Get a ‘Clue’ with Sue

Who killed Mr. Boddy? Was it Mrs. Peacock in the kitchen with a knife, or was it Colonel Mustard in the ballroom with a lead pipe?

For 80 years, people have been putting their detective skills to the test to try the solve the fictitious murder of Mr. Boddy in a murder mystery board game called Clue.

But this year, Hood County residents will now get the opportunity to play a live-action — and spooky-themed — version of the popular game from Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15, at The Neely House, 304 E. Rucker St.

Susan (Sue) Ooten, the creator of the live-action game, said this is only her second time hosting the game in Granbury.

“I've actually done several murder mystery types of mystery dinners. They were fundraisers for the Azle Arts Popcorn Player Theater,” she said. “But I've been doing mostly mystery dinners. I've done (some) even for a church as a fundraiser.”

Sponsored by Tree Top Getaway, Ooten’s own bed-and-breakfast business, this year’s game will be a Halloween-themed version, with many spooky changes made to the 1940s original Clue.

“These are the names of the rooms, but I added fun names to them," Ooten said.

The Hall and the Lounge are now the Haunted Hall and the Lycanthrope Lounge. Other name changes include Dracula’s Dining Room, the Kauldron Kitchen, the Bloody Ballroom, the Creepy Conservatory, Lucifer’s Living Room, the Lost Library, and the Skeleton Study.

The weapons are the normal choices of candlestick, dagger (or knife), lead pipe, revolver, rope, and wrench, along with Ooten’s personal additions of the poison and axe.

Characters will include Miss Scarlett, Reverand Green, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, and Mrs. White, with Ooten’s personal change of adding the butler because “the butler’s gotta do it sometimes.”

Additionally, when guests drive up to the Neely House, they will be met with Halloween decorations in the front yard, while the 1985 film, “Clue,” starring Christopher Lloyd and Tim Curry will be playing repeatedly on a loop.

"The movie will be run a lot,” Ooten said. “So, you can kind of get a glimpse of that, because that's my favorite movie of all time.”

She explained that there will be clues on the walls of every room for the players to try to answer, so they can eliminate a character, object, or room from the suspect list.

The live-action portion of the game includes giant dice and board game spaces where guests can play as if they are actual characters in the game.

"They can pair up, too, if they want. And if there's a lot more people, it'd be kind of fun to pair up, because one can roll the big dice,” she said. “You actually walk on the spaces into each space. They'll find these clues in all these different places. I have no idea what's in (the main envelope), because when I do it, I don't look, so every single game will have a different solution.”

Ooten said every player will receive a door prize, with the prize relating to a room or a color corresponding to one of the characters. Raffles will also be held during the game, with winners receiving different gift baskets.

"I've always loved mysteries and trying to solve them,” she said. “I'm just an accountant during the day, but I like solving mysteries — but most of all, I like people to have fun.”

She said the idea behind the live-action game is because she’s always loved Clue, and she especially loves how it's a multiplayer game.

"I bowl by myself, I play Scrabble by myself — I have one of those rotating ones — I play Solitaire by myself, but Clue is the only game that I can't play by myself,” Ooten said.

She also made a prototype of her own Clue game that has the exact number of spaces as the original board game.

"I made that because I really wanted to do it — where people can come play anytime and have any theme,” she said.

The VIP Night will be held on Friday, Oct. 13, beginning at 7 p.m., and will feature appetizers related to Clue and a “Professor Plum” wine.

"It's a little different way of playing the game on Friday night,” Ooten said. “It's more like a scavenger hunt kind of thing — find the clues, and whoever can solve it first wins prizes. Everybody gets a door prize Friday night, and there's raffles and drawings — that's the difference on Friday night.”

The “Clue” event on Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15, will consist of different time slots available for guests to sign up.

"It's not like an escape room where you only have 60 minutes,” Ooten said. “I want people to come in and look at all the details. I'm not just decorating the inside; I'm decorating the outside, so when they drive up, I'm hoping that they say, ‘Wow.’”

Granbury resident Tammy Quisenberry who participated in Ooten’s Clue game last year, enjoyed “Sue’s Clue” and said it was “unlike anything she had ever seen or played.”

“You are immersed in a life-size game of Clue with hints around every corner,” she said. “It is a game every age can play, and one you will not forget."

Likewise, Bill Bagley, who is not a Hood County local, said he “really loved” last year’s Clue game, and commented on Ooten’s “incredibly creative mind.”

“Everything about it was just like the game, but with a lot more layers of fun and intrigue,” he said. “Everybody, including all the players really got into it by dressing up and giving it their best. I would love to see more of Clue being played just like this and really building a fun community spirit. Thank you, Sue, you did it up right.”

Tickets for VIP are $40 each, while general admission tickets are $15 each. Tickets can be purchased on the EventBrite link that can be found via the QR code.

Time slots for general admission are available every two hours beginning at 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. on Saturday and beginning at 12:30 p.m. through 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. An additional time slot for Sunday at 8 p.m. is listed but is not yet available to book.

Ooten said each event timeslot is limited in the number of participants. The minimum number of players is three, while the maximum is 12.

"Whatever time slot you pick, there'll be someone else there to play because I'll have some help,” Ooten said. “They already know they might have to fill in and play. But I hope not. I would love to sell out.”

She said she is excited to see the “thrill of the mystery,” and to watch guests “figure it out.”

“I just want people to come have fun,” Ooten added. “I have a little bit of help, but I pretty much do it all myself. But, you know, once everything's in there, then the creation begins. It's gonna be amazing.”

For more information, or assistance in purchasing tickets, text Ooten at 817-205-3251.

ashley@hcnews.com | 817-573-1243