LOCATION: Joshua Tree, California, USA
Photo above is property of Wild Heart Ranch
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
📝 ETR DECODER
🔑 GAME: Wild Heart Ranch
📅 DATE PLAYED: April 24-25, 2024
🎬 GENRE: Intergalactic Mystery
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: Up to 8 ppl
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 4-5 Hrs (Leisurely pace)
💰 PRICE: ~$325.00/ night - Highly variable, depending on dates (2-night minimum required, sleeps up to 8 ppl)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes
📖 THE STORY
After a long day of hiking in the desert, we went into the town of Twenty-Nine Palms to get some dinner and see about finding some lodging. We found a Mexican place (not that finding a Mexican place is hard in that part of the country; finding Thai would've been noteworthy) and tucked into hearty burritos loaded with beans, rice, and cheese, and slathered with a salsa verde that had to have been homemade. Our bellies full, we inquired about lodging options, knowing we'd need a dash of luck to find something reasonable on such short notice.
The local motels were filled with tourists. As it was Spring Break week, that came as no surprise. Seeing our sunburned shoulders, the owner noted that we seemed to be familiar with the desert and wondered if we'd be up for the adventure of staying at a place outside of town, past where the pavement turns to dirt. We were grateful for any kind of accommodation and assumed it would be bare bones given the sandy surroundings, but he assured us there were a couple of well appointed, air conditioned buildings on the property, as well as a pool and hot tub!
He gave us a few churros on the house and told us a bit about the place. Owned by the local Hart family for generations, it was rumored to be near the site of a UFO crash from sometime back in the mid-20th century. The Hart family (mostly the grandfather and his three grandchildren) were a motley crew of scientists and nature lovers, handy with tools as well as open to exploring the mysteries for which the desert is renowned. Our curiosity piqued, we headed out with a set of printed instructions. Something about the area tends to make modern day GPS go a bit awry and direct people into a so-called 'sand vortex'. We were skeptical, but decided he knew the area better than we did and we'd best follow his directions to a T.
We headed out before sunset and found our way with ease following the directions given, also noting several pink WHR signs to help us on our way. Sure enough, upon entering through the wooden gate, we saw that the property had a pair of beautifully maintained, pet-friendly dwellings (able to sleep up to 8), along with a couple of locked ramshackle cabins (one sporting a jaunty neon sign saying Wild Heart Ranch), a fire-pit for nights when the wind is calm, and a vending machine stocked with a peculiar mix of food, drinks and, well, you should see for yourself.
Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
When we entered the main home, we were greeted by the cool comfort of air conditioning and the sounds of old western tunes, some familiar and others foreign to us. As we looked around, we appreciated the incredible thought that had been put into the decorations. The collection of old books, the myriad games on shelves, and the old fashioned, yet fully functioning appliances were appealing to the eye and stimulating to the imagination. Even more interesting was the tastefully fascinating art on every wall, revolving around alien images, outer space, and a desert-nature vibe.
Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
We unpacked our bags and took a closer look. What unfolded over the next few hours as dusk gave way to the star-studded dark of a moonlit night was as unbelievably captivating as any great legend you could recall. Through the course of the evening, we followed clues leading us all around the beautiful property, discovering surprises inside and out. We determined the truth about the rumors the friendly restaurateur had shared with us, communed with powers heretofore unimagined, and assembled devices of such complexity we found ourselves bewildered as to whether the origin was a neighboring house, or a neighboring planet. The conclusion left us joyously fulfilled.
Photo above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers
Our family has unlocked countless locks, solved many a mystery, and followed clues of all kinds, but our experience at Wild Heart Ranch will undoubtedly always be one of the most enriching, enjoyable, and rewarding that we've undertaken. With no time limit, we were free to explore at our own pace, pause and savor the seemingly endless string of surprises we discovered, and revel in the shimmering glory at the conclusion of it all. We didn’t want to leave.
🏹 TAKE A SHOT?
If you fancy an adventure unlike any other, you simply must find a way to visit the Wild Heart Ranch. You wouldn't believe what we found if we told you, so you're better off taking a leap of faith and trusting in the mix of ancient power and modern technology that comes together in a story-driven adventure so seamlessly integrated with the homes and landscape, you'll find yourself wondering if you're in a dream, or if, for the first time, you're truly awake.
(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 Wild Heart Ranch for providing a media discount on the tickets for this game. Although discounted admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.
