New escape rooms coming to Kamloops

The adrenaline-rushing experience of escape rooms is making another debut in Kamloops and this time kids will have a chance to try it out.

Exit Kamloops is set for a mid-May opening in Aberdeen’s Cityview Plaza with four different escape rooms, one welcoming kids as young as seven.

Exit Canada has developed more than 30 escape themes that see participants navigate a series of puzzles, riddles and mechanical components in an attempt to find the exit before the clock runs down and their fate is sealed — a psychologically thrilling experience.

Exit Richmond was the first escape room to open in North America and the brand now spans 11 locations in Western Canada, boasting an unmatched real-life gaming experience. Exit Kamloops is the third facility opened by franchisees who also operate Exit Kelowna and Exit Edmonton.

After trying the game, Linda Ismail and her husband knew it wouldn't be long before the concept caught on.

“We just wanted to go and play so we went to Vancouver when Exit Richmond opened,” she said.

“My husband has already been in business and he got drawn to the idea because there was nothing like that in Kelowna. We met with the owner and within eight or 12 months Exit Kelowna opened. From there it just blew up.”

Exit Kamloops will open with themes of varying difficulty: Prison Escape, Mirror Mirror and Pandemic. Winter Wonderland will be the kid-friendly room, developed in response to demand from families. Though Exit had tried to adapt its easier themes for kids, it found the storylines didn’t fit and created entirely new themes just for children.

“It’s very colour-based, matching. It’s more just doing, more straightforward, common sense puzzles but very ideal for kids,” Ismail said. “This is the first of the kind, to help families be able to come in and bring their kids and host those birthday parties.”

At least one room will change themes every six to 10 months.

EXIT Kamloops Escape games. To see full descriptions of our games, to see videos, to see photos of our facility, to see specials and to keep up to date on what is new visit our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/exitkamloops #escaperoom #escaperooms #escapegame #escapegames #kamloops #bc #entertainment #fun #datenight #familyfun #puzzle #puzzles

A post shared by EXIT Kamloops Escape (@exitkamloops) on Mar 29, 2017 at 10:33pm PDT

Escape rooms aren’t new to Kamloops. The extreme puzzles made their first appearance in the city two years ago when Perplexed Puzzles opened downtown. That company has since moved out of the city but, soon after, Countdown Escape Rooms opened on Victoria Street.

It’s given users a taste of the thrill, but Exit plans to top whatever preconceived notions locals have about real-life gaming.

“I guess it’s comparative to comparing a cheap motel to a Sandman. The overall experience is just a step up,” Ismail said.

The company is hosting a hiring fair at the Cityview location this Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. It’s looking to hire for all positions, full and part time. Applicants should bring two copies of their resume.

Exit Kamloops is still under construction but is set to open sometime in the middle of May. Watch their Facebook page for updates.