In our quest to do all of the escape rooms in the DC Metro area, Jason found a Groupon to a new location. So, on a Thursday evening, we headed over to Calypso’s Escape Room in Tyson’s Corner, VA, where we completed The Lighthouse room (just the two of us). Then we interviewed Shaq, who told us about his locations and the themes of his rooms.
Stay tuned here for our review of The Lighthouse. Check out and follow our social media channels below to be notified when new postings and interviews are published.
Have you done this room? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Are there locations or rooms you’d like us to scout out?
Room – Trapped in a Room with a Zombie 2: Still Hungry:
Description (from the company website): You will be escorted on a tour of the dreaded Zombie Lab where the out break of the virus was first discovered, You will be taken to the very spot that Doctor Oxy has isolated the strain of the zombie virus and was working on the only vaccine.
Prepare to be locked in a room with up to 11 other people and a zombie that is chained to the wall! Hidden in the room is a key that will unlock the door to your freedom. To find the key, you must locate numerous clues and solve riddles. Every five minutes the hungry zombie’s chain will be released another foot. Within an hour, the zombie will be able to reach you. You have 60 minutes to the find clues, solve the puzzles, unlock the door and escape the room without getting eaten! Are you smarter than a zombie? Find out!
Difficulty (1-10): Not rated, but we were told it only has an 18-20% escape rate.
Identifier: R2 (this is actually Trapped in a Room with a Zombie – Still Hungry!)
Party Size: up to 12 people
Staging Area: You are escorted from the parking lot by your host, who takes you back to the Professor’s office to sign your waivers. A short film and an explanation later, you are taken through the building to a hidden elevator. Don’t worry! There are restrooms to stop at on the way to your experience.
Metro Access/Parking: Twinbrook Metro Station in Rockville is about a 15 minute (.8 mile) walk away. Otherwise, you can drive. There is ample parking in the lot, but follow your GPS closely as the address is kinda tricky.
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the room:
This is the video we took just after we completed the room:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this room for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: You start off in a small office where you are given some details about the room, and watch a short video while the Professor tries to sedate the zombie. Then your host takes you through the building to a hidden elevator where the Professor meets you and takes you down an elevator to the basement where the lab is located. The doors open and your adventure begins.
Understanding of the Mission: You have been invited to the Professor’s lab to learn more about zombies. Unfortunately, as soon as you enter the lab, something goes wrong and a self-destruct sequence is triggered. You now have 60 minutes to escape the lab by opening the locked door, saving yourselves, the brilliant (but sometimes nutty) Professor, AND the zombie (it’s a prime specimen that they don’t want destroyed). However, as you search for the way out, the zombie’s sedative wears off and it starts to come after you… with its chain getting longer every 5 minutes.
Did We Escape: Yes, but barely!
Time Remaining: 57 seconds
Our Suggested Party Size: The room holds up to 12. We had 8 and that was probably enough (if all are experienced). If you’re new to escape rooms, the maximum should work (the room is DEFINITELY big enough – at the beginning at least – for that many people).
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Eric, Brittany, Tara, Mark, Corey, and Heather
The Escape Room Guys and their Disturbed Friends (Eric, Brittany, Tara, Mike, Mark, Corey, Jason, and Heather) searched for a way out of the lab that was set to self-destruct.
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
7 Locks Brewing – we stopped in for what turned out to be some great beers after we did the room.
Check out our interview with Kevin “Hook” from Escape Adventure DC in Rockville, MD, who told us about his location, current room, upcoming new rooms (check out this one called “The Basement“), and why he feels that his location provides a unique experience to escape room enthusiasts.
The ERG just completed his Trapped in a Room with a Hungry Zombie room, which features live actors! This room was a challenge, very well done, and a lot of fun, so you should definitely check it out.
Kevin was kind enough to offer our followers a 45% discount when usingERG45when booking the room.
Stay tuned here for our review of Trapped in a Room with a Hungry Zombie. Check out and follow our social media channels below to be notified when new postings and interviews are published.
Have you done this room? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Are there locations or rooms you’d like us to scout out?
Description (from the company website): You poor dead souls! You’ve really screwed up. Your only mortal friend has been kidnapped by a dastardly bio-exorcist in hopes of escaping The World Of The Dead. Can you decode his name and save your friend before it’s too late?
Difficulty (1-10): Not Listed
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $28 – Use ERGUYS when booking to get either a percentage or set $$ amount off per ticket (whatever promotion is running)
Identifier: R1
Party Size: Up to 7
Staging Area: Simple sitting area with couches. Restrooms are located in the back of the building past the Escape Rooms.
Metro Access/Parking: No metro access. This company is located in a shopping center and has ample parking. Watch traffic delays on I-95 and leave ample time to get there.
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the room:
This is the video we took just after we completed the room:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this room for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: The room looks like the attic of a house with some furnishings, including a smaller replica of the neighborhood.
Understanding of the Mission: As a newly deceased person, you need to figure out how to navigate the many rules of the afterlife using your handy handbook. However, you decide to take a shortcut and hire a bio-exorcist, against the explicit orders of your caseworker. Now, your memory has been wiped, and you have to remember the ghost’s name to rescue your living friend from the World of the Dead.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: 4:28 remaining
Our Suggested Party Size: 4-5 people would be perfect
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes… and no. Read our ratings below.
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Mark and Alphonzo
The ERG and team of Disturbed Friends (Mark and Alphonzo) rescued their friend from a horrible marriage to a bio-exorcist!
Worth the time and money? We agree on the overall answer on this, but for different reasons. Jason says “yes, but more so from a nostalgia point of view (at least until the new movie comes out…whenever that is).” Mike says “yes, the room was worth doing despite an initial starting issue (our fault) and ending issue (their fault).”
