Recently, I had the opportunity to test my detective skills and experience Escape the Space in Athens, GA! Escape the Space is the original live escape room in Athens and is locally owned and operated. You and your team (anywhere from 2-14 people) are locked inside a room and the ultimate challenge is to find a way out in under 60 minutes. To do this there are three main steps: search for clues, solve puzzles, and escape the space. Sounds easy right? But don't let that fool you; escaping is no piece of cake. In order to be successful you have to work as a team, think critically, and flex your creative muscles!
Escape the Space offers three full-sized rooms that can fit up to 14 people, and one small room for parties of 4 or less. Each room contains a unique theme, puzzles, and game play. To ensure there's always something new for you to enjoy a new room is added quarterly!
Here's a quick recap of my Escape the Space experience!
Finding Clues
My best friend Jess and I decided to see what Escape the Space was all about! We were paired with another couple that was around our age, and got to know each other before the challenge began. We were then blindfolded and escorted to our room. When we removed our blindfolds we were transported back to our high school days, to a place we wouldn't remember fondly... detention! We were amazed and how much the room looked like an actual classroom. The walls were covered with posters, the shelves stacked with textbooks, and rows of desks were spread out throughout the room. The theme was detention gone wrong. The teacher had locked the students (us) in the room for detention and we had to find a way out! After we surveyed our surroundings my team and I were eager to find all the clues we could get our hands on! Clues were hidden in every place imaginable. From looking in disheveled backpacks to scanning lines in textbooks, they seemed to be hiding everywhere! Finding them is the crucial first step in order to be able to solve the puzzles.
Solving Puzzles
The second step in the process is to use the clues you collected to solve the various puzzles throughout the room. Each puzzle is complex, and requires the use of multiple clues and critical thinking in order to crack it. For our team solving the puzzles was the most challenging part. We decided to divide and conquer and broke up into groups of two and took on two puzzles each. This seemed to be the best approach since each puzzle requires teamwork and a good amount of time to complete. Although this is the most time consuming part of the process it is also the most rewarding. This is where the teamwork component come into play. You have to be able to work together and bounce ideas off of one another or else you won't be able to solve them. Each puzzle you solve reveals an important piece of information that is necessary in order for you to be able to escape.
Escaping the Space
Unfortunately my team and I did not make it out. I would say it was close, but that would be a lie. Despite "failing," we all had a great time! Time seemed to go so quickly while we were solving the puzzles I was caught off guard when the buzzer went off. Next time since we were such a small group I'll be sure to check out their new O' Malley's Pub room, harkening back to the days of the famous Athens bar by the river, designed for teams of 4 and under. Unfortunately in the mean time our picture will remain on the losers wall!
The losing team in all its glory! I'm the one in the white sweater, my friend Jess is the girl pouting to my right, and our new friends are on my left!
Urban Enigmas will join the fun as the second escape room in Athens opening April 1st! This is a great addition to the Athens community and will provide more fun and challenges for escape room enthusiasts.
Make reservations now to reserve your Escape the Space experience and be sure to check out their deal for students Wednesday nights at 6 here.
