Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Holloway.
Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Escape Astoria began as a leap of faith and a shared dream. In February 2025, my wife and I purchased the escape room business from its previous owner, who was no longer able to run it. What we took on wasn’t just a business—it was an opportunity to rebuild, reimagine, and create something truly memorable for our community.
Before opening our doors, we poured everything we had into the rooms—time, energy, creativity, and more than a little blood, sweat, tears, and money. From redesigning puzzles to refining the overall experience, every detail mattered to us.
In March 2025, after sitting unoccupied for almost 2 years, Escape Astoria officially re-opened to the public—reborn with new life, new challenges, and a passion for bringing people together through fun, immersive adventures.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to the reimagined Escape Astoria hasn’t been without its challenges. Like many small businesses on the coast, we quickly learned that winter in Astoria, Oregon brings a much slower pace than we had fully prepared for. The seasonal dip in visitors tested us early on, forcing us to adapt, rethink, and push forward.
At the same time, we’ve committed to doing things a little differently. Every puzzle in our rooms is created entirely in-house—we design, engineer, and build everything from the ground up. It’s a labor-intensive process that takes time, creativity, and a lot of trial and error. Because of that, new rooms haven’t opened as quickly as we originally hoped.
But for us, it’s worth it. We’re not just building escape rooms—we’re crafting experiences. Even if the journey has been a bit bumpy, we’re proud of what we’re creating and excited for what’s still to come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What is an Escape Room?
An escape room is an immersive, 60-minute, adventure game. Groups attempt to solve a series of puzzles and clues within a certain amount of time to accomplish a goal, typically finding the “key” to exit the room before time runs out!
As the game starts, you’ll get to watch a fun video explaining what exactly your mission is and the themed escape room. It will explain why you only have 60 minutes on the clock to complete your escape.
Some missions are about escaping the room, like a prison break. Other missions might not be centered around escaping, but instead, you might have to complete an art heist, attempt to launch a spaceship, find code words, or key objects.
You will need to race against the clock and decipher clues to find your way out of the escape room.
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, our vision for Escape Astoria is simple: keep building, keep improving, and keep bringing fun to our community.
We plan to continue designing and building new escape rooms—each one crafted in-house with the same attention to detail and creativity that defines who we are. While the process takes time, it allows us to create unique, memorable experiences you won’t find anywhere else.
Beyond the rooms themselves, we’re committed to being a place where families, friends, and visitors can come together for fun, connection, and a little adventure. Supporting our local community and providing a welcoming, family-friendly entertainment option will always be at the heart of what we do.
The journey is ongoing, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.
Pricing:
- $30 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://escapeastoria.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/EscapeAstoria
