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SALT LAKE CITY — Being locked in a room sounds frightening, but the thrill of finding a way out is enough for people to pay for the experience.
So-called “escape rooms” offer groups of friends and strangers the opportunity to solve puzzles and work through different story scenarios. The escape rooms are growing in popularity, popping up across the state of Utah.
Below are seven different escape rooms. Share your favorite experiences in the comment section.
Castle of Chaos Escape Rooms ============================
In the scenario at the Chaos Escape Rooms, you have one hour to outsmart a serial killer.
“In this particular room (Serial Killer Escape), you 'wake-up' restrained in a room,” the description reads. “You'll need to use the clues around you to figure out combinations, reach and find keys and get through the series of puzzles that will allow you to progress from your original room to a second and finally a third room before you have enough clues to escape.”
Tickets, which range from $23 to $30 each depending on the size of your group, can be purchased online.
7980 S. State Street, Midvale
385-216-8915 or escape@castleofchaos.com
The Escape Key in Salt Lake City offers three rooms with different storylines: The Lair of Lunacy, CSI: SLC and The Impossible. The Lair of Lunacy, which is recommended for people 12 and older, even includes fake blood, fake body parts and sudden surprises.
“You will find yourself in secret lab where something diabolical is taking place,” the description reads. “Spooks and surprises await you.”
Tickets can be purchased for $18 online.
353 E. 400 South, Suite 200, Salt Lake City
385-229-4103
Exit Strategy
Exit Strategy just opened its doors in March, offering the room "Get a Clue."
"Everyone loves the strategy and intrigue of the classic 'whodunnit' game of Clue," the description reads. "In this room, you put your mind to the test to try and escape and solve the game. You can get out without solving the game and vice versa, but to truly succeed you must do both."
Tickets cost $15 per person.
1190 Spring Creek Pl., Suite B1, Springville
801-477-7019
Five different escape adventures are currently listed on Getout Games’ website. In one scenario, The Heist, two teams are pitted against each other to solve the mystery first.
“Provo's underground mafia boss, Crazy Coz, has recently gone missing,” the description reads. “Everyone in Provo knows he must be sitting on a nice sized pile of cash. The question is: where is he hiding it? You and your team will need to search Coz's office. You'll have 60 minutes to locate his hidden safe, crack the code, steal his stash and make it out in time.”
Tickets cost between $14 and $20 per person.
283 N. University Ave., Provo
801-810-7264
Key Quest’s escape rooms are located inside Laser Quest and come with the added incentive of being able to win a 2-for-1 pass to the venue if a scenario is completed in less than 45 minutes. There are two themes: Vacation Vandals and The Cellar.
“Your dream vacation is booked,” the description for Vacation Vandals reads. “Your bags are packed and all that is left is a quick stop by the travel agency to pick up your tickets. When you pull into the parking lot, you can see the front door to the travel agency has been smashed. Cautiously you enter the room only to find the infamous Vacation Vandals have ransacked the office. Find your tickets and you will still have time to make it to the airport!”
Tickets are $15 per person.
7202 S. 900 East, Midvale
801-567-1540
Mystery Escape Room ===================
The Mystery Escape Rooms offer a number of story scenarios at different levels, often coming out with new challenges. Its most recent addition is the Tarzan room, which was developed in time for the release of the upcoming feature film “Tarzan” in partnership with Warner Brothers Entertainment Group.
“While visiting Jane and the professor you learn that a team of poachers have attacked a band of gorillas!” the description reads. “During the attack the poachers chased a baby gorilla into an ancient temple in the darkest part of the jungle. While Tarzan is away leading the gorillas to safety, Jane has asked you to go and retrieve the helpless infant.”
Tickets cost $29.95 per person.
130 S. Rio Grande Street, Salt Lake City
385-322-2583 or david@mysteryescaperoom.com
46 W. St. George Boulevard, St. George
435-237-8470 or jeff@mysteryescaperoom.com
Time Trap
This Ogden location is currently offering a room where you can assume the identify of a superhero.
"Somebody has infiltrated Wasatch Warrior's headquarters and loosed havoc on the city!" the description reads. "Your job as the Superhuman Investigation Unit is to search the lair for answers. Who is the villain, what is their plan, and can they be stopped in time?"
Tickets can be purchased for $24.
3590 Harrison Blvd., Ogden
(801) 528-5252
Contact the author at ncrofts@ksl.com or find her on Twitter.
