“ YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX . THE PUZZLES ARE LOGICAL BUT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE DETAILS .”
You ’ re locked in a room and the only chance for escape is to follow the clues and solve the puzzles that lead to the key code . A countdown clock ticks away like a doomsday omen , and you feel an adrenaline rush as it nears zero hour . Will you make it out ? Welcome to Escape Game Erie where only 40 percent of the teams that take on the challenge make it out in the allotted 50 minutes . Teams of two to 10 people are locked in a themed room filled with artifacts , clues and props and have to go through a series of mental and physical feats in order to win .
Inspired by computer versions of the escape-the-room concept , physical escape rooms are relatively new on the interactive entertainment scene , hitting the United States only about five years ago , but have quickly spread in popularity .
While the puzzles don ’ t require a genius-level IQ , they sometimes require a genius level of attention to detail . If you aren ’ t paying close attention , some of the easiest clues can hold you up the longest .
Try to pry information out of those who ’ ve done the escape rooms and they are quick to refuse , not wanting to ruin the game for any future escapees .
“ You really have to think outside the box . The puzzles are logical but you have to focus on the details ,” suggests high school sophomore Claire Timon who did Escape Game Erie with a group of eight friends for a birthday celebration .
“ YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX . THE PUZZLES ARE LOGICAL BUT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE DETAILS .”
Corporations have jumped on the escape room wagon , sending corporate teams as a team-building exercise . Nothing brings co-workers closer than being locked in a room together for an hour .
Millcreek resident and GE employee Sean Keeley played the “ Abducted ” escape room game with a team of coworkers for team building .
“ I would say the hardest part was devising an escape plan . Of course in each of our minds we were certain we had the best
plan ,” says Keeley . “ It ’ s definitely a good time and it ’ s great to see alternative entertainment , like the Escape Room , find its way to our town .”
Don ’ t worry , there are safety measures in place in case the idea of being locked in a room with a group of people makes you a little wary , especially in the case of the Abduction room where you start the game handcuffed together in the dark .
While you really are locked in the room , everyone is given an emergency code to get out and an attendant through both audio and video feeds monitors the room . The attendant is allowed to give you three hints , but here is a hint about the hints — sometimes they are as cryptic as the clues themselves so don ’ t expect any freebies .
Owners Dave and Jennifer Wedzik insist that it ’ s fun for all ages from 14 to 80 and that everyone can contribute in some form . The Wedziks took over operations in July and have added considerably to the room options and tweaked the games since the original escape room was introduced to the area .
New this year , they are adding a second location and two new escape rooms . The Wedziks purchased the Nicholson House on West Ridge Road in Millcreek , a building that dates back to 1825 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
“ The Nicholson House is an exciting house with a lot of local history . It has been a stagecoach stop , a canal stop , a tavern and , up until about five years ago , a private residence for nine generations of Nicholsons ,” explains Jennifer Wedzik .
The most anticipated new room at the Nicholson House is called Escape the Niagara . Escape Room Erie partnered with the Flagship Niagara League for this one . The room will look like the captain ’ s quarters on the ship and even have a few artifacts from the U . S . Brig Niagara . A portion of the proceeds is being donated back to the league .
Thrill seekers , secret agent wannabes , puzzle wizards or people looking for something out of the ordinary to do this weekend are urged to try Escape Room Erie . Why not see if you ’ ve got what it takes to escape ? n
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