Sonoma — Bear Flag Secret
Uncover the hidden betrayal behind the Bear Flag Revolt. Decode clues from Sonoma's historic sites to expose the secret pact that doomed the short-lived California Republic and changed the West forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the sweltering heat of June 14, 1846, a band of American settlers stormed Sonoma Plaza, raising the crude Bear Flag and proclaiming the California Republic free from Mexican rule
The Bear Flag Revolt – Myth or Manipulation?
In the sweltering heat of June 14, 1846, a band of American settlers stormed Sonoma Plaza, raising the crude Bear Flag and proclaiming the California Republic free from Mexican rule. Led by William B. Ide, they captured General Mariano Vallejo without a shot fired, dreaming of independence. But whispers persist: was the revolt a heroic stand or a traitorous ploy orchestrated by hidden agents? Vallejo's signed capitulation hides a ciphered message, and strange symbols etched around Sonoma's landmarks point to a secret alliance that ensured the republic's swift downfall just 25 days later, when U.S. forces hauled down the Bear Flag for the Stars and Stripes. Now, 178 years later, a faded journal from a Bear Flagger has surfaced, revealing coordinates to a buried cache in Sonoma's heart. Decode the encrypted orders, track the traitor's path through the Sonoma Historic State Park sites, and decipher the final prophecy at the flag-raising spot. Outwit the shadows of 1846—solve the Bear Flag's secret before it consumes California's origin myth forever. The truth awaits in Sonoma Plaza.
« We have lived in California as a free people, and we are determined to remain free. »— William B. Ide, Proclamation of the California Republic, June 1846
The Events of 1846
In the spring of 1846, California, then a Mexican province, was a territory of covetousness. The United States, under the doctrine of Manifest Destiny, coveted its riches and ports. Thousands of American settlers had established themselves in the region, creating tensions with Mexican authorities, particularly General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, military and political commander of Sonoma. The unauthorized presence of American explorer John C. Frémont and his small army exacerbated the situation, foreshadowing an imminent conflict.
On June 14, 1846, the situation escalated. A group of about 30 settlers, led by Ezekiel Merritt and William B. Ide, seized the Sonoma presidio. They captured General Vallejo and other Mexican officers without bloodshed. The same day, they hoisted a makeshift flag, adorned with a star and a grizzly bear, proclaiming the 'California Republic'. This revolt, known as the 'Bear Flag Revolt', would last only 25 days before the arrival of the U.S. Army integrated it into a larger conflict, marking the beginning of California's annexation by the United States.
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?
Historical Investigation
Unravel the secret motivations and power plays behind the revolt.
Ephemeral Symbol
Follow the traces of the first California flag and its story.
Forgotten Journal
Reconstruct the fragmented account of a discreet observer from that era.
Uncover California's buried secrets!
History is written by the victors, but the truth awaits discovery.
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.
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Your turn to play
Untangle the threads of the Bear Flag Revolt and unravel the mystery of its true instigators. Your quest for truth begins at Sonoma Plaza.
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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