The 5th annual Nancy Drew Sleuths' Convention: Phoenix, Arizona, Wed. October 12 through Sun. October 16, 2005.

The convention will take major themes, activities, and plots from the following books: The Secret at Shadow Ranch (revision), The Kachina Doll Mystery, and The Stolen Relic. There will be a special memento for official Sleuth members in attendance. You can join officially!

This convention section will be updated frequently with activities as we ad them to the schedule. Check back often fore more and any changes that are made!

Brief Schedule of activities (See below for more indepth activities list):

• Wed. Oct. 12–7:30: P.M.: Dinner, Meet & Greet at hotel
• Thurs. Oct. 13–Shadow Ranch Treasure Hunt at Goldfield Ghost Town –Western Dinner
• Fri. Oct. 14–Day tour of used bookstores, antiques, markets, museum, etc. Kachina Doll clues lead to a murder mystery party celebrating the Sleuths’ 5th anniversary at a mysterious “hacienda”
• Sat. Oct. 15–Nancy Drew 75th Anniversary Convention: prizes, Solve a Mystery day, Nancy Drew game play, and presentations
• Sun. Oct. 16–Brunch, optional activities for Sleuths staying over until Monday

Wed. Oct. 12–Dinner at 7:30pm & meet and greet for those arriving Wed. evening, trivia contest.

Thurs. Oct. 13–Depart hotel around 10:30am aboard limo bus transportation to Goldfield Ghost Town–an authentic 1890s ghost town. We’ll be horseback riding–carriage ride for those who don’t want to ride/or are weight restricted) to a mine on our first leg of the Dirk Valentine treasure hunt, then we’ll end up back at the ghost town for a tour and all day excursion/final treasure hunt clues to find the treasure, we’ll have access to the other major attractions: railroad tour, mine tour, rattlesnake/critter exhibit, gold panning, etc. and will enjoy a Western dinner around 6:00pm+. After dinner, we’ll be picked up to go back to the hotel.

Some highlights of the ghosttown: It was a busy bustling little town perched atop a small hill between the mighty Superstition Mountains to the east and the Goldfield Mountains to the west. The first gold-strike was made in 1892, and it took just a little under a year before the town came to life. One rich strike after another supported the town and approximately 4000 people who lived in the district for five rich years. The town boasted 3 saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market and a school house. Just when it looked like the town would outgrow Mesa, the vein faulted, the grade of ore dropped and the town died a slow painful death. After several unsuccessful attempts to reopen the mines, the town did come to life again from 1910 on and off until 1926.

Today you can come and visit Goldfield. Walk down Main Street, explore the many shops and buildings, tour through the mine, visit the Goldfield Superstition Museum, pan for gold, take a narrow gauge train ride or witness an old west gun fight. Spend a fun filled day, rich in history. Shops, eateries (plenty of eateries for people to find something for lunch that suits them), attraction highlights–not all are listed: Coffee Cantina & Bakery, Gidy Up Gourmet, Goldfield Livery--horseback riding, Goldfield Mine Tours--tours through authentic 1890s gold mine, Mammoth Steakhouse & Saloon, Miner's Find Giftshop--souvenirs, fudge & candy shop, Miner's Grill & Ice Cream Parlor, Prospector's Palace--pan for real gold, souvenirs, Superstition Outback, Superstition Scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad--rides and gift shop, The Blue Nugget--native jewelry, The Mudslinger Pottery, Wild West Outfitters, The Southwest Live Rattlesnake Exhibit, Time after Time–old time photography.

Fri. Oct. 14–Depart hotel around 9:30 am for day tour of Phoenix sites including: used book and antique shops, markets, sites/similar sites like toured in the Nancy Drew books set in the area, and museum--all located within the Scottsdale, Mesa, and Apache Junction areas of Phoenix. We will stop for lunch during the tour at a spot where everyone will have a selection of various restaurants they can go eat at for lunch.

Arrival back at the hotel around 4:30pm for pickup of any late comers/drop off packages and then head to “hacienda” around 5:30pm. From 6:00pm to 10:00 pm: tour of Jenn’s collection & files, Mexican fiesta dinner, murder mystery Kachina Doll ghost hunt party–people attending will get to play a character, and swimming is optional. Around 10:00pm, transportation back to the hotel.

Sat. Oct. 15–Breakfast and set up at 9:00am in hotel meeting room. Nancy Drew 75th anniversary convention from 10:00am to 4:00pm with 1:00pm afternoon snack break. Presentations & dealers set up. Life-size replica of the vintage 1959 Nancy Drew Mystery Game. People will become the playing pieces to solve a mystery with prizes. Door prizes. Speaker list: not yet available.

6:30 pm dinner that evening to wind down the convention with a Nancy Drew 75th anniversary theme gift exchange. How the exchange works: you bring a gift–wrap it up in an interesting way--and we’ll set them on a table with each being numbered. People will randomly draw numbers and will 1 at a time starting from #1, go select a present and then everyone will open their gift.

Sun. Oct. 16--Brunch around 10am. Sightseeing activities for remaining attendees staying over until Monday. TBA.

Contact Us:

If you want to RSVP for the convention, reserve a dealer table, or just want to inquire, please contact us here.

Registration Fee & Deadlines:

Registration Fee:

$150.00 for Sleuth members. $160.00 for non-members. Please note the list of what fee entails below–you’re getting a lot for the price! Somewhat reduced rates if you can’t attend all 3 full days of activities, though you’re encouraged to join us for everything–it’s more fun that way! Contact me if you need to get a different fee based upon your travel plans.

Registration fee due by Sept. 7th. Please, though you may not pay until the Sept. 7th deadline, let us know if you are coming so we can get a good idea of head count–this is important! Also, let us know if you prefer on the Thurs. excursion to ride on horseback or to ride in the carriage so we can get that set up as soon as possible.

Registration Fee covers: All day Thursday excursion to ghost town with limo bus transportation to and from Goldfield authentic 1890's Ghost Town, horseback or carriage ride to mine & hunt for Dirk Valentine’s treasure, further clues through ghost town, railroad trip, mine tour, pan for gold, other exhibits, lots of shops, Western dinner, & treasure hunt goody bag. Plus, all day Friday excursion & transportation to points of interest in Phoenix area including used book stores, antiques, markets, museum, etc..–-places Nancy and the gang went to in the books, & transportation to the “hacienda” for a tour of Jenn’s collection & files, a murder mystery Kachina Doll ghost hunt & Mexican fiesta dinner, Kachina Doll goody bag, swimming optional. Finally, Nancy Drew 75th convention on Saturday complete with breakfast, afternoon snack, presentations, dealer set up, activities–life-size Nancy Drew Mystery Game replica to play for prizes, & more.

Children under 10 pay no registration fees but we ask that they be well behaved.

Hotel:

Holiday Inn & Suites in Mesa, AZ–(480)-964-7000. The hotel block of rooms is not quite set up yet–so please do not call and reserve until after the 25th of July. Ask for the Nancy Drew Sleuths block of rooms. Rate will be an affordable $79.00 per night.

Airport Transportation:

Super Shuttle is recommended at around $13.50 each way, number=(800)-258-3826.

Dealer Tables:

If you would like to inquire and reserve table(s), please e-mail using the e-mail address noted above. There is a table fee of $50.00 per table. Tables are very limited--tables are 6 feet/rectangular. Cloths will be provided.

To sign up for a reminder-only(non-posting) service to remind you of when the latest issue is published online and when new ads are placed as well as any other important announcements, contests, etc., click on the following button:

Click to subscribe to TheSleuth