L
LoneSpelunker
7 escape rooms
Sadly I cannot recommend this room to a dedicated escape room community. It’s perhaps fine for first timers, but there are some more compelling (IMO) escape rooms to experience just an hour’s drive south to El Paso. The proprietor is friendly and outgoing and there has been obvious care and passion put into this room, though, so I don’t regret going. And a few story elements made for some interesting moments. But in my opinion, experienced escape room enthusiasts looking for an immersive, adventurous theme with original and memorable puzzles will probably be a bit disappointed in this one. It’s a shame because everything about this site makes you want to root for it - indie designer, sole escape room in a community for a hour’s drive in all directions, someone with obvious passion running it, modest budget, etc. I just wish I could recommend it more highly. (The web site seems to list some maybe-upcoming rooms with more adventurous themes like a superhero room. It’s unclear if/when you will be able to experience these but perhaps the issues with this room will be addressed in a future room. This room does feel like a fledgling designer’s first foray, so I could see a follow-up room improving considerably. I hope so, because I’d like to see this indie escape room business succeed.)
Gameplay
This escape room was…fine. The puzzles were fine, the theme was fine. The host was friendly and engaging. The place was in good repair. Everything worked. But for people with even a handful of escape rooms under their belt, there’s just nothing too memorable here, which is a shame because it’s this town’s only option and there is clearly care and passion put into it.
Atmosphere
This is a personal peeve, granted, but escape rooms that are set in everyday locations like someone’s business office leave me cold. In this escape room you search around a rich person’s personal office for clues. The theme was well presented for what it was, with tasteful appointments and furniture and cohesive elements, and it was persuasive for that choice of theme, but it’s still just some guy’s office.
Customer service
Proprietor was exceedingly friendly and likable. Very helpful and enthusiastic.
Particularly interesting or different
No
Sadly, no. This felt like standard escape room puzzles all the way down with a lackluster theme. (This would make it a good introductory escape room, though.)
Story
The frame story itself actually worked pretty well and was one of the stronger elements. You’re trying to locate a rich person’s daughter who has run off with someone. There was some good story intrigue here where the players begin to wonder whether the father is the good guy or the bad guy, whether his daughter was kidnapped or ran off willingly, and what the motives of the person who took her were. This all comes through both direct exposition and some environmental storytelling. I liked this aspect of the room the best.
Difficulty
Medium
We were able to solve it but we needed some hints. I wouldn’t call the puzzles unfair, but at least one of them felt a little “guess what the designer intended.” Luckily clues are available and the proprietor clearly is invested in you succeeding and feeling satisfied with the outcome so I don’t see this stymying anyone.
Game tech
Mechanical
Ideal number of players
4
Scary
Not scary
Minimum age
12
Was anything broken?
No
Live actors
No
Physically active
Not at all
Accessibility
It’s been a while since we played it but I think this might be a pretty accessible room compared to many I’ve been in. I think a person in a wheelchair could go in there and participate just fine, and I don’t recall any colorblind-sensitive or hearing issues. You will need vision.
Easy to find location
Yes
Parking
Easy
