Escape Room Opening in Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — A new type of adventure will soon be available in Bel Air. When Great Escapes opens off Emmorton Road next week, it will be the first "escape room" to come to Harford County, according to owners Chris and Katie Cole.

"We tried an escape room while on vacation last summer, and when everyone from the oldest to the youngest had a good time, we were hooked," said Katie Cole, whose children range from 14 to 22 years old.

The escape room concept reportedly started in 2007 in Japan, where entrepreneurs wanted to bring the challenges of video games into real life. Now there are more than 100 escape rooms in the U.S., according to Marketwatch.

In an escape room, groups of six to 10 have an hour to solve puzzles to get out of their particular challenge. Bel Air will have three themed rooms: King Tut's tomb, a serial killer's lair and a magician's dressing room.

While many escape rooms have found corporate clients or 20- and 30-somethings as their sweet spots, the owners of Great Escapes are hopeful that families will latch onto the concept.

“With kids ranging in age from 14-22, it is challenging to find an activity all of us can enjoy," said Katie Cole. "Our business will give families like ours, and anyone who enjoys solving mysteries and puzzles, a new local option for something fun and different to do.”

The business will be open Thursday through Sunday beginning in mid-September. Players must buy tickets online in advance; tickets are $27 a person. The first day available to book an escape room is Friday, Sept. 16.

Great Escapes is located at 2108 Emmorton Road in the Shops at Bel Air South.

Photos by Stacey Young, SKY Photography.