Escape Room Daily - Origin Stories

We recently had the chance to sit down with Brian Slattery, the co-founder of Teamwork Unlocked, and let me tell you, it was an eye opener. If you love board games or escape rooms, you are going to want to hear this story. Brian isn't just a fan of the industry. He actually pioneered a massive board game cafe and a permanent escape room right inside the Google Singapore office.

We recently had the chance to sit down with Sara Hicks from San Antonio. She is one of the brains behind the hilariously named "Get Out of My Escape Room." Talking to Sara feels less like a business interview and more like grabbing coffee with that one friend who always has the best stories. She opened up about how her business started, how they survive the ups and downs, and the one marketing mistake she swears she will never make again.

There is a special moment that happens when you play your first really great escape room. It is that feeling of being transported somewhere else, solving a mystery, and working together with the people you love. For Lucie Boudreault and Philippe Martineau-Gauthier, that spark happened only about a year and a half ago. They started playing escape games as a couple and with their kids, and they fell in love with it instantly. They loved discovering new places and trying new things. But they did not just want to play. They realized they had the skills and the passion to create that same “wow” effect for other people. That is how their new company, Evasio in Quebec, Canada, was born.

I recently had the chance to sit down with Vincent Kovar, a lifelong gamer and creator whose journey is a fascinating tale of turning digital dreams into real-world adventures. We talked about his ambitious project to transform an entire town into a live-action escape room, a scavenger hunt, and a historical tour all rolled into one. It’s a story filled with big ideas, unexpected challenges, and valuable lessons for anyone interested in creating immersive experiences.

A deep understanding of the escape room industry comes from a blend of passion and hands-on experience. Trevor Kaak, the founder of Atlas Unchained Business Development, embodies this unique combination. His journey from a bank teller to a pivotal figure in a multi-location escape room business, and now a marketing agency owner, offers a wealth of knowledge for aspiring and established escape room entrepreneurs. In a recent conversation, Trevor shared his insights on what it takes to succeed in this dynamic industry.

It started with a birthday party. Four years ago, Faith Neece had never even heard of an escape room. When a friend invited her to play “Runaway Train” at Breakout Games, she had no idea that one hour of frantic fun would change the course of her career. “I remember thinking after that game, number one, I’m going to be addicted to this,” Faith recalls. “And then second, I thought, that would be such a fun job.”

Some people enjoy escape rooms. They’ll book one for a birthday party or a team-building event, solve a few puzzles, and have a great time. Then there are people like Shane Messick and Elmer Pyles. For them, escape rooms aren’t just a casual hobby; they’re a passion, a community, and a constant adventure. With a combined total of over 900 rooms, these self-proclaimed enthusiasts have seen it all, from the ingenious to the infuriating.

For some, hobbies are a way to pass the time. For Louise Razzagone, they are a way of life, and one of her biggest passions is escape rooms. She’s not just a casual player; she’s an enthusiast who has attempted over 110 rooms across seven different countries. What drives this dedication? It’s a mix of brain-bending challenges, the thrill of a ticking clock, and a deeply personal connection.

For many of us, the love for escape rooms starts with a single, memorable game. For Joe Goldstein, a technology veteran leading the U.S. expansion of The Cyber Escape Room Co., that first game was an accident. And it was terrifying.

It’s easy to perceive a childhood of solving puzzles and completing scavenger hunts as just fond memories. But for Abby Fitzgerald, it was the training ground for a lifelong passion and a burgeoning career in the world of escape rooms. Her journey, from a fan of a little-known TV show to designing her own immersive experiences, is a testament to the power of creative inspiration and a hands-on approach to building entertainment.

For many people, escape rooms are a fun way to spend an evening with friends, a unique birthday party idea, or a corporate team-building exercise. But for Cory Vertentes, a software developer and self-proclaimed escape room enthusiast, they are a passion that has shaped not only his leisure time but also his professional life. With over 60 rooms under his belt across multiple countries, Cory’s journey into the world of immersive puzzles offers a fascinating look at the industry from a player’s perspective.

Every escape room owner has an origin story, a moment when the spark of an idea first ignited. For some, it’s a love of puzzles. For others, it’s a passion for business. For Tom and Barb Atwood, it was a hit of dopamine so strong it almost felt illegal. And that single, thrilling moment set them on a path from running a local fun park to building one of the most unique mobile escape room businesses in the country.

What makes a great escape room? Is it the cleverness of the puzzles? The intricacy of the locks? Or is it something more? For writer and designer Dan Wilson, the secret isn’t just in the challenge, but in the story. With a background that spans from writing for the screen to performing as a close-up magician, Dan brings a unique perspective to building immersive experiences. He understands that a truly memorable escape room is about creating a world, fostering teamwork, and ensuring every single person, from the puzzle master to the quiet observer, has their moment to shine.