Escape the Pike: Escape Room Games

(774) 241-0508

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ABOUT US

Learn about us, our business, and our logo.


 

Meet the owners of Escape the Pike:

Escape the Pike- the Jaquiths

Hello, we are David and Meghan Jaquith- the local business owners and operators of Escape The Pike. 

We met in 2003 while in Afghanistan with the United States Army.  David has worked in the security industry for more than two decades. Meg chose to give up her Army career to raise their growing family. We love adventures and have traveled to all parts of the world for work and fun.  Like many escape room enthusiasts, we also enjoy things nostalgic to children of the 80s and 90s.

 

We take fun seriously.  Combined, we have played nearly two hundred different escape rooms around the world. We know what has impressed us… and what hasn’t.  Our goal is to provide you with a quality setting and experience:

 

Escape the Pike- lobby
  • Our parking is free and convenient.

  • Our lobby is comfy and welcoming.

  • Our staff is friendly and ready to assist you.

  • Our tech is high quality and industry specific.

  • For your entertainment and engagement, our story lines and themes have been carefully planned with the consultation of enthusiasts and an experienced game designer.

  • The majority of the construction and décor was built and crafted with care by us, our family, and our friends who love and support us. 

  • We provide you with the opportunity to purchase snacks, puzzles, and Escape The Pike merchandise for your enjoyment and convenience.

 

It is our goal that you enjoy yourself, are challenged, receive a lot of value for your investment, and have the opportunity to come together in a new way with friends, family, co-workers, and perhaps even strangers– if you’re game.

 

 

Where our work and our personal lives intertwine:

In the Army, David’s nickname was “Snack'“- for the care packages he used to receive. After an hour of intense play, we thought you might want the opportunity to grab a snack. So, we are stocked up with lots of goodies!

In the Army, David’s nickname was “Snack'“- for the care packages he used to receive. After an hour of intense play, we thought you might want the opportunity to grab a snack. So, we are stocked up with lots of goodies!

Meg, an avid dog lover since childhood, was a dog handler in the military. She is often seen being followed around by their chocolate lab, Ruby. Here’s Ruby posing for her team photo!

Meg, an avid dog lover since childhood, was a dog handler in the military. She is often seen being followed around by their chocolate lab, Ruby. Here’s Ruby posing for her team photo!

 

We were deployed to Afghanistan from Fort Drum, NY. While stationed there, we were both part of the 177th Military Police Detachment as part of the 10th Mountain Division.

 

 

Escape the Pike History:

Escape the Pike officially opened for business in June 2019- after many months of permiting and construction. This chapter in our lives is only just beginning. Because of your support, we hope to have much to tell.

We would like to offer our heartfelt gratitude to those who helped us get our business up and running. Our family and friends rallied around us, each offering the help that matched their skill sets. Their contributions included labor and construction, the “stained glass” window, babysitting, game design, graphic design, beta-testing, and more.

We would also like to acknowledge some of the local craftsmen that helped us begin our journey. If you would like a recommendation for them, we would be happy to furnish one.

  • David’s father did all of the electrical work and set up ETP’s unique puzzles. He is the sole proprietor of Michael Jaquith Electrical Services- based out of East Brookfield, MA.

  • David’s cousin, Dan Socha, scripted, designed, created, and narrated ETP’s rules, Podunk story intro, in-house Merlin videos, SPY2K, Son of the Zodiac, and North Pole Meltdown videos.

  • While they were growing up, David knew Michael Gustafson who lived on Podunk Rd.- about 1/4 of a mile from him. Michael designed and created the castle doors and coat of arms for Merlin’s Vision, the wood sign for team pictures in the foyer, helped David with the cabinetry in the lobby, and constructed the North Pole Meltdown door. He is based out of Brookfield, MA.

We would also like to thank our employees who have worked hard to help us offer the best possible experience for you, our customers.

