This week, our Baton Rouge Parents Magazine Team decided on a day of adventure for some team building. We traveled downtown to 13th Gate Escape to try our brains at some escape rooms. You may have heard of the infamous 13th Gate Haunted House that freaks out thousands during the Halloween season, but Escape is something totally different. No one in our group was terrified during the experience, just puzzled and confused at times.

Eleven of us arrived to the mysterious lobby where we split into two teams (eight max for each room). Five of us found ourselves trying to break out of a maximum security prison in the Death Row Escape Room, and the other six hunted for treasure in the Cutthroat Cavern Escape Room. We were all impressed with the highly realistic and imaginative rooms, and for a few minutes, we really believed we were trapped! We had 60 minutes to put our minds together and escape. In both rooms, we had to explore our surroundings using logic, instinct, and critical thinking to find secret passages, solve puzzles, crack codes, and uncover hidden mysteries that helped us get out.

Death Row Escape Room was interesting for us because we began the game locked in our cells, which was our first challenge. After we escaped our cells, we were so excited, but we had so many more challenges we had to solve before we really escaped. At one point, we were reading clues, juggling keys, and working combinations on locks. It definitely was a team challenge and success. Every time we solved a clue, we had a little jolt of excitement and motivation. Also, we made it out with two minutes to spare!

The Cutthroat Cavern Crew experienced an excursion within the room that simulated an Indiana Jones-type adventure. They unlocked clues to travel from room to room, and even got to walk in some sand. They had to use all their communication skills to work together, and each took turns leading the way. They discovered that when they tried to figure clues out alone, they were unproductive, but when they worked as a group, they found success.

As a whole, we absolutely loved our day out, or in this case, hour in, and we all are sure we will try again. We want to switch rooms next time to see how the other team performs! We’d love to tell you more, but it’s classified!