Welcome to Clue IQ | Your Escape Room Experts
How this all started, how we're doing, and where we're going!About Clue IQ: Our Story, Your Adventure
At Clue IQ, we believe in turning entertainment into an unforgettable journey. Our story began in 2016, when our founder, Steven Winder, experienced his first escape room. For Steven, who grew up with a deep love for puzzles and was inspired by classic point-and-click adventure games like King’s Quest and Monkey Island, it was a revelation – an interactive game that felt like stepping into a real-life video game or movie. Inspired by this passion, Steven embarked on a mission to bring this unique form of entertainment to Frederick, Maryland. After months of transforming a charming 1800s historical warehouse, Clue IQ officially opened its doors in May of 2017, with the invaluable help of family and Cora, the coolest dog ever, by Steven’s side.
What started as a personal passion has since become a shared adventure. In 2018, Steven met his future wife, Lisa, who joined Clue IQ full-time in 2019. Together, they’ve poured their hearts into the business, with their family growing to include Goose, adopted in the fall of 2022. With Cora, Goose, and our incredible team, we’ve grown Clue IQ into Frederick’s premier escape room destination. We’re proud to be a locally owned and operated small business, and our dedication to the industry has led us to become the largest escape room facility in Maryland, with some of our games earning international awards.
Crafted with Passion for Immersion
As avid escape room enthusiasts ourselves (Steven and Lisa have played over 700 games combined!), we pour our personal experience and passion into every detail at Clue IQ. We custom-build every game from the ground up, ensuring no detail is overlooked. When you step into one of our adventures, prepare to be transported by breathtaking sets, custom soundscapes, dynamic lighting, and special effects that create a completely realized reality. This isn’t just about traditional locks; it’s about ingenious mechanisms, hidden technology, and physical interactions that make every moment truly magical and unexpected.
Over the years, our dedication to innovative design has led us to create a diverse portfolio of experiences, including seven full-scale escape rooms, a take-home mystery game, a city-wide outdoor game, and various pop-up events hosted at breweries around Frederick. Our commitment to immersive design has earned our games recognition from industry leaders like Room Escape Artist, TERPECA, Bullseye Awards, and Morty.
Always Evolving: Our Next Adventure
We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of immersive entertainment. Having expanded our physical space three times within our original location, we’re excited to announce we’re currently working on opening two brand-new games that will bring us to a total of six incredible experiences on-site, plus our mobile game option. We’re always looking for new ways to bring the adventure to you!
Your Fun, Our Commitment
Whether you’re a family seeking a unique outing, a corporate team looking for a thrilling challenge, friends on an exciting night out, or a seasoned escape room enthusiast, your enjoyment is our ultimate goal. Our award-winning games are meticulously designed to challenge, excite, and entertain – never to frustrate. We believe in crafting clever, engaging puzzles for all skill levels, ensuring every moment is enjoyable. What truly sets us apart is our dedication to your experience: every game is fully monitored and guided by our passionate and dedicated Game Hosts. They’re there to ensure a smooth, engaging journey, providing seamless support and unlimited hints tailored to your group’s unique adventure, so you’ll always progress and have a blast!
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