Murder, mayhem, mystery and more are on the menu at Hillforest Victorian House Museum this spring at a series of special Murder Mystery Dinners, Dearborn County tourism officials and Hillforest Museum representatives announced today. The dinners will take place April 21 and 22 at the historic 19th-century mansion in downtown Aurora, Indiana.
Performed by local theater troupe Rivertown Players, the Hillforest Murder Mystery Dinners will feature an ensemble presentation of “Death of a Doornail” a traditional murder mystery set in the drawing room of a country estate. It is the home of Albert Doornale, an eccentric millionaire whose party guests suddenly become suspects when their host turns up dead, leading to an evening of drama and suspense for all in attendance. “When it comes to staging a murder mystery, Hillforest is an ideal setting,” said Hillforest Executive Director Jim Waldon. “With its period architecture and historic ambience, the mansion offers the perfect atmosphere for this type of event.” Originally built in 1855 by industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff, Hillforest is located at the top of Main Street overlooking the Ohio River and city of Aurora. The mansion was acquired in 1956 by the Hillforest Historical Foundation, which then opened the home as a museum. Over the years Hillforest has been restored it to its original beauty and today depicts the graceful lifestyle of the Victorian period. Open for tours from April through December, Hillforest is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The Hillforest Murder Mystery Dinners will take place at 6:30pm on April 21 and 22, with advance reservations required by April 14. For more information or to reserve your ticket ($40 for Hillforest members; $45 for non-members), please contact Hillforest at 812-926-0087 or visit www.hillforest.org.
