TRINITY, Fla. — Rob and Alison Faiella were distraught when, like so many other businesses, they had to close their Trinity Escape Room because of the pandemic.
“We gambled, if you will, a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of missed things with family and different things, and to have it just all go away through no fault of anybody’s is a horrible feeling," Rob said.
Rob also got laid off from his job as a computer programmer. But he used his skills to keep Rock Avenue Escape Room going.
“I jokingly said 'I suppose I could strap a GoPro to my head and have people call in from home,'" Rob said.
After some tweaks, they say they developed the first escape room in the country to offer a virtual game experience.
Rob, with two iPhones, strapped on his body, plays the mayor's role, guiding people through a small-town mystery.
“We have a missing person. Everybody that works here is a character in the story. I’m the mayor," Rob said.
People from around the world are playing.
A game on Thursday afternoon had a guy from Ecuador and a woman in Arizona.
“It’s different every game. Different interactions depending on the people," Rob said.
A family of four can play for about $50.
Rock Avenue Escape Room says the virtual version is so popular, they aren’t rushing for in-person games anytime soon.
For more information go to https://rockaveescape.com/.
