Escape from the Ordinary
Tired of the same old, same old gaming options? Grab some friends and test your wits in one of the escape rooms at Idleyld Lodge.
Story by David Shroyer Photos by Thomas Boyd
Want to escape from it all for a while?
Jessica Mathison might have just the ticket you’re looking for. And it’s as close as Idleyld Lodge, just 20 minutes from Roseburg.
Mathison is proprietor of the only “escape room” in Douglas County. Escape rooms have gained popularity in recent years as a destination event for parties and couples looking for a brain workout in an unfamiliar, but safe environment.
The game is simple — escape from a locked room. Winning is a little more complicated. A group of people — typically friends — are locked in a themed room of their choice. Clues, such as keys or coded messages, are in the room. Each clue can lead to another clue, and the group must work together to decipher how it will escape.
Each room at Idleyld Lodge contains clues that must be solved in order for game players to escape.
If the group gets stuck, it can communicate with the game host for additional hints to keep the game and players moving.
According to Idleyld Lodge’s website, “The rooms are meant to exercise intellect, stretch observational skills, improve teamwork and hone problem-solving proficiency in a lively and engaging environment. But mostly they’re meant to be fun.”
Mathison bought Idleyld Lodge years ago after leaving a career in banking and event planning. She and partner Ron Welch envisioned a bed-and-breakfast and restaurant, then expanded to include a food truck, which became their priority.
But when the truck was destroyed in a freeway accident and Mathison had to reassess their business model, some close friends suggested they try the escape room concept.
Welch, with a lifetime of role-playing games to draw on, was the mastermind putting the games together, with help from Mathison and lodge staff.
The game is simple — escape from a locked room. Winning is a little more complicated.
The escape rooms opened in February, and business has taken off since. The group events can include from two to six guests and can be played out in different rooms with a variety of scenarios, so groups that have already made one escape can return to an entirely different situation on their next visit.
For Halloween, Idleyld will add a maze to the repertoire. Expect to see a room inspired by the movie Goonies coming soon, too.
Idleyld Lodge also hosts fund-raisers for local organizations, donating a substantial portion of the fees for those days back to each organization.
Games are typically run each week from Thursday to Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The cost for putting your wits to the test starts at $25 per person.
To learn more, visit idleyldlodge.com.
