Do you like local history, solving puzzles and treasure hunting?
If you enjoy any of these things, then you are in luck! A pop-up Escape Room is coming to Grenada this week, Thursday, Jan. 11 through Sunday, Jan. 14. This “history mystery” is waiting to be solved in Downtown Grenada by you and up to 6 players.
This escape room portrays the basement of Eugene Bishop, a fictional Grenada resident, who disappeared in 1913 under mysterious circumstances. He left all his worldly wealth to his nephew, who died before finding out he was the heir. Now, a new generation has discovered some clues which will help unearth the fortune. Participants will solve puzzles by traveling around 1913 Grenada via authentic Sanborn Maps, opening locks and finding the secret hiding place of Eugene’s Gold.
“You have to hunt for clues that are hidden, take observations, pour over old maps, solve puzzles and unlock a series of locked boxes and cabinets until you finally come to the answer,” escape room creator Robin Person said.
Participants uses clues to solve one of the puzzles during last year's event.
An escape room is a popular activity, which “locks” a team in a room symbolizing a closed place like a castle, a pirate ship, an Egyptian pyramid, a prison, a distant planet, or in this case, an old basement. The participants must work together to investigate and solve puzzles allowing them to “escape” in a limited time.
Person, owner of OutsideIN MS LLC and former Museum of the Mississippi Delta director, has created a fun group activity filled with challenging puzzles and brain teasers. She’s bringing it to Grenada as a fundraiser for Friends of Chakchiuma Swamp, which will use the proceeds for work at Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, located just north of the Downtown District. The Search For Eugene’s Gold will take place in an actual basement at the First Presbyterian Church in the Historic District of Grenada.
Inspired by the popularity of other escape/mystery rooms created around the state, Person designed and created the room loosely based on historic places and characters in Grenada.
“I started the creation process with a 1913 Sanborn map of Grenada and built the story with research and inspired by Grenada people and places I currently know” Person said. “Participants may recognize many parts of all the names involved.”
Although the scenario involves some historical events, the fun is in working together as a team to solve the puzzle. “It challenges you,” Person said. “It is fun to play detective.”
The Search for Eugene’s Gold is a great team-building exercise and perfect for friend groups, office mates, clubs or parties! You MUST work together solve the mystery.
Can you beat last years top team with a time of 1:15?
Participants have to open multiple locks during their escape room experience.
Things to Know
• Accommodates 2-6 participants.
• Ages 10 and up.
• Four players make an ideal team size.
• 1.5 to 2 hours needed to solve the mystery and “escape.”
• Teams will be ranked by time with the Top 3 teams awarded and recognized
• The cost per team is $100.
• The escape room is available Jan. 11, 12, 13 and 14 at specific time slots.
• Reservations: Scheduling of dates and time must be done in advance.
For more information or reservations, visit www.friends-of-cs.org or call Whitfield at (662) 230-0368 for questions.
