Play Detective From the Water Tower to Chicago's Gold Coast
A two-hour walking whodunit: question suspects in the Gold Coast, pick up Chicago crime history, and finish near The Drake.
Magnifico Tours runs this two-hour walk as a murder mystery with a history tour folded inside it. A lead detective meets the group by the old Water Tower on Michigan Avenue, opens the case, and walks everyone north into the Gold Coast, where the suspects are waiting. Along the way the listing promises Chicago true-crime legends and Prohibition stories.
The card below is the public 11 AM tour, sold per person. Souvenir mugshot photos are part of the price; tips for the guide are not.
Chicago Murder Mystery TourTwo-hour detective walk from the Water Tower through the Gold Coast. 11 AM start, from USD 35 per person, souvenir mugshot photos included.www.viator.comWhere the Clues Lead
The route stays compact. The operator puts it at 1.2 miles over two hours, all of it outdoors. After the start by the Water Tower, the listing spends about twenty minutes on the Magnificent Mile, then a full hour in the Gold Coast, the longest stop, where suspects are questioned among the neighborhood's old mansions.
The last stretch follows the lakefront trail by Oak Street Beach, where the field of suspects narrows. The operator says the tour ends at The Drake Hotel, which it describes as a two-minute walk away. One traveler in July 2026 also called a stop at the Newberry Library an added bonus.
How the Case Is Played
The game is played from a written script. The operator sets its reading level at third grade and says it can supply scripts in other languages and formats for guests with reading disabilities. You interrogate suspects, rule them out along the lake, and name the killer by the end of the walk, with real neighborhood history told between the clues.
Souvenir mugshot photos are included. The operator says its costumes and props are sanitized daily.
Start Time, Group Size and Weather
On this listing the tour starts at 11 AM on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday. There are no Wednesday departures. As of November 5, 2026, the operator's homepage still lists 2 PM, 4:30 PM and 7 PM starts, while its own booking calendar shows the same single 11 AM slot this listing sells.
The operator's FAQ says groups usually run eight to ten people and top out at fifteen. The listing itself allows up to twenty in a shared group. Tours run in all weather; bring walking shoes, water and a jacket.
Access, Ages and Pricing
Both the listing and the operator describe the route as wheelchair and stroller accessible, and service animals are welcome. The listing notes that wheelchairs, strollers and other mobility devices are not provided, so bring your own if you need one.
The operator sets no age limit, and the third-grade script keeps younger detectives in the game. On this listing every traveler books at the same per-person price, whatever their age.
📍 Meet in the small park in front of 800 North Michigan Avenue, around the old Water Tower. The operator suggests searching its tour name in a maps app, and the pin on this page marks that spot. Arrive at least five minutes early; the operator says tours start at the scheduled time. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
The verdict lands near The Drake Hotel, a short walk from Oak Street Beach and the lake.