 

 
Escape The Pike logo

A little bit about our logo:

Escape the Pike is located just two miles from the Massachusetts Turnpike- or “Mass Pike” as locals refer to it. The Mass Pike stretches 138 miles from West Stockbridge at the New York state border to Boston at the East Coast of Massachusetts.



When the Pike first opened in the 1950s, the logo was much different from the one we have become familiar with today; it was an emblem that included Paul Revere.

 
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At some point, the MTA stopped using that emblem and picked something that brought to mind the founding of Massachusetts: a Pilgrim’s hat.

Escape the Pike- Mass Pike
 

Throughout the decades, the Pilgrim hat logo has gone through several changes. The version of the logo that was used for the longest amount of time featured an arrow going through the hat.

Escape the Pike- Mass Pike
 
Escape the Pike- Mass Pike
 
 

At the time of Thanksgiving in 1989, the MTA announced an intended 1990 logo change. A second-grade teacher at Fort River Elementary School in Amherst, MA, named Barbara Skolnick Rothenberg, encouraged her 24 students to stage a letter writing campaign. Their teacher was instructing them on the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock and insisted that the logo unfairly portrayed the resident Native Americans as being violent and aggressive towards the Pilgrims. In light of receiving the letters, the MTA decided to change the logo.

A design firm offered to recreate the logo for free. Today, we see a hat that looks more like a social media icon. Unlike the old green hat that seemed to reflect movement, the newest logo comes across as sitting. After coming up with the name “Escape the Pike” for their new business venture, David worked with a graphic designer to create a logo that would evoke recognition of the Mass Pike. Of course, this was decided to be the green hat that is still the most familiar to the middle and older generations.

 
Escape the Pike- Mass Pike
Escape the Pike- Podunk


David grew up and still resides near another “Pike”.  The “Podunk Pike” is the local term for Rte. 49– which stretches from Sturbridge to Spencer.   It runs through an area traditionally known as “Podunk,” paralleling Podunk Rd.  While most people associate the name Podunk with the concept of backwards or simple folk, there was actually a tribe of Native Americans called “Podunk” which largely populated Connecticut. In the Nipmuc language that they spoke, Podunk means, “marshy place.” “Massachusett” was also the name of a tribe. It means “great mountain.” The people of the tribe conducted ceremonies at a mountain in Quincy. It was referred to as “Moswetuset”, or “arrow-shaped hill.” As settlers populated the area, the people and places associated with the tribe became known as the “Massachusetts.”

 

 

Why the key?  When people think of a key, they think of unlocking something– whether it be a clue, a compartment, or a barrier.  People who are interested in escape rooms enjoy the thrill of “unlocking” something– whether it is a physical object or an interior ability.  In order to “escape” the rooms at Escape the Pike, groups will need to work together to unlock the puzzles and obstacles preventing them from emerging from the game. If they have difficulty doing this, the Game Master will unlock it for them.

 

 

BONUS: What is the significance of a hat? A hat is a covering that is placed over one’s head. The head is understood to be the place, or seat, of the mind.  As one contemplates puzzles and mysteries they unlock the force of their mind rather than their physical strength.


BONUS (X2): Many people who were children of the 80s will recognize the logo font to be similar to that of “The Goonies.” Puzzles, adventure, teamwork, and escape are all ideas that come to mind when one thinks of that movie. Clues to a mystery lead them into their adventure… but then they must get out and get back to what is pressing in their ordinary lives- much like escape rooms.



BONUS (X3)- Dave and Meg had their wedding reception at Old Sturbridge Village. If you have enjoyed learning a little bit about Massachusetts history on this page, pop over to our Sturbridge page to learn a little more.

 

 
Escape the Pike

There really is a need to Escape the Pike! We thought this might offer you a little chuckle.
We weren’t open then for him, but we are now for you! If you find yourself stuck in traffic, get off at Exit 9 and stop by. You can Escape & Eat at our location.

 

 

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Escape The Pike

179 Main St.

Sturbridge, MA 01566

(774) 241-0508

info@escapethepike.com