Huddy’s Escape Named Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Winner for 2026
April 30, 2026
2 min read
Huddy’s Escape Recognized as a Top-Rated Attraction in the United States
GAINESVILLE & OCALA, FLORIDA – April 30, 2026 – Huddy’s Escape is pleased to announce today that it has been recognized in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards for 2026. Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award winners are among the top 10% of listings around the world on Tripadvisor.
As the world’s largest travel guidance platform, Tripadvisor has unparalleled authority with travelers and diners. This award is based on genuine feedback from anyone in the community who has visited and left an authentic, first-hand review on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period, making it a valuable and trustworthy designation of travelers’ favorites.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award winner for 2026. We want to thank every guest who has visited and taken the time to leave a review, as well as our amazing team who makes these experiences possible every day. Being included among travelers’ favorites means everything to us, and we are committed to continuing to deliver unforgettable, immersive experiences to every group that walks through our doors.”
“Congratulations to Huddy’s Escape on its recognition in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2026,” said Matt Dacey, Chief Marketing Officer, Tripadvisor. “Ranking among the top percentage of businesses globally means you have made such a memorable impact on your visitors that many of them took time to go online and leave a glowing review about their experience. We hope this recognition continues to drive business to you in 2026 and beyond.”
Check out all the reviews and discover more about Huddy’s Escape here: https://www.huddysescape.com
About Huddy’s Escape
Huddy’s Escape is an award-winning escape room experience with locations in Gainesville and Ocala, Florida. Known for its immersive, cinematic-quality rooms, Huddy’s Escape has hosted tens of thousands of players and is recognized for its innovative game design, detailed environments, and unforgettable experiences.
About Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, the world’s largest travel guidance platform, helps millions of people each month become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip.
At Huddy’s Escape, we believe there’s a difference between escape rooms and truly breathtaking escape room experiences.
If you’re looking for the best escape room in Ocala or escape room in Gainesville, you’re in the right place. From the moment you walk through our doors, you’re stepping into a fully immersive, story-driven experience designed to pull you out of the real world and into something unforgettable.
Every escape room at Huddy’s Escape is designed and built in-house. From the story and puzzles to lighting, sound, and cinematic reveals, nothing is mass-produced or copied. We don’t buy templates. We build worlds.
That philosophy is why Huddy’s Escape is consistently rated as one of the top escape rooms in Florida, earning industry awards and thousands of five-star reviews from families, friends, and corporate teams.
Custom-Built Escape Rooms — Designed, Not Bought
Unlike many escape rooms, Huddy’s Escape creates every experience from the ground up. Our designers, builders, and storytellers collaborate to craft immersive environments where every puzzle has purpose and every moment has impact.
Whether you’re booking an escape room for team building, a birthday party, a date night, or a group outing, our games are designed to challenge communication, creativity, and problem-solving in a fun, high-energy way.
This commitment to quality is what turns a simple activity into a cinematic escape room experience.
Trusted for Professional Team Building and Training
Huddy’s Escape is proud to be the designer and creator of the 2024 and 2025 EMS Escape Room Challenges, developed in partnership with ShandsCair Critical Care Transport and the University of Florida and Santa Fe College EMS programs.
These were fully custom-built escape room scenarios focused on leadership, communication, and decision-making under pressure. Designed alongside medical professionals, these experiences demonstrate how escape rooms can be powerful tools for corporate team building, training, and collaboration.
When professionals who save lives trust us to design their challenges, it reinforces our belief that immersive experiences should be both engaging and meaningful.
Locally Owned Escape Rooms in Ocala and Gainesville
Huddy’s Escape is proud to be locally owned and operated in Ocala and Gainesville, Florida. We don’t aim to be the biggest escape room company — we aim to deliver the best escape room experience in our communities.
Our guests include:
Families and friends
College students
First responders
Corporate teams
Visitors searching for the best things to do in Ocala and Gainesville
They come to us because they want more than locks and clues. They want a shared story, a rush of adrenaline, and a memory that lasts long after the game ends.
