PuzzleEscape Ashland - "Running Into The Roaring Twenties"

Updated: Apr 12

LOCATION:  Ashland, Massachusetts, USA

Photos above are property of Puzzle Escape Ashland

Video above is property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

📝 ETR DECODER

🔑 GAME: Running Into The Roaring Twenties
📅 DATE PLAYED: October 2, 2021
🎬 GENRE: Mystery
🧠 DIFFICULTY (Based on 4 ppl): 3.5/10
👥 TOTAL # OF PLAYERS: 4-8 PPL
🕒 LENGTH OF TIME: 45 Mins.
💰 PRICE: $42.50-$95.20/Team (pending on size of team)
☎️ BOOKING TYPE: Private
🔓 ESCAPED/ COMPLETED?: Yes

📖 THE STORY

The year is between 1897-1923, you are two blocks away from the original starting line in a parlor where the runners meet and hang out. It is time for the runners to start and after the marathon, the star runner got his trophy stolen. Can you help him find the trophy in the parlor? He is quite sure that one of the other runners stole it for themselves. Figure out who stole first prize and get it back to its rightful owner.

🎯 HIT THE BULLSEYE

Learning about the historical context of this event is quite interesting. This story is all based on true events that happened in the town of Ashland.
This is a side gig the owner is doing mainly to provide some entertainment to local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

🧩 MISSED THE MARK

Due to budget and this more as a passion project rather than a true escape room business, there's not much of set design (a few furniture pieces) involved. You're greeted by the game master as soon as you enter lobby of the escape room but also the game itself. The props were mainly just simple locks and keys and some homemade paper clues.
Most of the puzzles were all reading based. There were no surprises on what you'll need to do next. Once you figure out the clue, you'll need to find a box that you can input an answer to then get to the next clue.

🏹 TAKE A SHOT?

Having this room run by the VFW and using it as a fundraising opportunity for them is a commendable idea; however, the room that was played was sub-par. The puzzles were quite simple (the owner has informed that there's many family with kids that come and attempt this room so they can't make it too difficult due to their audience) and there is no immersion to make you or your team feel like you are in the years 1897-1923 (there was never a specific year picked that the story took place in). The best part of the whole experience was learning about the true event of when the trophy got stolen but having to read about it throughout the game. It felt more like a history assignment. If you are looking to support a local non-profit organization and want to learn some history along the way, check out PuzzleEscape-Ashland. Unfortunately for enthusiasts, I would recommend searching for other games to play.

Photos above are property of ESCAPETHEROOMers

*** We regret to inform this company has closed its doors ***

(If you do decide to try this game, give us a shoutout or tag us on social media so we know you heard it from "ESCAPETHEROOMers"!)

Disclosure: We thank Puzzle Escape Ashland for comping our tickets for this game. Although complimentary admission was generously provided, it does not impact our opinion on the review whatsoever.