Local escape rooms create a magical world of wonder
The Oaks Mall is home to a little-known joy of Thousand Oaks, a place of wonder, imagination and an activity to foster childlike whimsy. 101 Escape Rooms at the Oaks, founded in October of 2022, is home to five escape rooms: “Popstar Revenge,” “Purgatory,” “Wrecked,” a seasonal Christmas room: “Rudolph’s Winter Adventure” and most popularly, “Darkcade.” There is also a second 101 Escape Rooms location in Westlake Village with 11 unique escape rooms.
“Darkade” merges a classic escape room with vintage 1990s arcade games. Players imagine they are trapped late at night in a classic arcade and must win every game to leave.
In “Popstar Revenge,” participants take on the role of a famous popstar, sabotaged by a rival performer and locked in her dressing room, from which they must escape.
“Purgatory” is deemed the most challenging escape room, where players start in a white padded room and must find a hidden door to begin their escape back to reality.
In “Wrecked,” players help a family of aliens fix their broken spaceship and return home. Similarly, participants of “Rudolph’s Winter Adventure” help magical reindeer find what they need to get to travel the world to deliver presents.
Steve Kraetsch, co-owner of the Thousand Oaks 101 Escape Rooms, found his calling in the escape room industry after leaving his job of 20 years to open 101 with his childhood best friend. Kraetsch appreciates the diverse and unique form of entertainment that escape rooms create. “[Escape rooms are] really immersive. So a lot of times when we explain escape rooms, we explain it like a full-body video game, like you’re putting yourself in a space to work with different challenges and complete the tasks,” Kraetsch said. Kraetsch’s personal favorite escape room is Darkcade, with the focal arcade game coming from his own garage.
From 4:15-9 p.m. Monday to Friday and 12-10 p.m. on weekends, 101 Escape Rooms opens its doors to many groups of people, from birthday parties and friend groups to team bonding and corporate employees. 101 Escape Room aims to foster connections through teamwork and enrich the mind through critical thinking. With rooms full of unique puzzles and obstacles to overcome, 101 Escape Rooms acts as a mental exercise. “Doing any puzzle is exercise for the mind; we’re filled with puzzles, so it’s kind of like a little bit of a gym. A gym with a storyline that you go with,” Kraestch said.
When one arrives at 101 Escape Rooms, they may be greeted by Chloe Scacheri, Game Master, directing escape rooms. As an actress in the NPHS theater department, Scacheri uses her theatrical abilities to coordinate games. “Whether we’re in a rush at an escape room or someone forgets a line onstage, I’ve learned how to react quickly to make sure everyone succeeds onstage and in the escape room,” Scacheri said.
Ender Toone, manager, was a self-described mechanic in the development of 101 Escape Rooms at the Thousand Oaks location. “101 [Escape Rooms] is such a mom-and-pop shop. [The sets] are all [designed] by hand here,” Toone said. Unlike other common forms of entertainment, such as going to the movies, escape rooms encourage bonding, communication and observational skills. “[Solving puzzles is] good for our innate primate brains, to have a nut to crack, so to speak. But also, I think it’s really good as a social tool,” Toone said.
It costs $37 for each person to participate in an escape room, and parties can be scheduled on their website. 101 Escape Room employees encourage anyone and everyone to gather a group of friends or acquaintances and assemble a team to complete a room. “Teamwork is the very core [of escape rooms]. So by using teamwork, you’re building a sense of community,” Kraetsch said.
