There’s a new gaming venture in town: Escape Moab.
Escape Moab will be hosting an escape room game at Club Rio on Saturday, July 7, at 7 p.m. The bar-themed game will be designed specifically for the Club Rio space.
Escape rooms are a relatively new trend in which players solve puzzles, follow clues and work with teammates to escape a “locked” room before the time runs out.
“An escape room is like a live-action video game in which players must work together, interacting with objects and the room itself in order to complete the objective, which is to escape the room in a set amount of time — usually an hour,” said Escape Moab co-founder Nate Woods.
Woods and co-owner Laura Creekmore founded Escape Moab in the spring of 2018, when it held its first event on April 20 at the Helipad at 239 W. Center St.
The duo’s gaming venture is centered around the escape room game industry, but they also collaborate to create private events and promotions.
Their escape room game became such a success after the first event in April that they were offered the opportunity to continue playing at the Helipad for several more weeks.
“We had a great time,” Woods said. “We had it open for the better part of a month.”
The Club Rio escape room will be their second public event.
“We like to do something new every time,” Woods said.
Currently operating as a pop-up escape game business, the owners are in the process of raising money to secure a permanent Moab location, Woods said.
Woods didn’t want to give too much away regarding the upcoming Club Rio game — preferring to retain an “element of surprise.”
To play, groups of up to 10 people (on a first come, first serve basis) enter the escape room, where players strategize on solving the various types of puzzles and riddles, and follow the clues to unlock the door and “escape.”
“Although,” Woods quickly pointed out, “it’s important to note there’s always an unlocked door. People can leave the room and exit the game at any time.”
“I’m excited for it,” said Amber Beaver, a Club Rio bartender who also runs karaoke at the club. “We’ve been talking to Escape Moab for awhile and most of us are excited to be a part of it.”
Players awaiting their turn can play pool in the bar area or order food and drinks, Beaver said. This Escape Moab game is a 21 and older event, she added.
Woods and Creekmore are hosting a third escape room event in August at the Grand County Public Library, 257 E. Center St. The game, which will take place in the library’s rear conference room, will be specific to the library, Woods said. Though the event is sponsored as a “treat” for everyone who participated in the library’s summer reading program, the event is open to the public and is designed for people of all ages.
Escape Moab creates bar-themed event
“An escape room is like a live-action video game in which players must work together, interacting with objects and the room itself in order to complete the objective, which is to escape the room in a set amount of time — usually an hour,”
When: Saturday, July 7, at 7 p.m.
Where: Club Rio, 2 S. 100 West
Cost: $10 cover; ages 21 and up
More info: info@escapemoab.com or visit escapemoab.com.
