{"id":8355,"date":"2018-01-02T18:18:37","date_gmt":"2018-01-03T02:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8355"},"modified":"2021-01-22T14:44:35","modified_gmt":"2021-01-22T22:44:35","slug":"local-lowdown-welcome-to-the-house-of-clues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8355","title":{"rendered":"Local Lowdown: Welcome to The House of Clues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Scene<\/a>

Scene from the \u201cPirate Ghost Ship\u201d at Santa Barbara’s Pirate Ghost Ship from House of Clues escape room, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

Escape room games<\/a> are super-popular, and Santa Barbara finally has its own one-of-a-kind venue: The House of Clues<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Co-owners Assel Abdrakhmanova<\/a> and Oscar Zevalos<\/a> (the third partner is Whitman Heining<\/a>) were designing props and sets for themed events and escape rooms for outside clients when they decided to create their own custom one-of-a-kind attraction. \u201cWe knew we could do a better job and make it even better and more challenging,\u201d says Zevalos.<\/p>\n

Their goal is eventually to franchise their concepts\u2014Santa Barbara<\/a> is the first location\u2014and I think they\u2019ve got a winner. Not only was our \u201cPirate Ghost Ship\u201d game well designed and challenging, it truly was exciting and fun for our all-ages group. Escape rooms combine mental puzzles with physical challenges, and a beat-the-clock element keeps things moving along\u00a0quickly.\u00a0<\/span>With 45 minutes to escape from a given room (which is actually a series of rooms), you are under constant video and audio surveillance and can communicate with the game master at any time, as well as receive clues when needed. Every move counts, and nothing is as it seems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In addition to the \u201cPirate Ghost Ship,\u201d The House of Clues also has \u201cPsycho Dentist\u201d and \u201cAlien Spacecraft Invasion\u201d themes on the menu.<\/p>\n

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Our group had a fun time trying out the House of Clues. Photo by Leslie Dinaberg.<\/p><\/div>\n

For more information,\u00a0visit TheHouseofClues.net<\/a>, 629 N. Salsipuedes St.,\u00a0805\/229-9179<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published in the Winter 2017-18 issue of\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Update: While escape rooms in Santa Barbara are closed at the moment, due to the pandemic restrictions, here’s an informative post<\/a> from Puzzling Pursuits<\/a> about how to play escape room games at home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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