“You must be here for the high school reunion!” exclaims a gentleman in a top hat and tailed coat as we enter Red Lantern Escape Rooms in Brea, California. We awoke him from a gentle slumber; asleep on the job it seems. He’s dressed in a style reminiscent of a circus ringleader or perhaps a magician. “Where is Shelley? The reunion coordinator—is she not with you?” he asks us. We explain that no, we have not seen Shelley, but yes, we are here for the high school reunion (evidently). Confirming that he is indeed a magician, he performs a card trick for us and then escorts us into our high school reunion in the bayou.

Upon entering the room, it becomes clear that the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover” most certainly applies here. While the exterior of Red Lantern Escape Rooms is non-descript (a door marked with, fittingly, a small red lantern), the escape room is a sight to behold. We enter a beautiful setting, far more expansive than we anticipated. Strings of lights illuminate the “night sky” above a boardwalk on the bayou. Our high school reunion comes complete with carnival games and other festivities, though the setting is not without some danger. Signs clearly warn of perils to be found in the water surrounding the boardwalk and the ever-present alligator makes it abundantly clear if you don’t trust the signs.

 

Red Lantern Escape Room - Carnival Class Reunion - Ghosts of Classmates Past

 

Our magician friend (who also serves to help groups if they get stuck) recalls for us the story of five of our classmates who met with untimely demises. Naturally, we all remember their stories, being that we all went to high school together. He tells us of their tortured souls and their unfinished business, but there’s nothing we can do about that at the moment. We are instructed to open a box of memories to kick off the reunion. This puzzle acts as a warm up for the group and allows everyone to get used to the room (and is helpful for newcomers). Once opened, the disembodied spirits of the five students are released into the night sky and we have until midnight (the clock at the back of the room reads 11:05 no matter when you start) to complete their dying wishes or be trapped with them in limbo forever.

Over the next fifty-five rousing minutes, we went on a bayou adventure to free those spirits. Each puzzle tied into one of the five students, who fit into classic high school archetypes, from the prom queen to the outsider to the girl with big dreams. The puzzles are inventive, fun, and range from simple and straight-forward to difficult and thought-provoking. Those trying to free the spirits are tasked with deciphering Morse code (with an assist from some helpful fireflies), using old school 3D glasses to look at a magic eye puzzle, finding the right song to play for the part, and following a treasure map around the boardwalk. The most inventive puzzle at Red Lantern involves the aptly named Frustration Box, but to say any more on that would spoil the frustra…fun. The presence of five different puzzle tracks (one for each student) allows for everyone to be working on something different, even in larger groups, and the ability to switch to something different if they get stuck.

 

Red Lantern Escape Room - Carnival Class Reunion - Ghosts of Classmates Past

 

While you’re ostensibly trying to save yourselves from limbo, the act of trying to save the trapped souls adds an emotional heft not normally present in escape rooms. The impact of saving the students increased with each tick of the clock as it moved closer to midnight, and as we saved one—the catharsis resonated across our team.

Red Lantern Escape Rooms’ Midnight on the Bayou room was an incredibly enjoyable experience that tied clever puzzles and a great setting together with an emotional through line. I’d be delighted to recommend it to everyone, experienced and novice escape room attendees alike.

It seems the only mystery that remains is whatever happened to Shelley the reunion coordinator. I do hope she’s okay…

 

Red Lantern Escape Room - Carnival Class Reunion - Ghosts of Classmates Past

 

For more info on Red Lantern Escape Rooms’ Midnight on the Bayou, visit their website and follow their Facebook page. Check out Immersed for more of your immersive and escape room needs.

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