The final touches are in place for the opening of the South Coast’s first escape room.
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Ulladulla will be home to the first adventure game of its kind, south of Wollongong, following approval granted by Shoalhaven City Council.
Great Escape Rooms Owner and escape room enthusiast Shane Walker said he has blended his background in film set construction and his passion for the adventure game into a new entertainment option for South Coast residents.
“I’ve lived on the South Coast down in Moruya for 12 years. I thought this area could really do with an escape room, a different form of entertainment,” he said.
Escape rooms, also known as an escape game, are an adventure game where players solve a series of puzzles and riddles to complete the objectives at hand within a set time limit.
The first games were inspired by escape-the-room style video games and have grown since launching in the mid 2010s in Asia, Europe and North America.
The growing world of escape rooms are fun for groups and families of all ages, Mr Walker said.
“It’s immersive, you’re in the theme, you’re in the action and you’re solving the puzzles. It’s great for team bonding and team building,” he said.
“You need communication, you need to work as team to solve puzzles, release people, and find locks and padlocks.”
Without revealing too many secrets, Mr Walker has designed and scripted a pirate-themed adventure where participants hunt for the elusive treasure of Captain Greenbeard.
“A lot of grey matter has gone into the puzzles. I’m just hoping it’s going to be fun.”
The first known fatal accident to occur in an escape room was the death of five 15-year-old girls in Poland in January. Mr Walker said he had fulfilled council’s safety requirements and ensured participants would not be locked inside.
“From my point of view, it’s so much better to have all those legal requirements fulfilled which ensures the safety of customers.”
The games room is authorised to open every day from 9am to 11pm with a maximum of six or eight players allowed at certain times. Mr Walker said he expects to open on Friday, February 22. Bookings are essential.
