Every escape room owner has an origin story, a moment when the spark of an idea first ignited. For some, it’s a love of puzzles. For others, it’s a passion for business. For Tom and Barb Atwood, it was a hit of dopamine so strong it almost felt illegal. And that single, thrilling moment set them on a path from running a local fun park to building one of the most unique mobile escape room businesses in the country.

This isn’t just a story about building an escape room. It’s a story about finding a new path, embracing realism, and building a business that can go anywhere.

The Spark That Started It All

“I’ve never done drugs, but it was what I expect your first hit of cocaine would be like.”

–Tom Atwood

Back in 2010, Tom and Barb were in the business of old-fashioned fun. They owned a fun park complete with go-karts, bumper boats, and mini-golf. But in 2013, a friend mentioned a new kind of entertainment that was popping up: an escape room. Intrigued, they drove to Des Moines to try one out for themselves. The theme was a FBI mission, and they were hooked. With the clock ticking down, they came up just short of escaping. Tom realized he had inverted two numbers in the solution and the game master gave him one last chance to solve the final puzzle just as the timer flashed red. The rush was immediate.

“I’ve never done drugs,” Tom said, recalling the feeling, “but it was what I expect your first hit of cocaine would be like.”

That experience planted a seed. Back at their fun park, they had a 3,500-square-foot gift shop that wasn’t performing well. As Barb put it, “Nobody buys gifts anymore.” They realized this underused space was the perfect place to bring their newfound passion to life. Their journey into the escape room industry had officially begun.

From Stationary to On-the-Go

Their first room was an FDR Bunker, inspired by a PBS special about a secret bunker hidden under New York’s Grand Central Station. The room was a hit, but they soon realized a key challenge of having a fixed location at a fun park: the same families came back year after year. To keep things fresh, they had to keep building new rooms.

The real turning point came from an unexpected place: a high school after-prom committee. Their daughter’s school was looking for something more engaging than the usual hypnotist or magician. Tom suggested an escape room, but there was a catch. This wasn’t a small group; they needed an activity for 180 to 200 kids. A small, pre-built trailer just wouldn’t work.

This challenge sparked their big idea. Instead of bringing a trailer to the school, why not build the escape rooms inside the school? This mobile, build-on-site model gave them the flexibility to run multiple rooms at once and cater to large groups. In 2020, they sold the fun park to focus entirely on their mobile escape room business, and it took off.

Realism is the Name of the Game

What makes Tom and Barb’s rooms so special is their incredible dedication to realism and historical accuracy. They don’t just build a theme, they live it, research it, and fill it with authentic details that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

“Yeah, this is just like what it’s like underground working in our gold mine right now.”

–Gold Mine Worker

For their Gold Mine room, they didn’t just look up pictures online. They traveled to Montana and visited two different gold mines to understand exactly how they operated. To create a fully immersive environment, they designed custom tapestries that they attached to the inside of dome tents, making players feel like they are truly underground.

Their submarine room, The Hornet’s Nest, was inspired by a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, where a real World War II submarine, the USS Razorback, is docked. They took photos of every detail, from the dashboards to the tight corridors. The result is a room where players are surrounded by the sights of a real submarine. They even have players plot a course on a map using actual submarine mapping tools.

This commitment to authenticity extends to their props. For their 1889 Jail room, you won’t find modern combination locks. Instead, players might use keys or even an old-fashioned Morse code telegraph machine. As Tom says, if they need a saddle for an Old West room, they don’t make a fake one. They go out and buy a real saddle. This hands-on, realistic approach creates an experience that is not only fun but also educational, which is perfect for their key markets.

The Mobile Advantage

Tom and Barb’s model of building rooms inside a client’s facility gives them a level of flexibility that traditional mobile escape rooms in trailers just can’t match. They aren’t limited to the size of a single trailer, which can often only hold about six people. Instead, they can scale their operation to fit the event.

For a corporate team-building event where two companies were merging, they set up five different rooms and ran them for five hours a day for five days. Employees from the same departments in each company played together, getting to know each other in a fun, collaborative environment before they officially started working together.

This ability to set up multiple rooms at once means they can handle huge events, like the after-prom where 450 players went through their rooms in a single night.

The Rhythm of the Rooms

Like any business, Tom and Barb’s has a seasonal flow. The spring is dominated by after-proms and after-graduation parties. The summer is packed with schools and community day camps who love having an engaging activity brought right to their doorstep. Bringing the fun to them saves the schools the high cost and logistical headache of bussing kids off-campus.

In the fall, the focus shifts to the corporate world, with businesses looking for unique team-building events. And as the year ends, they’re busy with holiday parties. Woven in between are fairs, festivals, and even rodeos, a market that found them and has become a big part of their business.

Always Be Prepared

Running a mobile business across 12 states means you have to be ready for anything. Tom and Barb have developed a system to make sure every event runs smoothly. Each of their 26 rooms has its own organized box containing replacements for what they call “game critical items.” If a lock breaks or a key gets lost, they have a spare ready to go.

They also have a main “event bag,” a backpack loaded with everything a game master might need on the road. It has a laptop and speakers for playing the rules, but also pliers, screwdrivers, tape, extra screws, and even bolt cutters. This level of preparation ensures that no matter what happens, the game can go on.

A Philosophy of Community

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Tom and Barb’s story is their belief in the escape room community. Early on, they had one of their rooms copied almost exactly by another company. While they could have been bitter, they chose a different path. They recognized that the industry is one where everyone is in it together.

A bad experience at one escape room can turn someone off from ever trying another one. Because of that, they believe it’s important for every owner to create high-quality, original experiences. A rising tide lifts all boats. This philosophy has even led them to mentor other aspiring escape room owners, sharing their knowledge to help the entire industry grow.

Tom and Barb’s journey is a testament to what can happen when passion meets opportunity. From a single thrilling game in Des Moines, they’ve built a thriving business that brings history, fun, and teamwork to people all over the country.

You can connect with Tom and Barb through their website. You can also reach out by phone or email (which you can get from their listing on this site). Tom answers every call himself, even if it’s a spam call about his car’s extended warranty.