New business brings fun for all

LIBERTY— A new business is opening this weekend, allowing families and friends to bond with one another over light-hearted fun.

Escape Liberty plans to open its doors to the community on Friday, Aug. 8, providing Liberty with its first escape room.

“I grew up here in Liberty, looked around and noticed that there was a need for something in the community for kids to get out,” owner Ashley Davis said.

The family-owned and operated business features two rooms, one called The Heist and the other called The Lab. Each puzzle has two rooms and patrons have one hour to try to escape.

In The Heist, guests must figure out how to retrieve the diamond without getting caught, and in The Lab, patrons must decipher a code to escape.

Davis said they hope to open six additional rooms, and he already has an idea for the next one.

Davis shared that the potential Jail Break room would have two cells in the room, with two people locked in each cell. Additionally, Davis is brainstorming a cave-themed room.

“We try to look at trying to do immersive experiences because it takes you away from the day-today activities,” Davis said.

Davis added that they have a group for 60 minutes, and during that time, he wants to help them escape the daily stresses of life while also facilitating family bonding.

In preparation for the opening, Davis had a couple of groups test-run the rooms to work out kinks and see if anything needed changing to create the best experience for each guest.

“It’s fun watching them work together,” Davis said, noting teenagers, adults and children see things differently.

On Saturday, Aug. 2, Missy Cantu, Cameron Cantu and Emily Wasilewski tested The Heist, escaping with about two minutes to spare.

“It was a lot of fun,” Missy said, adding that she wouldn’t change anything.

Davis said he put a lot of research into planning the rooms and attended escape room expositions, noting the project has been ongoing for about three years.

Some puzzles are computer-operated, and everything was set up in- house. Davis’s job in Houston gave him the knowledge and ability to build and wire all the puzzles in each room.

Davis said he is working to add a smaller puzzle in the lobby, which will be a memory game where people will have to hit colored dots in a sequence.

“I’ve seen places come and go. We’re hoping that we’re here at the right time,” Davis said.

Tickets are $25 per person. While booking in advance is preferred, Davis said they will take walk-ins if there is availability.

While there are typically four people per room, Davis noted he will work with families of five to allow everyone to stay together.

Escape Liberty is open on Friday and Saturday evenings. To book a room or to learn more, visit escapeliberty.com.

Escape Liberty is located at 2718 N. Main St., Suite A.