Our Story
Clue Quest started with my daughter’s 10th birthday.
She isn’t a big-party kid — she prefers a quiet night with a few close friends, a movie, and her favorite candy (Lemonheads). I still wanted to make the milestone feel special, and since she loves puzzles and brain teasers, I decided to create a scavenger-hunt-style adventure for her and her friends.
What began as “a few clues” quickly turned into a full-blown quest — and honestly, I may have had just as much fun designing it as they did solving it. The kids followed custom clues around the house, collecting tools they’d need along the way; a UV flashlight for invisible ink, pieces of a hand-drawn puzzle, a riddle-hidden book safe, and more. My goal was for it to last an hour… and it did. They finished in a circle on the floor, happily eating Lemonheads and excitedly reliving every clue. I remember thinking, I can’t wait to do this again next year.
I didn’t have to wait that long.
A couple months later, one of the girls asked her mom if she could have “a scavenger hunt like my friend had” for her birthday and her mom called me to ask how to make one. After hearing what was involved, she laughed and said, “There is no way I can pull that off… would you be willing to make one for us?” I excitedly agreed — as our birthday gift.
Designing a completely new adventure for a different home (without repeating any tricks) was a fun creative challenge.
As I built the quest, I checked in with her through quick text messages now and then — asking small, specific questions about their home so I could design puzzles that felt like they belonged there.
It turned out great! There were magnetic clues, objects gathered over time that clicked together in a single “aha!” moment, and riddles woven into familiar spaces. I stayed to watch the group work through it — and their excitement and teamwork felt just as magical as the first time.
Afterward, her mom said, ‘You should turn this into something real, parents would love it.’ So I posted a short description in a neighborhood group to see if others were interested.”
The response was an overwhelming yes — and Clue Quest was born.
