Sarasota — Big Top Mystery
Uncover the conspiracy that threatened to collapse the Ringling Circus empire from within Sarasota's winter quarters. Decode clues across historic sites to expose the saboteur before the final curtain falls.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the glittering 1920s heyday of the American circus, John Ringling transformed Sarasota into the 'Circus Capital of the World
Sarasota — Big Top Mystery
You are a private investigator, arriving in Sarasota, USA, in 1936, just after John Ringling's mysterious death.
In the glittering 1920s, Ring
1946 — The day the Greatest Show on Earth tipped over
« The show must go on — but someone wanted it to end forever. »— John Ringling North, 1946
The Ringling Empire in Sarasota
In 1927, John Ringling, circus magnate and one of America's richest men, made Sarasota his winter residence. He built a Venetian palace there, Ca' d'Zan, and transformed this small Florida town into the world's circus capital. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus established its winter quarters in Sarasota, where performers trained, animals rested, and shows were prepared.
But the golden age ended brutally on July 6, 1944, in Hartford. The big top fire became the greatest tragedy in American circus history. Official investigations concluded it was an accident caused by paraffin waterproofing of the canvas. Yet troubling testimonies emerged: family disputes, commercial rivalries, anonymous threats. John Ringling North, nephew of the founder and new circus boss, suspected sabotage. He conducted his own investigation, gathered evidence, questioned witnesses. In 1946, he returned to Sarasota with an explosive file that could destroy the family empire's reputation — but also reveal the truth.
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Golden Age of Circus
Walk through the legendary places where the world's greatest circus prepared its legendary tours
Criminal Investigation
Unravel the clues of a family conspiracy that caused the greatest tragedy in American entertainment
Venetian Palace
Explore the sumptuous architectural legacy of entertainment tycoons from the jazz era
The truth about Hartford was darker than the fire itself
Discover the secret the Ringling empire took to its grave
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Is Sarasota — Big Top Mystery similar to a treasure hunt?
Same spirit: search, deduce, find. But here the "treasure" is a full story to piece together in eight stops. Each stop gives you a fragment of the final code. Eight fragments later, you've cracked it.
Q02How far do you walk in Historic downtown Sarasota, Florida?
Usually 2 to 4 km of total walking, within 1.5 km as the crow flies from the start point. The route is designed to be walkable at a relaxed pace, no public transport needed.
Q03Can we do Sarasota — Big Top Mystery as a family with kids?
Yes, from age 6 with an adult reading puzzles aloud, and from age 12 on their own. Kids love the "find the camera clue" part — it's very visual, gets them genuinely involved.
Q04What if we get stuck on a puzzle?
Three hint levels per puzzle, with a small increasing time penalty. If truly stuck after level 3, you can skip the step (45-min penalty). The point: nobody stays blocked and goes home frustrated.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Unravel the clues hidden in Sarasota's architecture to reconstruct the true story of the Hartford tragedy. Between Venetian palaces and Art Deco theaters, solve the mystery of a family conspiracy that shook America's entertainment world. John Ringling North's secret notebook awaits you — can you unmask the real perpetrator of the fire?
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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