Black Hills Escape Rooms — Attraction in Rapid City

*(My review from Morty last year (March 27, 2024), decided to post it here to get more exposure as we are about to visit family in Rapid City again. I’ve noticed others having issues with the staff. If we go back and the experience is better, I will increase the stars. Also photo was before being reprimanded)

This was a decent low budget escape room. Not my favorite, but still made me think outside of the box a little which is what we’re looking for. Unfortunately, what really detracted from the whole experience was the absolutely terrible service we received from the two girls working the front desk on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. They were very little help before the escape room itself and lackluster in general when it came to asking for hints/tips when they acted as if we were burdening them. They just wanted to sit there plying on their phones. But what really left a bad taste in my mouth was that after completing the room (and obviously being excited about completing it), both employees were incredibly rude. Instead of sharing in the excitement (which makes for an overall greater experience), they instead grilled me about why I removed an item from the wall. I had assumed that since a) it was loose and b) we used a different item from the wall, that removing the mirror was fair game. Again, we were stuck and I was trying to think outside of the box.

Upon escaping the room, both young girls grilled me and were beyond disrespectful (to an embarrassing extent for this business). The blonde girl with a deep voice started interrogating me as to why the mirror was taken off the wall and I responded by stating that I'm used to previous escape rooms where if something doesn't come off the wall, it is screwed or very secure. This was literally hanging by a nail and came off easily. Then she continued to question and say “I told you nothing on the wall is used and not to take anything off” (even though that's a lie because we did use fish on the wall). She then asked again, for at least the third time “why did you take it off the wall?” as if trying to make me feel like an idiot and assert her dominance or something. Then I stated that it was because we weren't getting anywhere and I was trying everything possible, so I pulled it off the wall and I would've put it back on the wall, but the nail accidentally slid into the drywall. But after about 10 seconds of pulling on the nail/finagling with it a little more, I was able to re-hang it up on the wall. It absolutely was not a big deal and took 10 seconds to fix but the one employee sure made it as if it was a big deal. Overall, it made for a very unpleasant and uncomfortable situation after we were excited and happy to get out. Unfortunately this left a bad taste in our mouths and reflected poorly on the entire escape room/business due to the employees’ attitudes and unprofessional behavior.

It’s very unfortunate that it’s hard to find good help these days and some young kids like this that have absolutely zero respect for others. Hopefully this escape room will find some better employees which will make the overall experience more enjoyable for anyone who partakes...

We're ER "aficionados," and I've done work creating rooms and stories for a prominent ER company. But I have to say this was probably the worst experience we've had to date.

The staff was lackluster at best. The setup we were given was barely a setup (we were left to read the written version ourselves in the room after he started our timer). It's clear that they weren't really monitoring our progress much because when we asked for a hint, they had to come up in an examine where we were at in the room and then ask which puzzle needed help with. When we were done with the room, they didn't even encourage, let alone offer or ask to take pictures despite the elaborate backdrop and props setup they had in the lobby for just that purpose. We were traveling through the area on a family vacation, so the room was booked late notice and the last of the night; from first contact, we really felt that the staff viewed us more as obstacles to them going home early than as valued customers.

Beyond that, the room itself was kind of a mess. We did the Wild West themed room, and the staff person told us EXACTLY how to solve the first puzzle before leaving, without any prompt or request from us. One of the puzzles that was intended to be solved later was solved immediately due to faulty equipment, which rendered later discoveries pointless. They threw in a couple of red herrings, which is fine. However, one of them couldn't even be found until you solved the last puzzle. What is the point of a diversion for one part of the team as the other part of the team is opening the final door? :P

However, the biggest issue for us was safety. We have done many ERs before with different companies all over the country, and moving a heavy piece of furniture has never been part of solving a room. Not only was it not light, but metal brackets on the floor made it so that you couldn't easily slide it either. If there were only kids in the room (I could see it being a great room for a young group), it's questionable whether they could even do it, let alone do it safely. I'm sure they haven't had any accidents yet, but it seems like one waiting to happen.

Along the same line, another part of the room is very dark, and the floor is littered with objects that aren't fixed in place. Trying not to give anything away, rolling objects that could easily be slid, turned, twisted, etc. on the floor are a tripping hazard if nothing else. Combined with the darkness, you get the wrong group in there at the wrong time, it's not hard to imagine a fall. We had kids with us, and it almost happened at least once.

I was very encouraged by the lobby; the facility looks great, so we had high hopes for a professional, quality experience. But the problems with the staff and the room itself have made Black Hills Escape Rooms something we cannot recommend. Even our 7 and 9 year olds were disappointed by the end of it ... and they love ANY...

As a single mother of twin daughters, I don’t get the chance to do fun things often. But a few days ago, we tried our very first escape room here. From the moment we walked in, I felt a peaceful presence, like the Holy Spirit had opened the door before us. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the young lady at the front desk was an angel.

Now, I don’t use the word angel lightly. This young lady not only greeted us with immense kindness and warmth, but when I mentioned my youngest was hungry and I had to DoorDash McDonald’s, she did a backflip. A real one, with no warning: airborne in the blink of an eye. Impressed, I asked if she was in gymnastics or something similar and she said, “No ma’am, I just felt called to do it.” If that’s not divine intervention, I don’t know what is. My twins were in awe. I told them, “See? That’s what happens when you let the Lord work through you.” She even brought the Happy Meal into the room mid-game and handed it to my daughter like she was delivering manna in the wilderness. God bless her.

As for the actual escape room, the puzzles were good, but the vibes were better. About halfway through, I felt a warm breeze surrounding me, radiating with positive energy. I believe there’s a guardian spirit in this place, perhaps even the protective presence of the Archangel Michael, guiding us towards victory. We completed the room with 18 seconds left; it must have been Lord’s timing.

Before we left, I laid hands on the doorframe and prayed a blessing over the building. May all who enter this place find light, laughter, and a little bit of the Lord. When we get home, I will definitely be telling everyone at church about this hidden gem.

We came for the escape room, but we left with renewed faith. This place is touched by...