“ 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 themedroom 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 Fairview High School sophomore Claire Timon who did Escape Game Erie with a group of eight friends for a birthday celebration . 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 .
“ YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX . THE PUZZLES ARE LOGICAL BUT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE DETAILS .”
A team of engineers from GE holds the record for quickest escape , taking only 25 minutes to work through the clues . Fairview resident Pat Timon took a team from the claims department at Erie Insurance for some team building outside the office .
“ You have to work with each other and get everyone ’ s ideas . There are all different kinds of puzzles from quantitative to qualitative ,” says Timon . “ It ’ s fun to challenge yourself , do something new and unique , and not electronic-based .”
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 wannabees , 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
West County | Spring 2017 | icmags . com 13