I guess it’s safe to say my coworkers like or at least can tolerate me, because when I asked if they wanted to be locked in a small room with me, they agreed. Or perhaps it was just curiosity that drew them all to Can You Escape? LI, where guests are locked in themed-rooms and have one hour to escape by finding clues and solving puzzles.
Since opening in Mineola a year and a half ago, Can You Escape? LI has gained popularity among all age groups, especially with those looking for a creative night out, team-building activity or party idea. There are several escape room locations throughout New York City and a couple on Long Island, with Can You Escape? LI being the only year-round Nassau location.
Can You Escape? LI owner Alissa Torres said she scouted out several locations before finding the one in Mineola, and that she was glad she chose the Jericho Turnpike location to open her business.
“The people are wonderful. Everyone has been so welcoming,” Torres said. “The location is so easy to get to for towns on Long Island the city. All the other business owners and people have been really nice. We’re very happy we started here.”
The Mineola site features five themed-rooms, including the Interrogation Room, Subway and Prison, which can fit two to 12 people. We opted for the Apartment Room to fit our team of eight editors turned aspiring escape artists.
We were charged with the task of searching out clues, unlocking locks, and decoding puzzles, all in an effort to find the key to let us out. And while the premise of escape rooms is simple, escaping is not. After a short video, explaining what to do (find the key and escape) and what not to do (dismantle furniture, wreck the place), the hour-countdown began.
If you want to see a group of journalists work quickly, give them a deadline. Having the unrelenting countdown on the small TV screen put us in a determined frenzy, turning the room upside down (without causing irreparable damage of course), trying to find clues. Cabinets were opened, sofa cushions searched and potted plants unearthed, all in the quest to find combinations, puzzle pieces and anything else that could help us get out of the room.
The experience is supervised the whole time, so when you get stuck, you can hold up a placard saying “hint please” (you get three) and a tip will appear on the screen, helping move you onto the next clue. There were about 20-25 clues in all and no prior knowledge was required to solve them—everything you need is right there in the room.
I won’t tell you where the clues are, but here’s a free hint: if you want to do well, work with your team. Having a larger group definitely worked to our advantage as it allowed us to cover more ground. While one person was feeling around the door-frame, another was searching cabinets while others were punching numbers into the combination lock, helping us find clues faster. Making headway in the room means you and your team have to work together, and Torres noted that aspect is one of her favorite parts of the escape room.
“I love to see the teamwork. You have to work together,” Torres said. “It’s a hands on experience. You’re not just sitting there, watching a screen or listening to something, you’re actually doing things.”
It was probably one of the fastest hours of my life, as every second was spent either trying to find a clue, solve a clue or wonder why I wasn’t smart enough to do one of the aforementioned options. The end of the hour found us close to escape; however, time ran out as we were just a few clues away from finding the key.
If the whole idea of being locked in a room with no known way out makes you squirm, rest assured that if the experience gets to be too much, there’s an emergency button that’ll open the door. And if you can’t get out of the office to make it to Mineola, Can You Escape? LI also offers a mobile room that comes to you.
If you’re looking for a fully engaging, interactive experience that’s out of the ordinary but still affordable ($28 per person), Can You Escape? LI is definitely worth doing. Not only was it a fun night out, but it’s also a great way to gauge which one of your friends/coworkers you’d want by your side in case you ever get locked in a closet.
To find out more about Can You Escape? LI, visit www.canyouescapeli.com or call 516-246-9939.