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
Fair Winds Brewing Company – We hit up this place on a previous visit. Great for beer flights and a food truck.
Description (from the company website): Since the apocalypse, things just haven’t been going your way. You’ve lost all your worldly possessions, and have been trying to survive in your dystopian neighborhood with the few survivors you’ve managed to meet along the way. And your chances of survival keep getting slimmer, what with this new outbreak of a horrible virus which is fatal, and rapidly spreading. Luckily, a brilliant scientist works in your neighborhood, and he created the only known cure. Being a rather paranoid individual, he protected the formula in his lab behind a safe wall of codes and puzzles. Now that he has fallen victim to insanity, he has disappeared and left his antidote in his lab. If you and your fellow survivors can work quickly, you can acquire the antidote before the virus infects you.
Difficulty (1-10): not rated
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $30 per person, but check Yelp and their Facebook page since they often have coupons (that give codes for discounts when booking on their website)
Identifier: R1
Party Size: up to 8 people
Staging Area: A nice lobby with lots of seating near the front desk. They have bottles of water and a coffee machine(!) with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. Restrooms are in the lobby of the building just before you enter their sitting room.
Metro Access/Parking: It’s Manassas, so you’re going to need to drive. Plenty of parking in the lot, however.
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the room:
This is the video we took just after we completed the room:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this room for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: A room with scientific equipment and lots of equations on the walls. The person who lived and worked here was either a genius… or crazy (or maybe a bit of both?).
Understanding of the Mission: Find the antidote to the virus before becoming infected.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: ~7:30 remaining
Our Suggested Party Size: 6-7 is good for a group of experienced people, but you’re going to need a full 8 if you don’t have experience with escape rooms.
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes!
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Angie, Birgit, Sasha, Fahima, and one other.
Worth the time and money? Yes
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
You’ll have to use Google since we didn’t go anywhere in the area after the room.
Play if… you’re a jock… or a princess… or a brain… or a criminal… or a basket-case… or were a goody-goody in high school who never had to sit in detention and now want to know what you missed.
Avoid if… sitting in detention will bring back horrific high school memories.
Description (from the company website): Everyone gets in trouble at some point. What you do when you find yourself locked in a classroom with the other unruly students is up to you. Here’s the thing though, in an hour the monitor will return and chances are you will Never. Get. Out. Whether you are a brain, an athlete, a basketcase, a princess or a criminal, it is up to you to start a ruckus and escape detention.
Difficulty (1-10): 7/10
Time Limit: 60 minutes
Cost: $29 per person – Use ERGUYS15 to get 15% off per person when booking your reservation for any of their rooms
Identifier: R1
Party Size: 2-10
Staging Area: EXIT Plan has a great reception area (two, actually) with lots of chairs. There is a large flight of stairs to reach the main lobby.
Metro Access/Parking: This spot is in downtown Leesburg in the historic district. Lots of street parking, and there is a small lot right behind Macdowell Brew Kitchen.
OUR EXPERIENCE
This is the video we took before we entered the room:
This is the video we took just after we completed the room:
Note: The ERG were given the opportunity to try out this room for free, with the understanding that we would continue to provide an honest review and follow the same process we’ve used on all of our other ratings.
Logistics:
Description of the room: A classroom from the 1980s, complete with teacher’s desk, overhead projector, terrarium, and a chalkboard.
Understanding of the Mission: Solve the puzzles in the room and find out how to escape detention before the monitor returns in 60 minutes, or stay trapped in Detention for eternity.
Did We Escape: Yes
Time Remaining: 4:35
Our Suggested Party Size: 4 was good, but can easily accommodate 6-10. We would recommend 6 if the group has done rooms before, and the full 10 if mostly ERVs (Escape Room Virgins) or novices/noobs/newbies.
Did the room challenge the entire team? Yes
Members of our team (other than the ERG): Heather and Steph
The Escape Room Guys (Mike and Jason) and their escape room gals (Heather and Steph) were sentenced to detention in a 1980s school room. Did we channel all the collective powers of John Hughes’ movies and escape without anyone “cracking skulls?”
Worth the time and money? Yes, but get in there before it’s retired in early April.
Where to Eat/Drink Before/After:
Macdowell Brew Kitchen – restaurant and bar right below EXIT Plan (the Hog Wings were awesome!)
Check out our interview with Bruce, Kathryn (the owners) and Dan (manager) from EXIT Plan in Leesburg, VA, who told us about their location, current rooms, upcoming new room, and their philosophy in room design and what they keep in mind to give escapers a great experience.
The ERG just completed their Escape Detention room, which is slated to be retired on April 6, so if you want to be able to do this room, book yourselves a reservation ASAP.
Stay tuned here for our review of Escape Detention. Check out and follow our social media channels below to be notified when new postings and interviews are published.
Have you been to EXIT Plan? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Are there locations or rooms you’d like us to scout out?
Check out our interview with Milind, the owner from Escape Artist DC, who spoke about his location, rooms, and overall philosophy that he uses when designing new experiences.
Have you been to Escape Artist DC? What was your experience like? You can add your comments to this post.
Are there locations or rooms you’d like us to scout out?
We checked out the LAST Episode (#12) of Solver’s Puzzle Hunt released on January 24. This one is all about Luke (the main character) trying to find an investment to save his fund. The puzzle takes you back to the beginning, and makes you think about the entire journey, which was a nice way to end the hunt (and a celebratory glass of scotch never hurts.
Time is limited, so use everything you learned and start at the beginning (really… start at the beginning).
We checked out Episode #11 of Solver’s Puzzle Hunt released on January 19. This one is all about a (fictional) Twitter battle between Elon Musk and tech billionaire rival, Demien LaBlanc.
Make sure you follow the Twitter exchange very closely, and look at the URLs.
