Mystery Weekend
March 3 – 5, 2023
In the 1970s, Mohonk Mountain House was the birthplace of Mystery Weekends. Join us to watch a mystery unfold before your eyes! Performers from Murder Café act out each scene in front of you, and it’s up to you and your team to solve the crime.
This year highlights also include The Mystery of the Alien Invasion, a mystery play in four acts, an original puzzle hunt by Greg Pliska, a table-top escape room, live music, and more!
Availability is limited. For reservations, please call .
MYSTERY WEEKEND CLUES
PAST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY
Team Registration & Afternoon Tea and Cookies
There’s something suspicious in the air! Register on a team and begin to plan your strategy to pursue potential suspects with a hot cup of Mohonk tea and cookies.
The Mystery of the Alien Invasion: Act 1
Dr. Ezekiel Travis Mars lays out his case of the existence of flying saucers and how they have visited earth throughout history. Marvin Blanc, an experienced airline pilot rejects Mars’ theories and disrupts the convention. Betty, a pop singer and Marvin’s wife, believes he is hiding evidence to the contrary. Noted astronomer, Professor Clack, agrees with Mars but not his approach while Luna Lane fights to have one of her sci-fi movies shown rather than endure another lecture. Mars suddenly appears ill, a loud crash is heard from outside, lights and sound flicker and Stella Serling, Mars’ assistant, appears and announces an alien space ship has landed near Smiley Tower. Pandemonium ensues, the panelists start acting strangely and Colonel Preston Perish, a representative from USAF, appears and attempts to restore order.
Live Music with Richard Baratta
After 35 years of making over 50 films such as Joker, Irishman, The Wolf of Wall Street, five Spiderman movies, Big, Working Girl, and more, Richard Baratta is back to his first passion, music. Equally accomplished as a drummer, Barrata’s Mohonk return features jazz, and Latin takes on songs associated with many of our favorite movie scores. The quartet includes Tomoko Ono on piano, Michael Goetz on bass, and percussionist Paul Rossman.
Be Sure to Lock Your Doors
Who knows who might be lurking in the hallway? Be on the lookout for your original puzzle by Greg Pliska. Turn in your completed puzzle to the box across from the Front Desk by 9:30am on Sunday.
SATURDAY
The Mystery of the Alien Invasion: Act 2
Bart Berry, a television news reporter from WXYZ, local channel 51, reports on the scene. His footage from the AASS convention is very revealing. One of the panelists has been found dead and the others are all acting strangely and pointing fingers at each other. There are many clues and they not only point to the remaining guests but the mysterious alien as well.
Tabletop Escape Room
More details to come. Sign-up required. This event is held repeatedly throughout the day. This is a standalone event that is not part of the rest of our mystery story but you must be a part of the Mystery Program to participate.
The Mystery of the Alien Invasion: Act 3
The tension is thick between every character as they begin to turn on each other. Watch closely as all the pieces to the puzzle come into play. Answer sheets will be provided after the show and answers are due Sunday either in the box across from the Front Desk any time before 9:30am or bring them to the 10am show in the Parlor.
Live Music with Soul Purpose
Based in New York’s Hudson Valley, Soul Purpose is a seven-piece band fueled by a shared love of Soul, New Orleans Funk, Swing, and R&B. Lead by saxophonist Dr. Lori Morris, tonight will be an evening delivering visceral rhythm, boisterous energy, and joy to lift your heart.
SUNDAY
Did you solve it correctly?
Your solutions to the Puzzle Hunt and the Mystery show must be submitted by 10am on Sunday. The box will be located across from the Front Desk on the Ground Floor starting Saturday morning until 9:30am on Sunday. Also feel free to bring your completed answers and puzzles to the 10am show in the Parlor.
Team Solutions Presented
10am
Illuminate, entertain, and maybe even show up your competition as you and your teammates act out your solution. Be creative, be bold, and be imaginative. If you weren’t on a team feel free to come and watch an entertaining and fun part of this event.
Mystery Solved! Act 4
11am
As the fingers are pointed, Colonel Perish, with the help of Luna Lane, presents clues and motives and proceeds to lays out their case in front of the suspects and the alien and murderer are revealed.
After, the winners of all the contests will be revealed and prizes awarded.
PAST MYSTERY WEEKEND HOSTS
Murder Café
Murder Café, our Program Host for the weekend, brings theater directly to you with an extraordinary mix of skill and talent. A professional repertory company since 1998, Murder Café delivers original scripts, period costumes, one-of-a-kind production design, and marketing and publicity skills that ensure each event’s success. Their public shows are scheduled year-round throughout New York’s Hudson Valley, along with fundraising events, company parties, country club dinners, banquets, and casino entertainment.
Greg Pliska
Composer and musician Greg Pliska has been solving and creating puzzles since he could read. He is a puzzle writer and presenter for public radio’s “Ask Me Another,” and he now creates puzzle hunts for corporate and academic clients. His composing work includes the Broadway play Sylvia and acclaimed productions for New York’s Shakespeare in the Park. His recent work includes orchestrations for the film The Infiltrator, the CBS Evening News theme, and the new IMAX theme. Greg has created an original puzzle treasure hunt for Mohonk’s Wonderful World of Words Weekend for the over 15 years and brings a new mystery puzzle to the Mountain House for Mystery Weekend’s 46th anniversary.
Availability is limited. For reservations, please call
When you visit for Mystery Weekend, your overnight package includes:
- Three meals daily featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients from our farm-to-table partners. See our full list of dining options>
- Access to more than 85 miles of scenic hiking trails
- Yoga, Meditation, and Fitness classes
- Afternoon tea and cookies in our historic Lake Lounge
- Make an appointment to visit our Greenhouse
- Indoor heated pool with underwater music
- Guided hikes and outdoor activities with our Recreation team
- Nightly evening entertainment, special events, and more! See activities schedule>
Seasonal Activities
- Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on more than 30 miles of groomed trails (weather permitting)
- Winter hiking with MICROspikes® (weather permitting)
- Ice-skating in the open air pavilion
- Guided outdoor activities and hiking with stunning views of the Catskill Mountains (weather permitting)
À la carte experiences available to overnight guests:
- A full menu of nature-inspired treatments at our award-winning spa
- The Carriage Lounge, featuring a full bar and handcrafted cocktails as well as hyper local draft beer and hard cider
- An award-winning wine list in our dining venues
- In-room dining outside of meal hours
- Private fitness, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness sessions
- Disc golf discs available for purchase (weather permitting)