Escaping FROM The Smokies…

Posted by Phil Rodgers in Things to Do

Usually, you hear people talking about escaping TO the Great Smoky Mountains for a romantic getaway or vacation. But for the past few years, more and more visitors to the area have been spending time trying to figure out how to escape FROM the mountains. That's because escape-room attractions have become all the rage in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.

There are many such attractions in the Smokies (as well as the Knoxville area), but regardless of the location, guests are called upon to use their wits and their powers of deductive reasoning to puzzle their way out of a locked room before the clock runs out. Escape rooms are especially fun as a group outing, but the variety of destinations in the Smokies guarantees that there are plenty of themes, settings and challenges for those looking to put their mental skills to the test. Come along for a quick overview of just a few of the available venues.

Gatlin's Escape Games

At this Gatlinburg attraction, you have one hour to work together as a team to solve puzzles and conquer challenges if you want to escape successfully. Experiences include Masters of Magic, The Legend of Atlantis, Moonshine Hill Hootenanny, The Haunting of Hyde House and Curse of the Kraken's Eye. Each room offers a different theme and setting. For example, in Curse of the Kraken's Eye, your team will enter Captain Blackheart's ship and come face-to-face with a number of devious devices as everyone moves through a prison room, cannon armory and the captain's quarters-all while racing the clock. If you can manage not to fall prey to the captain's tricks, you'll earn the Kraken's Eye and save your town. It's essentially a Goonies-themed escape adventure!

In addition to their main location on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, there's a second location at The Village shopping destination (also on the Parkway), which offers the Masters of Magic experience only.

The Escape Game

You'll find this escape adventure at The Island attraction in Pigeon Forge, and it also gives guests just one hour to make their way out of their particular sticky situation. Room options at The Escape Game include Prison Break, Gold Rush, The Heist, Mission: Mars and Classified. Each provides a unique hands-on experience that's ideal for families, friends, couples, corporate groups or anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind unplugged adventure. In Prison Break, for example, you're doing life in prison in 1955 without the possibility of parole. It's up to you (and your team) to escape from your cell, which once belonged to an inmate who reportedly disappeared without a trace. Or did he?

What makes The Escape Game unique is that each adventure is built from scratch, utilizing an in-house team of designers, scenic artists, prop experts and robotics engineers to bring that world to life. Each room also has curveballs and surprise revelations that guarantee that the experience probably won't play out like you expect.

Smoky Mountain Escape Games

Located at The Shops of Pigeon Forge, this escape-room venue offers five different adventures to choose from: Orange And White, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, The Haunting, Mad Scientist and Diamond Heist. The Orange And White experience is unique because it offers what they claim is the first head-to-head escape room in Pigeon Forge. Teams are placed into two identical rooms, and each team is not only trying to beat the 60-minute time limit, they're also trying to find a way out before the other team does. This challenge requires critical thinking, teamwork and focus in order to take home the Competitor's Cup.

Once you've made your escape from any of these attractions, be sure to pay us a visit at Goats On The Roof in Pigeon Forge. From live goats to an alpine coaster to gem mining, we offer vacation fun that's also well suited to groups and families. And whether you're flying down the track on our mountain coaster or feeding the goats, you'll at least get a chance to let your brain rest for a while.

This content posted by Goats on the Roof of the Smoky Mountains. Visit our home page, goatsontheroofofthesmokies.com for more information on the goats and their coaster.

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