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Do you have what it takes to Escape the Maze of Terror? (4 photos)

It promises to be the most terrifying and mind-blowing horror attraction in South Porcupine

A truly terrifying and mind-blowing scary experience called Escape the Maze of Terror is setting up in South Porcupine.

The maze is not just an ordinary scary labyrinth, but a problem-solving game where a group of two to six people try to escape with their lives, said Nadia Riopel, who is one of the organizers and owner of Climb N Fun.

“You must solve it to survive. As you wander through this disorienting, eerie labyrinth, you will need to find the clues and figure out the codes to pass to the next stage,” Riopel said, adding that you need to be quick-witted and sharp to find the clues.

The game leads brave people through a maze of chopped body parts, spiders, cadavers, plague doctors, gypsy ladies, mummies, grim reapers and mad butchers to name a few. The maze will also include corners, corridors, tormenting themed rooms and horrifying creatures.

“I’d like for them to experience the incredible sensation of figuring out the codes that will unlock the locks,” Riopel said.

Creative mastermind and owner of Escape from Reality Marcus Niebler said this is the first time offering a more interactive and immersive Halloween game for kids and kids at heart.

“This is the first time in Timmins and this will grow in the next few years,” he said, adding that there are several upcoming events for the next months in collaboration with Climb N Fun.

He also added that he wanted to bring a “fresh idea” to the local horror industry in that activities should not always be “just scary” but also something that individuals will use their strategic and analytical skills.

Riopel and Niebler's goal is for participants to look back on the experiences a few years down the road and remember how much fun they had and all the great memories their family or friends.

“How teamwork and all the different ways of thinking saved them (or didn’t),” she said with a playful smile.

Riopel and Niebler are entrepreneurs who are working harder by having fun. When Riopel suggested the idea of a maze in Halloween to Niebler, it took them 10 minutes to brainstorm and gather all props and game ideas.

“Nancy (Riopel) from Humanagement and I had already designed an escape game in the maze. It’s for a team-building exercise where you have to work together to defuse the bomb that is hidden somewhere in the maze,” Riopel said.

“I thought it would be a cool idea to do a haunted one for Halloween or even an Easter egg hunt one on Easter. When I chatted with Marcus and he mentioned how fun it would be to have a Halloween one…We decided to make that happen! So here we are."

Riopel started her Climb N Fun business 15 years ago, offering rockwalls for climbers, lazer tag and inflatable shelters among other activities. True to its form her business line is “we bring the fun to you” as Riopel sets up activities right at the people’s private backyard.

Niebler and his business partner, Julie Evans, owned the Escape from Reality in Stratford, and moved the business to South Porcupine two years ago.

He said it was a great move, given how Timmins residents welcomed their business, by participating in escape room activities, physical adventure games, board games, tabletop games and tournaments, among others.

Niebler aims to turn South Porcupine into the city's hub of entertainment, as he works harder to bring new interactive and fun activities, historical and trivia walks, and tournaments.

The Escape the Maze of Terror Game is being set up at 84 Bruce Ave. and $10 per person. It runs:

  • Friday, Oct. 22 from 4-9 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 29 from 4-9 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

There are also Guided Haunted Walks on Oct. 22, 23, 24, 29, and 30.

Time slots for the maze can be pre-booked here.