CHARLOTTE – Do you miss the bright and colorful world of make-believe that was a part of your life as a kid? Mom and pop business owners Ken and Jeannie McCoy have crafted imaginary worlds to bring you back to that place of nostalgia where you can forget about reality and get lost in adventure. Whether you’re in a dreamlike state of magical surrealism, stuck on a runaway train, or on a treasure hunt, Waxhaw Escape has a story to connect you to your inner child.

If you’ve never been to an escape room, odds are you know someone who has, and the consensus is they’re fun (although they can be tedious), and time does move faster when you’re in one. On the surface, Waxhaw Escape may appear like any other escape room in the greater Charlotte region, but the heart of their business sets them apart and warrants the destination as a must on your traveler’s checklist when visiting Waxhaw. Ken McCoy has a true passion for his client’s entertainment. “I love seeing people high-five each other in the parking lot saying, ‘yeah, we did it!’” he says.  It is just one of the defining factors of owning a business in a small town.

Here’s how it works: you’re given one hour to escape the room by searching for clues, solving puzzles, and maybe climbing through a trap door. If you’re stumped on a clue, the Waxhaw Escape crew will provide hints upon request. If the timer runs out and you haven’t solved the clues, the room will be opened, and the solution will be explained. Ken McCoy defines an escape room as “an alternate reality where you get to find different clues and spend time in a different place for an hour.” Every room has been built from scratch by the McCoys. Each prop and decorative ornament is designed to take you to a different place, with some help from your imagination, so you can live vicariously through the story you’ve been given.

There are three family-friendly rooms for you to choose from. If you’re in the mood to step into Alice’s world, choose the hotel room where Lewis Carroll came up with Alice in Wonderland. Experience the whimsical and hypnotic room similar to the book that captivated you as a child. You can pay tribute to the railway that runs through Historic Downtown and take a trip to the past with the Train to Nowhere room. This room puts you in charge of turning off the auto-pilot and stopping the world’s first steam train from crashing. The third room, Dirty Money, Good Deed, is a prohibition-era-style treasure hunt. In this room, your ancestor left you a BBQ shack, but to prove ownership, you must follow the clues he left behind and uncover the will. Coming soon, there will be a fourth room available. Jungle Drums, another childhood classic based on Jumanji, is an exciting twist on the escape room with a replica of the board game and interactive props. You’ll find adventure and excitement and maybe reminisce on your fondest childhood memories.

If you’re looking for a different way to spend date night, entertain your children while school is still out, or forget about the unforgiving heat for a while, Waxhaw Escape is a place for everyone. Thanks to Ken and Jeannie McCoy for bringing the trending phenomenon of the escape room to Waxhaw and molding it to fit their passion for storytelling and dedication to their customer experience; Waxhaw Escape is one of a kind. You can book your escape at waxhawescape.com or call (704) 256-1378.