Virginia City — The Vigilantes' Hangings
Uncover the secret vigilante plot that unleashed swift hangings in 1864. Decode clues across historic sites to expose the truth behind the nooses.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the lawless boomtown of Virginia City, Nevada, during the silver rush of 1864, chaos reigned
1864: Gold Fever and the Vigilantes' Swift Justice
In the lawless boomtown of Virginia City, Nevada, during the silver rush of 1864, chaos reigned. Mine owners, gamblers, and outlaws clashed in deadly feuds, until a shadowy committee of Vigilantes formed in secret. They seized power, staging midnight trials and public hangings from gallows erected overnight. Five men swung from the 'Hangman's Tree' for alleged crimes, but whispers persist: was it justice or a ruthless cover-up to protect the silver kings' fortunes? Now, the ghosts of the hanged demand answers. Follow their trail through the preserved streets of the Historic District, deciphering coded messages hidden in saloons, churches, and mine shafts. From the Old Sheriff's Office to the Piper's Opera House and beyond, piece together the conspiracy that silenced dissent forever. Will you expose the Vigilantes' hidden ledger before the shadows claim another victim?
« Justice, or vengeance, as you may choose to call it, was swift and terrible. »— William Hamilton, Vigilante witness, 1864
The True Story of the Montana Vigilantes
The discovery of gold at Grasshopper Creek in 1862, then at Alder Gulch in 1863, triggered a massive rush, transforming isolated camps into vibrant towns like Bannack and Virginia City. With the rapid influx of miners, law struggled to establish itself in these wild territories. This anarchy was exploited by a feared criminal organization, the 'Road Agents,' led by Henry Plummer. He, elected sheriff of Bannack, used his position to cover his and his gang's activities, who robbed and murdered wealthy miners and travelers.
Faced with the impotence of official authorities and widespread fear, a group of respected citizens formed a secret society in December 1863: the Montana Vigilantes. Their swift justice culminated in January 1864 with the hanging of many members of Plummer's gang, including the sheriff himself in Bannack, and then several of his accomplices in Virginia City. These actions, controversial but deemed necessary by many, marked the end of the reign of terror and allowed for the establishment of true law in the Montana Territory.
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
Dive into archives and real locations to unravel a dark chapter of the Old West.
Authentic Gold Rush
Explore the streets of a Gold Rush town, frozen in time, and feel the atmosphere of that era.
Wild Old West
Discover the pivotal figures and moral dilemmas that shaped Montana's pioneer justice.
The Wild West: land of legends and raw justice.
Solve the Vigilante mystery and unlock the truth.
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
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Your turn to play
Unveil the dark and glorious past of Virginia City. Who were the true heroes, and who were the real outlaws? Your investigation starts now!
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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