Can you beat the clock?
A new business has recently opened that affords Guernsey County residents a new option for entertainment.
Escape Zone!! owner Karen Abrams first got the idea roughly seven years ago while on a business trip out to Tucson, Arizona, where she was first introduced to the escape room experience.
Abrams describes the Escape Zone experience as a live escape experience where you will be immersed into a themed room and challenged to use the elements provided to see if you have what it takes to escape in time.
"About seven years ago, the company I work for...they had us out to Tucson, Arizona for a meeting," Abrams explained. "They came in and told us hey we are going to put you all in a room and lock us in. I mean you can't do anything out in Tucson in the summer.
"So that was my first experience with an escape room," Abrams added. "And I loved it, and I was like why don't we have something like this in Cambridge, there is nothing to do. So, I told my husband about it when I got back, and he was not too keen on the idea."
Despite her husband's lukewarm response to her idea, Abrams did not give up and, along with a friend from St. Clairsville, opened the first Escape Zone in Bellaire six years ago.
"I'm not brand new at running this type of business, we were very successful with the Escape Zone in Bellaire," Abrams said. "But my partner retired and wanted to slow down, so this is a sole project of mine this time around. But my husband is involved as my builder of the rooms and anything I need.
"It's something for adults like us, that's what it's geared for have something to do," Abrams continued. "I don't go to bars myself, and there are not a lot of other options in Guernsey County right now. And it's just a really fun time. I describe it to first-timers as something like the board game Clue, where you have to use the clues to solve the crime, only in the escape room you are trying to get out."
Abrams said she feels it is perfect for ages 12 and up.
"Although many puzzles are fun for children, our games require adults to assist with solving. We encourage this experience for family members ages 12 and up, but ultimately you know your kids best," Abrams said. All children under 16 do require adult supervision in the room.
"I just had a group of 13-year-olds go through the other day and they did a great job," Abrams explained. "In fact, they were much faster than an all-adult group that went right before them."
Currently there is only one room operating, the Shallow Grove Cemetery. But Abrams said The Office: Break Room Mayhem will be opening soon followed by Shipwrecked and Lost Spirits Speakeasy in the near future.
Due to the nature of the game, escape rooms generally require advance booking. And that requires 2 to 24 hour's notice depending on the day to make sure that the game room you want and a gamemaster is available to greet you.
"I'm very excited to bring the Escape Zone home with me," Abrams said. "It's just a lot of fun and I feel it's a great new form of entertainment for our area, Abrams said. Plus, as added bonus for me is it's only three minutes from my house."
Escape Zone!! is located at 61110 Southgate Road. For more information, visit www.escapezoneoh.com
kstutton1@gannett.com; 1-330-806-5692.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Can you beat the clock?
