Phantom Files: The Investigation Of Lockturne Manor

Rating: 4.5/5 - My favorite at TEV with a fun actor and great production value! Pros: ➕The mansion looked fantastic, it was very convincing and immersive ➕Great lighting effects and atmosphere ➕The actor/GM was hilarious, quirky, and played their role so well ➕Appropriately spooky with strong theming, as others have said, it feels like a mix of Scooby Doo and Ghostbusters ➕Multiple rooms to explore ➕Great use of tech with some fun gadgets, made us feel like we were actually catching ghosts ➕Satisfying ending ➕Loved the catchy theme song ➕Fun story with some comedic moments Minor things that could've been better: ➖Over use of padlocks and a specific type of lockbox. There is one room that had no puzzles, just keys and padlocks, it felt out of place. ➖Many puzzles were uninteresting and forgettable. Overall I'm not a fan of TEV's puzzle design since they are too reliant on counting things, putting items in order, and figuring out letters/numbers/patterns. It gets a bit repetitive and feels like it's from and older era of escape rooms despite these being recent rooms. It was fine as a team of 3, I'd recommend no more than 4. It was mostly spooky with maybe a couple of jump scares. My ranking of TEV rooms starting with my favorite: 1. Phantom Files: The Investigation of Lockturne Manor 2. Click 'N Glitch Arcade Palace 3. Nightfall: Creature at Camp Deadwood 4. Operation Arctic Storm: The Final Meltdown 5. Neighborhood Watcher

WOW! The set design on this room is amazing, it was the perfect blend of scooby doo meets ghostbusters. The theme song is going to be stuck in your head forever, fair warning hahah. We loved the puzzles on the porch so so much, one of the most unique puzzles I’ve seen. The house section made me feel like I was in the haunted mansion at Disney, which is my happy place, so I was giddy about that. The room wasn’t very difficult for us and so we finished it about an hour, but it’s advertised as a 90 minute experience, so maybe your night would end a bit earlier, but the higher cost on it is still totally worth it for the production value. We also adored how certain spaces were re-used/changed (no spoilers!). Go Spirit Stalkers *high five*!

My favorite room EVER! Would 100% recommend. Not only an escape room but it’s an entire experience!

Incredible atmosphere. Tons of puzzles. We had an amazing time. Aryn was an amazing host.

Phantom Files earned Escape Ventures their first TERPECA recognition, ranking #83 globally. While Camp Dreadwood remains my personal favorite at this location, Phantom Files' TERPECA accolades are well-justified through its exceptional set design and technical achievements. For enthusiasts who prioritize immersive environments, this room delivers spectacularly. The attention to detail is remarkable, from the meticulously crafted ceiling features to the finest decorative elements. Escape Ventures' expertise in special effects truly shines here, enhanced by their innovative modular set design approach that ensures flawless execution. Having completed all three games at this location, I can confidently assert that Port Charlotte houses Escape Ventures' finest collection across all four of their venues.

Amazing game!! Really fun!

This room is fantastic! They used the space so well and the atmosphere was wonderfully immersive. The puzzles were unique and a good change of pace. And our game master Aryn was awesome! Top notch!!

Loved this room!! Great use of the space making it seem much larger than it is! Loved the puzzles and the story. So much fun with a little spooky vibe. If you love ghostbusters, do this room!

Wow. Where do we even begin? What a room! Such an amazing and immersive experience. Everything about this room was a 10/10. The set design, the story, the puzzles, the game master who took care of our game, everything! Would recommend anyone to do this room, such a good and fun time. Jake was great as our game master, he helped make the experience even better!