It’s February and that means that Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, including non-stop advertising for hearts, flowers, and candy. Like many of us, you may be looking for a different way to celebrate the holiday here in WNY. Now we’re not advocating that you throw an anti-Valentine’s party, but how about doing something different this year at your Autumn Creek apartment? We’ve got the perfect idea, do a DIY escape room adventure, for Valentine’s (or just for fun). If you’re a little hazy on the whole thing, this video gives a great overview of what to expect from an escape room adventure. Here are some things to take into account if you decide to create your own escape room in or near your East Amherst apartment.
Consider the theme.
Whether you want to go with a whodunit, a time-pressure escape, or the seemingly impossible, coming up with a theme is the place to start. If you’re going with a Valentine’s Day theme, perhaps discovering the most romantic place in the city is the goal. Is there something unique about our East Amherst community that you can build a theme from? What about ghost stories or local landmarks? Do you have a favorite book or genre? All of these could be a springboard for your escape. This list of Wacky Escape Room Theme Ideas will help get your creative juices flowing.
Gather the supplies.
Next, take a look at the layout of your home as well as checking to see what you may already have on hand that you could use for your escape adventure. Do you have a locking briefcase, chest, case, box, or other lockable containers? What about locks? Because, of course, you will need several different kinds of locks to use for your escape room — from alpha-numeric locks to combination locks to padlocks, and even a hasp lock, finding the keys and figuring out the combinations are all a part of the fun.
Other supplies you need are the items that will create your escape room staging. Choose items that speak to your chosen theme (or choose a theme based on the items you have on hand). What about a clock, a map, or a globe, an old-school camera, an old-fashioned ornate key? All can be a part of your set. Clues can be highlighted for each one of these items. Some other items you will want to include in addition to your locks and staging items are a set of pens to write clues that will show up with a UV flashlight and notepads for your guests to keep track of everything. Puzzles work well for an escape room. One fun idea is to put a simple puzzle together, flip it over and write your message/clue on the back. Use normal things in a new way. Have fun figuring out your set pieces and how they fit into the escape.
Come up with the riddles, puzzles, and clues.
Once you have all of the pieces, it’s time to put it all together. Figure out clues that lead your detectives from one clue to another, or to another key or riddle. In the end, once they solve everything, they will have all the pieces they need to escape the room or solve the main riddle/question.
Do a test run-through.
After you’ve done the run through (invite a select group over to do a test run), refine your experience and send out invites for your escape room party!
If a complete DIY is not your cup of tea, another option is to purchase an escape room kit or game that has everything you need to do an escape room party. Have you been to a commercial escape room? What was your favorite thing about it? Let us know in the comments.
