Not many people would consider voluntary confinement as a form of entertainment, but owner of Escape Room Athens and The Chamber Escape Room in Columbus, Daniel Hutchison, believes otherwise. During an interview with "The Post," Hutchison said he decided to open the business after visiting an escape room in Florida. He first opened The Chamber Escape Room in Columbus last year in May, while Escape Room Athens opened barely over a week ago.
Escape Room Athens is a place where you and up to 12 people must escape from a locked room in 45 minutes or less through finding clues, puzzle solving and teamwork. This new entertainment concept is very different than a haunted house, although the room can be a little eerie and enigmatic. The themes for the rooms will be rotated about every six months to change the game up for participants.
The obvious goal of the brainteaser is to find the key and unlock the door, but there's a deeper goal that will be achieved whether you escape the room or not. Teamwork and face-to-face communication are skills that we're beginning to lose because of computer mediated interactions and cellphones. Although phones are allowed inside, it is preferred that you don't use them inside the rooms as it will allow real human interactions and thoughts to be the ultimate way to escape.
Unless you purchase all 12 tickets for a time slot, you will more than likely be put out of your comfort zone and have to work toward the common goal with a few strangers. This might worry some people with dominant personalities who like to take control of every situation. In the end, it all works out because there might be some clues that you might not understand as well as someone else or visa versa. (Plus, you might even meet some new friends!) That is the beauty of working on this giant puzzle with so many different people: you need everyone.
Escape Room Athens is located at 1005 East State Street, across the street from the Athena Grand. The cost is $32 per person on weekdays and $35 per person on weekends. To find out more information, visit the Escape Room Athens website or Facebook page or watch the video below.
