New Lockport escape room offers ax throwing, too

Five female business owners decided to incorporate to bring escape rooms and ax throwing to Lockport.

Their names are Ava Johnson, Andi Garrett, Val Triolo, Mel Betancourt and Andrea Vaughn, and they are incorporated as Thicker Than Water Inc.

They opened Lockport Escape Room & Axe Throwing on Jan. 6. They are hosting a grand opening celebration from 3 p.m. to midnight on Feb. 18. The Lockport Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony from 5 to 7 p.m. Facemasks are required.

Vaughn said the group has run escape rooms in the past for the Lockport Park District and wanted to run one independently and add the opportunity for ax throwing, too.

The “base” and “barbaric” and “back to nature, man and beast” feel of throwing axes makes it cathartic and stress-relieving, Vaughn said.

“It seems dangerous but it’s not,” Vaughn said. “It’s totally safe.”

All three lanes are completely separated from each other. Half of the lane partitions are wood; the other half is chain link, Vaughn said. Chain link covers the ceiling, too, she added.

“There’s no way for an errant ax to go anywhere except down the lane,” Vaughn said.

Patrons will throw short camping axes (Patrons may not bring their own axes,” Vaughn said) at a target. The target might be a bullseye, a tic-tac-toe game or zombie heads.

“The target is covered in soft cottonwood,” Vaughn said. “If you have good aim, it will stick.”

Vaughn said devotees of ax throwing, which has picked momentum over the last decade, view the game as similar to darts but more challenging.

The escape room is currently just 10 minutes of fun, but owners are working on an-hour long option.

Lockport Escape Room & Axe Throwing also features a party room that holds up to 20 people. The cost is $100 per hour. Patrons bring their own food and drink, Vaughn said.

“We’ll help you serve your guests,” Vaughn said. “And we’ll clean up afterwards.”

Lockport Escape Room & Axe Throwing is located at 16547 W. 159th St. in Lockport. Kids ages 10 to 15 must be accompanied by a parent. Ages 16 to 18 must have signed permission from a parent.

For the grand opening event, food drink and merchandise will be available while they last. Free 10 minute escape rooms and ax throwing. One hour ax throwing and escape room (up to four people) is $25. One hour escape room for four to eight people is $22. All ages welcome. Must be at least 10 for ax throwing.

For information and reservations, visit lockportescaperoom.com.