The Escape Ventures - "Nightfall: Creature at Camp Deadwood"
- Dave Bristol
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
LOCATION: Port Charlotte, Florida, USA
Photo above is property of The Escape Ventures
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Nightfall: Creature at Camp Deadwood
📅 DATE PLAYED: January 16, 2026
🎬 GENRE: Horror
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 3 ppl): 6/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 2-6 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 60 Mins.
💰 PRICE: Starting at $42.99/ pp
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
You’ve finally made it to your happy place: a peaceful camping trip in the woods. Fresh air, crackling campfire, stars overhead…what could go wrong? The local ranger greets you with a few unsettling stories about strange happenings in the area, but you chalk them up to classic campfire lore. After all, every national park has its legends, right? As night falls, though, this relaxing getaway turns into a race to understand what’s really lurking beyond the tree line and how to make it out before you become part of the legend yourselves.
🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE
Campy tone: A fun, slightly campy vibe throughout, with puzzles that feel right at home in a ranger station and deep-woods setting. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, despite the spooky atmosphere. There are a few well-timed jump scares, but nothing sustained or overwhelming. It would be enjoyable for many players who don’t usually gravitate toward horror.
Set design: The Escape Ventures very thoughtfully used sound, lighting, scent to create and immersive environment that really made us feel like we were out at a national park. They made great use of space, drawing us into unique environments, and made it clear what’s actually in play versus what’s atmospheric set dressing.
Clean, traditional entry mechanisms: This is a more classic, lock-forward room, but it was executed very cleanly. There was never confusion about which lock or mechanism went with which solve.
Memorable puzzle: One puzzle particularly stood out, unlike anything we’ve seen before. It was simple, innovative, and very satisfying once it clicked.
Unexpected beginning: A fun early-game twist (that may catch experienced players off guard) did a great job of flipping our initial expectations.
🧩 MISSED THE MARK
There are no major misses, so we have to get nit-picky on this one…
We wanted a longer hike: We loved our time in the woods and simply wished the trail was a bit longer. The ability to add in an extra puzzle or two for more experienced groups would have elevated the experience further.
One unclear waypoint: One counting-related puzzle felt slightly disconnected from the story and could have been a bit clearer, though it wasn’t a major issue.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
"Nightfall: Creature at Camp Deadwood" is an easy recommendation for almost everyone, unless you really can’t tolerate spookiness or scares. It’s actually a great entry point for a spooky room. There’s no gore, the scares are brief and earned, and the atmosphere is more “creepy campfire story” than full-blown nightmare fuel.
The puzzles are logical and satisfying, the flow is smooth, the interactions with the GM are entertaining, and the setting is thoughtfully layered with nice touches (including a subtle, on-theme scent that really grounds you in the woods). It’s a great fit for families with tweens or teens, friend groups, or coworkers looking for something fun with a little edge. It’s campy in the best sense of the word, and all in all, a rollicking good time! So pack your gear, lace up your boots, and get ready for a camping trip you won’t forget.
ℹ️ ADDITIONAL INFO
This location has free parking outside.
You have use of lockers, bathroom, and a small seating area.
Note: This game is not wheelchair accessible. (We love that this is clearly stated on their website. If you need accessible options, Click ‘N Glitch is fully wheelchair accessible, while Phantom Files is listed as “partially.”)
🔎 HINT
If you think the lighting is poor, just take another look around. You may have missed something.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
Check out our YouTube video for a sneak peek of the location, interview with the owners, the room(s) (no puzzle spoilers) and more:
Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)
Disclosure: We thank The Escape Ventures for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
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