Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales

Almost exactly five years ago, I tried axe throwing for the first time. Everyone had fun! My colleague Lacey even joined the league. I intended to go back and then just…never did. But I always had good memories of it. Now along comes Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales. Did they crack the code to repeat business? Short answer: yes! Read on for details.

Chop Shop

Slashers’ biggest selling point (for me) is its pedigree. The owners of Crossroads Escape Games, home to some of the best escape rooms in Southern California, are the masterminds behind Slashers. As the name strongly implies, they’ve created a horror-themed venue, with a fun Summer Camp vibe. The instructors are “counselors” and participants are “campers.” The space is painted red and black, with silhouettes of trees. Picnic tables are placed behind each pair of throwing lanes. And the best part–every lane is named after a horror movie icon, with a prop above the lane and their image projected at the end–a perfect target for your axes.

It’s clear they are real horror fans too. Besides the obvious characters (Freddy and Jason), they’ve got some deep cuts, and I had to ask for help identifying them. The rustic, woodsy bar has a treasure trove of artifacts, including nods to Blair Witch Project, Poltergeist, Jaws, and many more. It’s a fun challenge to see how many you can identify. The signature element of the bar though, is an animatronic deer head. In what I believe is a nod to Evil Dead II, the deer becomes “possessed” every hour on the hour. It’s a fun show, with an extra surprise too–make sure you see it at least once!

A Cut Above

So the theme and atmosphere are great. But theme isn’t enough if the core experience isn’t worthwhile. Never fear; Slashers has improved that too!. My previous experience was simply throwing at a bullseye painted onto the wood at the end of the lane. It was fun already, but Slashers takes it up several notches by incorporating technology. Instead of static targets, players can now choose from multiple different games. I spent a good portion of my hour playing Battleship and Space Invaders with my group. We had 3 per lane, which worked well enough. However, Slashers asks you to replace the axe after each throw, instead of handing it to the next player, for safety reasons. I can’t complain about safety, but the time it takes to replace and retrieve the axe adds up. I recommend each person should throw twice in a row, OR you should stick to 2 players per lane.

The actual gameplay is very freeform. Players keep score for themselves on tablets anchored to the wall of each lane, so you can basically make up your own rules for any game you choose. The staff will teach you the standard scoring if you want, but with so many options, scoring can be an afterthought. You can simply enjoy the satisfaction when the axe “thunks” into the wood, or the despair when it clatters off the target back onto the floor. With 3 different axes, 2 different grip styles, and more games/targets than I can remember, this really is customizable to anyone. Using the large, 2-handed axe feels powerful, but the smaller hatchet gives you more accuracy and control, like darts on steroids. Everyone will have their own preference.

Anyway You Slice It

There are a lot of fun details to round out the experience. The bar only serves beer and cider for alcoholic drinks. I don’t drink beer, but my friends told me it was a good selection, including one brewed exclusively for Slashers. I had a non-alcoholic cider that was fantastic. They also sell camp-themed packaged snacks. There’s no kitchen for ordering food, but you are welcome to bring in outside food. The picnic tables at the end of each lane are perfect for that. And they are set up to host a wide range of parties and events. And leagues are coming in 2024!

Adding to the ambience is a soundtrack of spooky-themed songs. They’ve got about 6 hours’ worth of music so you won’t hear any repeats. These range from horror movie soundtracks, to actual Halloween songs, to some vaguely thematic choices. I swear I heard “Bring Me to Life” by Evanescence from the Daredevil soundtrack. Most importantly–the theme is FUN, but not scary. This is not a gross or scary environment. If anyone is worried about the horror theme being too much for them, I really don’t think it’s a problem. My group initially didn’t know what to expect from the theme, but after seeing it in person, my group agreed that Slashers is an environment that anyone would like–it is not just for horror fans.

I don’t get to Orange County often, but I would absolutely go back to Slashers. Certainly if I’m going to be down that way, I’ll try to swing by for an hour. Prices are $40 per person for a 1-hour block, or $65 for 2 hours. You must be 13 or older to particpate, and closed-toe shoes are required. They are located at 1941 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa, CA. More information, and online booking, is available at their website here.