Our Promise
When you book an escape room at Huddy’s Escape, you’re not just reserving a room.
You’re choosing a top-rated escape room in Ocala or Gainesville, built with intention, passion, and care. We respect your time, your trust, and your experience — and we design every game to prove it.
There are escape rooms everywhere. But there are only a few places where the experience stays with you.
Welcome to Huddy’s Escape — Ocala and Gainesville’s premier escape room experience.
Over the last several years, escape rooms are becoming the most popular group activities in Florida. Families, friends, tourists, and corporate teams are increasingly searching for unique experiences that combine entertainment, puzzles, and immersive storytelling.
Unlike traditional attractions, escape rooms place guests directly inside the story. Players must work together to solve clues, uncover hidden mechanisms, and complete a mission before time runs out.
Across Florida, this form of interactive entertainment has grown rapidly. Cities like Ocala and Gainesville are seeing increased interest as locals search for things to do, team‑building experiences, and unique group activities that go beyond typical restaurants or movie nights.
What Makes Escape Rooms So Addictive?
Part of the appeal is simple: escape rooms combine challenge, adrenaline, and collaboration.
The experience triggers the same problem‑solving excitement that people enjoy in games and puzzles, but in a real physical environment.
Many players say the most memorable part isn’t just solving puzzles—it’s the moment the team works together and suddenly the room begins unlocking new secrets.
Why Huddy’s Escape Has Become a Destination in Florida?
Located in Ocala and Gainesville, Huddy’s Escape has become one of the most recognized escape room brands in the region.
The company has hosted tens of thousands of players and has earned recognition including TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards, placing it among the top attractions for visitors looking for interactive experiences.
What separates Huddy’s Escape from many traditional escape rooms is the scale and design of the environments. Each game is built as a fully immersive world, combining set design, electronics, sound effects, and interactive storytelling.
Guests might find themselves inside: • a medieval wizard chamber • a mysterious toy workshop • a haunted comedy club • a time‑traveling train adventure
Each experience is designed to feel like stepping into a live adventure movie.
Why Businesses Are Using Escape Rooms for Team Building?
Corporate groups have also discovered the benefits of escape rooms.
Companies across Florida are booking escape rooms for: • leadership training • team bonding • problem‑solving exercises • employee celebrations
Because players must communicate and collaborate to succeed, escape rooms naturally create teamwork dynamics that are difficult to replicate in traditional office environments.
Many companies now view escape rooms as one of the most effective team‑building activities in Florida.
Corporate team-building group celebrating after completing an immersive escape room at Huddys Escape
Tourism Is Driving the Escape Room Boom
Another reason escape rooms continue to grow is tourism.
Visitors traveling through Central Florida often search for experiences beyond theme parks. Attractions that provide interactive, indoor entertainment are especially appealing for travelers looking for unique activities during evenings or rainy days.
Search terms like: • things to do in Ocala • things to do in Gainesville • indoor activities Florida • group entertainment near me
have steadily increased over the past few years.
Escape rooms frequently appear at the top of these searches because they combine entertainment, challenge, and memorable social experiences.
The Future of Immersive Entertainment
The escape room industry continues to evolve, blending technology with storytelling.
Many modern experiences now incorporate: • sensor‑driven puzzles • cinematic lighting • projection mapping • interactive props • story‑driven finales
These developments are turning escape rooms into fully immersive entertainment experiences, closer to live adventure films than traditional puzzle rooms.
As technology improves, the line between games, theater, and attractions continues to blur.
Planning Your First Escape Room Adventure
For players trying an escape room for the first time, a few tips can help maximize the experience: • communicate with your team constantly • examine every object carefully • divide tasks among players • don’t overthink simple puzzles
Most importantly, remember the goal is to have fun and work together.
Even if a team doesn’t escape in time, the experience often becomes a memorable story shared long afterward.
Experience It Yourself
Players interested in trying an escape room adventure can learn more about games, availability, and booking options at:
With locations in Ocala and Gainesville, Huddy’s Escape continues to welcome families, tourists, and corporate groups looking for one of Florida’s most unique interactive experiences.
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