The Room Lisle offers fun team-building options

An interview with Dave Zajicek, owner, creator of The Room Lisle.

Q: Tell us a little bit about The Room.

A: I first heard about this concept from my aunt and uncle who went on a European vacation and told me about this amazing place they went to in Prague, Czechoslovakia. It was an escape room. I had never heard of anything like it and decided to build one. This was mid-2014 and the concept was very new to the United States. I had never been to one and had to research what actually was happening. I didn't have much to go on, so I created my own.

Q: Tell us about the history.

A: The whole industry started as a point and click game on computers and applications on phones. You would go into a room and point and click on objects in the room and figure out how to escape the room using deduction and problem solving. Then in Japan they turned it into a real live interactive experience. From there it spread to China, Malaysia, Budapest and all over the world. The game requires a group of people put in the room for an hour and they have to figure out how to escape before time runs out. The game requires a scavenger hunt for clues. Once you find your clues you must put them together and analyze them to figure out what to do next. You must complete your challenge and then the room leads you to the next clue. There are cryptexes, ciphers, word and logic challenges along with many observational clues. All clues and challenges lead you to your ultimate escape. Many groups escape in the last seconds. That is what makes it so thrilling. Even if you do not escape you will win many victories.

Q: Describe the atmosphere.

A: Our Rooms are not scary and you do not have to do anything real physical. My goal was to build a thrilling 60-minute real life experience that would blow your mind so you would never forget. We have two rooms right now and are building more that will be available soon. We have the Einstein Room and the Gallery and the Who Dun it room opening soon. We will be revealing a whole story line as well to tie all the rooms together with its theme.

Q: What attracts corporate clients?

A: I believe your office will feel closer and you'll see results the second you get back to work. Teams must work together to escape these rooms. Communication, teamwork and fun come together like never before when you battle against the clock. We do many corporate groups from 6 to 40+ people. Many team building groups love it so much they return and switch rooms. The groups love their H.R. managers and bosses for choosing this experience. Many come back with friends and families.

Q: What are people in your industry talking about?

A: The industry is growing fast, but not all rooms are great. We want everyone's first experience with an escape room to be so awesome that they need to come back for more.