Brand New Escape Room Coming to Huntington Beach March 30, 2026 That Brings the Surf Culture to Life
There’s something special about stepping into an escape room where you can feel the passion behind every detail—and Surf’s Up from Surf City Escapes absolutely delivers on that. The owners and the designers of this game are all escape room enthusiasts and it shows. I’m very excited to welcome Ben & Katie to the SoCal escape room community in their role as owners.
I had the pleasure of beta testing this game ahead of its official opening, and while the version I experienced may have a few small tweaks by launch, it already felt polished, complete, and ready to welcome players.
🏄♂️ The Story: Chores Before Waves
Surf’s Up leans into a fun, relatable storyline with a strong sense of personality. You’re stepping into the world of a surfer kid who’s been grounded due to bad grades. The waves are calling—but first, you’ve got to get through your chores.
It’s a simple premise, but it’s executed with a lot of charm and heart. The surfing theme isn’t just surface-level—it’s woven into the environment, the puzzles, and even the language of the game.
🧩 Puzzles: Creative, Physical, and Smartly Designed
This is a multi-room experience, which always adds to that feeling of progression and discovery.
It has a mix of traditional locks and tech-based puzzles. The physical elements get you moving. It also integrates surf culture and terminology into the puzzles.
One of my favorite aspects was how the game taught me about surfing. As someone who’s never surfed, I actually walked away feeling like I learned something but not in a forced way. It’s woven naturally into the gameplay, which makes it both fun and memorable.
🖤 A Theme Built with Passion
You can tell this room was created by people who genuinely love what they’re building. The surfing theme feels authentic, not gimmicky, and there’s a lot of care put into making the experience cohesive.
The designers did a fantastic job blending storytelling, puzzles, and environment into something that feels fresh. It’s always exciting to see a new company come in with such a strong sense of identity.
🔐 What to Know Before You Go
• There is an underground parking garage at the mall plan to leave extra time to park and find the entrance the parking entrance is around the backside of the mall (opposite PCH)
• There’s a restroom nearby outside the unit, so stop on your way in Give yourself a little extra time before your game to get settled
• I’d rate Surf’s Up at about a 7/10 difficulty.
• Younger kids may need some help due to reading heavy elements.
• Plan a little time after your game too. You’re right by the beach, perfect excuse to go soak in that Huntington Beach vibe.
• Address: 21058 Pacific Coast Highway Suite #m210 Huntington Beach California 92648
🗝️ Final Thoughts 💭
Surf’s Up is a fantastic addition to the SoCal escape room scene. It’s creative, heartfelt, and offers a unique theme that stands out from the usual escape room lineup.
I’m especially excited to see Surf City Escapes join the community. The owners are truly wonderful people, and I have no doubt players are going to enjoy not just the game—but the experience they’ve built around it.
Book here: https://surfcityescapes.com
If you’re looking for something fresh, fun, and full of personality this is one you’re definitely going to want to check out.