 100, the Great Road ebbed and flowed just as tranquilly as the great Mississippi and Illinois rivers it was built upon.
Once up to the massive, handmade A-framed buildings it was easy to lose yourself in the charming Olde English countryside cottage ambiance but I was there for a reason and that reason was holiday cheer and good old-fashioned who-dunnit murder.
As I entered the Lodge, the expansive property was as impressive as it was welcoming. Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, it is as solid as the laborers who constructed it piece by piece. The show-stopping Great Room is made up of limestone flooring taken from the Grafton rock quarry, and gigantic timbers that run 50 foot across. The poles, some of which are up to a 3 foot diameter, are fashioned from Douglas fir, western, and pecky cypress.
As if the heavy vaulted ceilings weren’t enough for eye candy, the 700-ton stone fireplace and handcrafted life-size chess set dominated my attention just as equally. Once through to a conference room, the “show” began at 6:30 p.m. and lasted until around 9:45 p.m. The turnout was good with 16 tables of eight.
Our table was friendly and our salads awaited us among glass water goblets and crisp linens. Everyone was given a character card with details and instructions and guests were encouraged to join in and play their roles as much as they wanted.
I was caught off guard by just how interactive these mystery dinners are and silently ate my salad as I watched our two hosts transport their audience into the tales of Charles Dickens. Luckily for me, my character was never called upon and was passed over for the likes of more substantial characters such as Miss Havisham, Tiny Tim, and Oliver Twist.
Names were called out as their respective “actors” spoke with improv and hidden clues were revealed through the dialogue. The show was broken into segments and breaks were given during the main course and dessert. A tasty buffet of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered rolls, and home-style green beans was served before the finale of Dutch apple pie.
Once all the clues were revealed to our group, each person was encouraged to guess who was the “killer” of the evening. After much laughter and confusion at our table, a name was written and that name turned out to be wrong! Which led to more confusion and laughter. As one host explained, “Don’t ask how it makes sense or why. Just go with it-it’s not CSI.”
The show was, as predicted, a little corny and overly theatrical but for those looking for a good meal with some silly friends, it meets the mark. Grab your closest group of Thespians and spend an evening rocking and role-playing.
Though the Christmas season murder mystery dinners are done for the year, March will usher in a fresh set of mystery themes such as “Murder at the Abbey” spun off from the hit show “Downton Abbey,” “Clueless,” “Murder in Maybury,” “Comic Book Killer,” and “Dead Like Me,” in October. Tickets are $45 per person and include all gratuities. Call 618-786-2331 for more information on any of these shows.
