You have nailed the act of scaring the daylights out of each guest who braves your doorstep. Their screams are music to your ears, but something is missing. Maybe you’re looking to add a new attraction to your haunt or how to shake things up.
Opening an escape room is a fantastic way to enhance your haunt experience and bring something new. Escape rooms can provide a thrilling and unique experience and bring in new guests. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to decide if it’s the right fit for you, how to source materials, and how to promote your escape room within your haunted attraction.
Is an Escape Room Right for Your Haunted Attraction?
Before diving into the world of escape rooms, it’s crucial to determine if it’s the right fit for your haunted attraction. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:
1. Understand Your Audience: Consider your target audience. Are they looking for interactive experiences, or are they more interested in traditional scares?
2. Space and Resources: Evaluate your available space and resources. Do you have room for an escape room, or would it compromise the core haunted experience? This is also a good time to estimate the budget required for building and running the escape room.
3. Thematic Integration: Think about how you can integrate the escape room’s theme with the overall haunted attraction. A cohesive experience will enhance the appeal and flow and feel like part of the attraction as opposed to an add-on.
Where Should You Source Props/Materials From?
Creating an immersive and captivating escape room experience in your haunted attraction depends on having the right props and materials. Your escape room doesn’t need to be super high-tech or have a ton of built-in mechanisms. The goal isn’t to show off but to make it challenging. Here’s a guide on where to source these essential elements:
4. Specialized Escape Room Suppliers: Connect with specialized escape room suppliers and manufacturers. These suppliers offer a wide range of mechanisms, puzzles, and components designed specifically for escape rooms. Explore their offerings for items such as electronic locks, RFID sensors, magnetic locks, automated props, and custom-built puzzles.
5. Prop and Escape Room Suppliers: Many specialty suppliers cater specifically to escape room creators. These suppliers offer a wide array of props, puzzles, and decorations. Consider sourcing items like hidden compartments, magnetic locks, and custom-built puzzles from these experts.
6. Wholesale Suppliers: If you plan to buy in bulk, explore wholesale suppliers for things like locks, keys, and simple props. Purchasing in bulk can help you save on costs and ensure you have backup materials for replacements.
7. Online Forums and Escape Room Communities: Engage with fellow escape room enthusiasts and creators through online forums, social media groups, and community gatherings. These communities can provide valuable advice and recommendations for prop and material sourcing.
8. Salvage Yards and Secondhand Markets: Salvage yards and secondhand markets can be treasure troves for unique, aged, or vintage mechanisms and decor. Items like antique safes, vintage cash registers, or old mechanical gadgets can add intrigue to your escape room. These components can often be repurposed creatively to create interactive puzzles.
How Do You Actually Create An Escape Room?
Once you’ve decided to open an escape room to your haunted attraction, the next step is creating a captivating and challenging escape experience. Here are some tips for building your escape room:
9. Design the Room: Plan the escape room’s storyline and puzzles to align with the theme of your attraction. Create a layout that utilizes your available space effectively and allows for necessary guest movement.
10. Puzzle Creation: Create puzzles that are challenging but solvable. Engaging puzzles are essential for a satisfying experience. Invest in quality locks, clues, and props to enhance the overall atmosphere.
11. Construction and Setup: Consider hiring professionals for construction if needed. Ensure the room is safe and meets any local building codes. Pay attention to lighting, sound effects, and decor to immerse participants in the experience.
What’s the Most Effective Way to Promote Your New Escape Room?
Now that your escape room is ready, it’s time to let your audience know about this exciting addition. Here are tips for promoting your escape room:
12. Cross-Promotion: Highlight the escape room as a special attraction within your haunted house or haunted trail. Offer combination tickets for both the haunted attraction and escape room to encourage participation.
13. Online Presence: Create a dedicated webpage or section on your website for the escape room, with detailed information, pricing, and booking options. Leverage social media platforms to share teaser videos, behind-the-scenes content, and promotions.
14. Marketing Materials: Design and print flyers, brochures, and posters featuring your escape room’s theme. Collaborate with local bloggers, influencers, or news outlets to cover your escape room.
What Else Should Be Taken Into Consideration?
15. Safety and Staff Training: Train staff in emergency procedures. Be prepared to assist participants in case of panic or unexpected situations.
16. Seasonal Adjustments: Decide whether the escape room will be available year-round or seasonally.
How Should You Determine Pricing?
Determining your pricing structure is another thing to consider when opening an escape room. Here are considerations for setting the right pricing:
17. Single Ticket vs. Bundled Tickets: Decide whether you’ll sell escape room tickets separately or offer bundled tickets with access to your haunted attraction. Bundling can incentivize participants to experience both, potentially increasing overall revenue.
18. Tiered Pricing: Consider implementing tiered pricing, where different ticket packages are available at varying price points. For instance, you can offer regular tickets, VIP experiences, or group discounts to cater to a broad audience.
19. Competitive Analysis: Research the pricing strategies of similar attractions in your area. Ensure your pricing is competitive while offering unique value.
20. Choose the Right Platform: If your current ticketing platform doesn’t offer the features you need to add your escape room to your haunt, it’s probably time to switch.
Did you know that HauntPay works with hundreds of escape rooms across the country? We know escape rooms and we have the features to support their unique needs. Schedule a demo with our team to learn how we can support all your attractions (haunted or otherwise).
You’re An Escape Artist, Harry!
Opening an escape room at your haunted attraction can breathe new life into your business and captivate a broader audience. It presents a new set of challenges but with this guide, you’ll be well on your way to success. Remember to dedicate adequate time to safety training, gauging your audience’s interest, and utilizing the right ticketing platform.
