Escape rooms are all the rage these days. Estimates put the number of escape rooms in the United States at nearly 3,600, while global estimates range widely but number in the tens of thousands! In other words, if you’re a fan of mystery, questing, and a little bit of adrenaline, then you can’t go wrong with this popular pastime for indoor thrill seekers. The Great Escape Room in Pigeon Forge is no exception. Indeed, if it is exceptional, it’s in the quality of the challenges, the staff’s commitment to the experience (they work seriously hard on their accents), and the range of different theme choices you have.
At Pigeon Forge’s Great Escape Room, you have four choices for games:
Poker Night at the President’s Bunker
As you’re touring the White House, imagine that the Presidential Bunker gets locked down due to an imminent attack. You and your group must work together to prevent a nuclear disaster. All in 60 minutes or less! Good luck–the world is counting on you. No pressure of course.
Scavenger Level: 2/5 – Minimal scavenger hunting skills required.
Puzzle Level: 5/5 – Better put on your thinking cap, this room is ideal for puzzle lovers.
Room Capacity: Up to 10 participants in private and public games.
Escape Artist: Houdini’s Final Contact
Join Harry & Bess for a 1920s-themed escape room. Can you help Bess contact Harry Houdini? She has been attempting to contact him since his death in 1926. This year will mark her final try. You have 60 minutes to help contact the other side. Good luck!
Scavenger Level: 2/5 – Minimal scavenger hunting skills required.
Puzzle Level: 5/5 – Better put your thinking cap on, this room is ideal for puzzle lovers.
Room Capacity: Up to 10 participants in private and public games.
Mountain Top Murders
Picture your estranges Nana Hannah lives alone in a mountain cabin. After weeks of no contact, you decide to check in on her. Upon arrival, you find red marks and no response to your calls. Could she be in danger? Unravel the mystery to find out. You have 60 minutes, good luck!
Scavenger Level: 1/5 – Minimal scavenger hunting skills required.
Puzzle Level: 5/5 – Better put your thinking cap on, this room is ideal for puzzle lovers.
Room Capacity: Up to 6 participants in private and public games.
Rob the Mob: Break-In at Bubba’s
Bubba and his crew have valuable items hidden around their pawn shop. You and your group must swipe the loot for a big score. Explore and navigate through the pawn shop to find the loot and retire rich, but beware of Bubba’s wrath. You have 60 minutes to escape before it’s too late, good luck!
Scavenger Level: 1/5 – Minimal scavenger hunting skills are required.
Puzzle Level: 5/5 – Better put your thinking cap on, this room is ideal for puzzle lovers.
Room Capacity: Up to 8 participants in private and public games.
Each of these games lasts an hour. You will be released at the hour mark if you don’t solve the puzzle (don’t worry, not everyone does!) and immediately once you do figure it out. Your guide will give you hints at points along the way (though these are not guaranteed).
Note that children under 16 are allowed but must be accompanied by adults, and no one needs any special knowledge to be able to play. However, mystery readers and game lovers are especially useful additions to your Great Escape Room team!
(Also note that the door locks behind you, so trigger warning for claustrophobes.)
A few of our favorite quirks of The Great Escape Room include:
The Portable Escape Experience
If you’re a large team looking to host an event and worried you won’t all fit into the Great Escape experience, good news! The team can bring an escape experience right to you with their “On the Run” version. You can book this across the nation, so no need to be anywhere near Pigeon Forge to do it! For those who had a great experience in Tennessee, you can bring the joy back to your work or family at home. The only requirement is a team of more than 49 players.
Major Social Proof
The Great Escape Room has worked with a huge range of companies, including Amazon, Ford, Sony, Best Buy, and more.
A Nonlinear Experience
Online reviewers loved that these escape rooms had a bit of a twist. Rather than being a true step-by-step scavenger hunt for clues, adventures had no clear starting point, so different team members could work on different puzzles at once.
Location:
Conveniently located in Pigeon Forge, The Great Escape Room offers easy access and free parking.
(3784 Parkway #102, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863)
Insider Tips:
-Book Ahead. The Great Escape Room is a highly-rated attraction in a very popular tourist area. If you don’t book ahead, be prepared to wait. It’s better to schedule your visit in advance, though just a few days will save you the wait. We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early to get settled before your escape adventure begins.
-Bring a Lateral Thinker. Escape rooms are all about trying an idea out, then trying another … and another. If possible, create a group of thinkers who have different styles to help you make sense of clues and hints.
-Take Advantage of the Photo Ops. The Great Escape Room loves to take photos of participants in themed costumes, so if you care to take the time to dress up, do so!
-Consider an Escape Room Passport. If you love escape rooms, you can get passports to mark your participation in different locations across the country and globe. The Great Escape Room will even make you a customer sticker, so be sure to ask when you book your experience.
-Celebrating a bday? Tell the staff and they’ll make you a card, put up decorations, and ensure an extra-special experience!