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An Unscripted American Journey: From Roadside Motels to Rural Retreats

2026-05-14

This morning we woke up in an old-school independent motel in Jim Thorpe. A classic American roadside place…. It had been run by the same Indian owner (Bill) for 25 years after he came to America to build a life for himself, and honestly, it was brilliant. Simple, clean, welcoming and full of character. You could tell he genuinely cared about the place… Such a lovely bloke. Jim Thorpe itself was beautiful. Rolling hills, old buildings, railway tracks cutting through the valley, little independent shops and that perfect small-town American atmosphere that feels like it belongs in a 80’s film. We then played an escape room which looked incredible. The theming was amazing, the sets were beautifully built and atmospheric… but the puzzles made absolutely no sense whatsoever. It genuinely felt like every answer had been designed by a different person who had never spoken to each other, with all their eyes shut. It got to the point where the game host had to come into the room to help… confusion would be an understatement… Nothing made sense, and I really dislike Escape Room companies that give things you can’t do until you’re in another room. It was a real disappointment. But …. Then cam…

Topics: Escape rooms Family Travel Reflection

Matthew Eaves — escape room franchise founder, operator, and writer. Also: franchise, posts, contact.