Valley Forge Self-Guided Outdoor Mystery Game

Escape the Park turns Valley Forge National Historical Park into three self-guided outdoor mystery games, played on your own phone with no guide and no fixed schedule. Pick one — you are buying the game you choose, not all three. Washington's Secret Soldiers is built for junior agents ages 6-12. Using a secret Spy Codebook, they crack messages left by Revolutionary War spies at five real landmarks to deliver Washington's lost battle order. Lafayette's Dispatch is the intermediate game. Play the Marquis de Lafayette, gather a letter at each monument across the encampment, and send the dispatch that wins a powerful ally. The Mystic Tie goes deepest, tracing the Freemason bonds among Washington's officers to decode the brotherhood's hidden word. Each game stands alone and runs 1.5 to 2.5 hours at your own pace, on foot or by car. Play one now and save the others for next time, or make a full day of it. Start anytime, play as a group, and bring the Revolution to life.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   5 min

   Step inside reconstructed Continental Army soldier huts where 12 troops endured the brutal winter of 1777-1778 sharing a single hut. Junior Agents begin their mission at the Muhlenberg Brigade — the encampment that helped turn farmers into the army that won America's independence.

2. 2

   National Memorial Arch

   5 min

   The National Memorial Arch — a stone monument modeled on Rome's Arch of Titus, built to honor the soldiers who endured the winter at Valley Forge. Junior Agents walk to this arch as part of their mission, where Washington's tribute to his troops is preserved in carved inscriptions.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   5 min

   Walk among the iron cannons that gave General Henry Knox his thunder. This open field of artillery played a central role in Washington's defense of the encampment — and a self-taught bookseller-turned-general made it the heart of the Continental Army's firepower.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   5 min

   The bronze statue of Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben — the Prussian general who transformed the Continental Army through discipline and drill. His name is carved into the pedestal, marking the moment when farmers became soldiers and the Revolution found its backbone.

5. 5

   Washington Memorial Chapel

   5 min

   A Gothic Revival chapel built to honor George Washington, with stunning stained glass and historical flags hanging throughout the nave. Junior Agents complete their mission inside this dramatic space — the final piece of Washington's message waits here.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.