June 8, 2016
The great escape Around Town
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Veterans honored
Studens excel at SkillsUSA
School
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Student scholars selected
Business Submitted Photos (Left) The entrance to the Phobius Escape Chamber. (Right) Two groups work to make their way out of the Phobius Escape Chambers while being monitored over closed circuit televisions.
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Scholarships Awarded
Escape Rooms are a national trend that have made their way to Wright City By Brett Auten What started in Asia, spread to Western Europe and the West Coast has taken root in our backyard. Escape Rooms, in which a group of players are ‘trapped’ in a themed room and, in order to get out, they must rely on their brains to escape by finding clues and successfully completing a collection of puzzles to complete the mission. Phobius Escape Chambers, located at 302B East First Street South in Wright City, was the first to recognize this trend and opened its doors in September 2015. Whether Escape Rooms are a future segment on “Remember the 2010s” or a staple alternative to the screen-dominated entertainment, it remains to be seen. Part of the draw to Escape Rooms is that it hits its players on all levels; mental, social, and physical. While Escape Rooms are tailor-made for the gamer and puzzle breaker ages 8-to-80, it has also turned into a fun outlet in the corporate world. In fact, corporations are a demo-
graphic that have taken to the Escape Room concept right away. Companies have turned to Escape Rooms for not only team-building with current employees but even as a creative tool in the interview process. “It’s something that is different than a Cardinals game or Six Flags,” Phobius Escape Chambers’ Nicci Fears said. “You engage as a whole group and it is a departure from that work environment and the mundane work tasks. On the flip side, you can see how employees interact, their personality traits, and who engages and who doesn’t.” Carrie Wollgast has played both rooms at Phobius Escape Chambers, the Coven and the Contagion. The Coven plays off a witch theme paired with Ouija boards, crystal balls and other décor. The Contagion fast forwards to a laboratory with a disease outbreak. In both rooms, players have a 60-minute limit to make their escape. “Going in the first time, definitely part
of the fun is the not knowing,” Wollgast said. “But both rooms are completely different than what I expected and havSee ROOMS on page 2
Learn & Play
Transported by taste
Movie: “Fursonas”
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