Ichabod’s is a pretty cool place with a passionate owner who designs and builds everything. On our first visit we completed Protocol and Madder Tea Party and really enjoyed our time. However, we had a bit of a different experience this time which was primarily the staff. Two younger people who were enthusiastic at the counter, but didn’t seem invested in the experience. The staff make or break the experience and we’d love to see better consistency here.
Pipes and a Princess is a Super Mario themed escape room which was the perfect theme for our tween sons. This was only their second room so they were happy to just soak it all in and for that I’d say, this room is totally worth it for kids but they will need some adult help. For example, at 6′ 1″ tall, I still had to stand on my toes to access one item that was needed. There are some puzzles that are likely beyond a tween’s skill level but there was also one that are adult brains couldn’t figure out but the 10 year old did. Bring a range of skills with you.
The room seems like it’s likely their first room and the build style is a bit older and there’s some good wear and tear in it. Some repair materials seem to have been hastily hidden which is definitely immersion-breaking. Some things didn’t really work – one electronic puzzle is really unclear and took us confirming over the radio that we’re doing it the right way and even then it didn’t work. One mechanical door didn’t work – which was disappointing because it would’ve been a really cool experience for the kids in the room.
There is ambient sound throughout the experience although the music felt somewhat out of place. A constant game music track would’ve been better. Maybe even triggering different themes as you move throughout the areas? The lighting is great and at one point my son said “it really felt like I was walking over lava!”
Overall, this wasn’t our favorite room at this location and it needs some adjustments and repairs. But, if you’re looking to bring a group of 8 to 12 year olds, they’re going to love it. This room could handle up to 5 or 6 people if there’s no more than 2 adults.
Give it a shot and let us know what you think!