Marquette Waterfront — The Vanished Blueprint
Decipher the disappearance of engineer Samuel Ely and recover his revolutionary ore-loading blueprint before a ruthless competitor claims the fortune.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1881, Samuel Ely vanished from Marquette's bustling iron docks, taking with him sketches for a revolutionary ore-loading system that would have transformed the entire Lake Superior mining industry
Marquette Waterfront — The Vanished Blueprint
You are a historical investigator for the Lake Superior Archives, on assignment in Marquette, USA.
In 1881, Samuel Ely vanished from Marquette's bustling iron docks, taking with him sketches
« Iron is not merely a metal; it is the beating heart of our nation, the blood that flows through its veins. »— Peter White, Marquette businessman and pioneer
Marquette: The Iron Epic
The Lake Superior region is rich in iron ore, a resource discovered by Native Americans long before the arrival of European settlers. But it was not until 1844 that explorers, including William A. Burt and Robert J. Graveraet, confirmed the immense potential of the deposits, particularly near Negaunee. This discovery marked the beginning of Michigan's iron rush, attracting pioneers, investors, and workers from all walks of life to Marquette, which quickly became the main ore shipping port.
Infrastructure development was crucial. In 1855, the opening of the Sault Ste. Marie locks (Soo Locks) allowed ships to transport iron ore from the Lake Superior mines to the blast furnaces of the lower Great Lakes, transforming Marquette into a major industrial hub. Giant docks were built to load the ore, and railroads crisscrossed the peninsula. Figures like Peter White, a young man who arrived in Marquette in 1849, played an essential role in the economic and social development of the city, transforming a simple trading post into a prosperous city thanks to iron.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
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.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
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 · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The Iron Heart
Dive into the history of the mines that forged Michigan's identity and prosperity.
Maritime Ore Routes
Follow the path of iron from Marquette's iconic docks to the Great Lakes.
A Forgotten Secret
Unravel the clues left by a visionary engineer to recover his revolutionary blueprint.
Iron built Marquette. Its future, you unearth.
Elias Thorne's blueprint awaits revelation.
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
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
Soyez le premier à partager votre expérience.
Did you play le plan oublie du minerai? Check the email you received after your game to leave a verified review.
Your turn to play
Decipher the enigmas of Marquette's mining past and reveal a secret that could rewrite industrial history. Your adventure begins at the docks, where iron shaped the destiny of a city.
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
Other escape games in États-Unis
View États-Unis→More destinations, tours & urban treasure hunts across the country
Gettysburg — Orphanage of Shadows
Three Mile Island — Uncover the Cover-Up
Dealey Plaza — Decode the November Conspiracy
Hell's Half Acre — Uncover the Haunting Curse
Explore other cities in États-Unis
Mackinac Island
A timeless island, car-free and carefree
Madison
Where lakes meet learning and lively culture
Mineral Point
Cornish mining heritage in the American heartland
Galena
Step back into 19th-century America
Chicago
Where architecture defies the sky and the spirit vibrates.
Detroit
Birthplace of Motown and the Motor City