Howe Caverns — Go Underground

Meet your next adventure!

Vault 1033: The End Or The Beginning

The seal is broken. The door is opening. You have 60 minutes to find out what was locked inside.

Book the Escape Room

60 min · 4–8 players · $35

Vault 1033: The End or the Beginning. An open steel vault door reveals a glowing green chamber where a man holds out a glowing blue orb
A player scans glowing skulls at the Radiation Monitor panel inside the Vault 1033 escape room

All-new Escape Room

The End or the Beginning?

The bombs have fallen. The vault has remained sealed. Now the doors are opening for the first time. Inside lies a mysterious experiment, hidden clues, and a race against time. Your choices will determine one thing: is this the end… or the beginning?

Duration
60 min
Players
Up to 8 (4 minimum)
Difficulty
4 / 5
Ages
8+ (15 & under with an adult)
Price
$35.00 per person

Multiple groups can book this game. Want it private? Book the whole room for $250.00 — call 518.296.8900.

Book the Escape Room

New to escape rooms?

What is an escape room?

Escape rooms are an interactive, immersive, real-life gaming experience where players have full control over the outcome of the game. You will solve puzzles and locate clues in order to "escape" the room in a predetermined amount of time (60 minutes). It is a fun activity for most ages, in any weather and for any occasion — especially popular as a team-building activity for groups or businesses, and for milestone events like birthdays.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How can I book a game?

We are open 7 days a week and accept online and phone reservations. Please note: the Business Office is closed on Sundays, so phone reservations cannot be accepted on Sundays.

Do I need to purchase all the available tickets?

Absolutely not. Get one ticket or a few, and you'll be teamed with other people in the same game.

The minimum number of people required to play Vault 1033: The End or the Beginning is 4 (we recommend 4–8). The room will not be considered "booked" for any time slot until at least 4 tickets have been purchased.

What time do I need to arrive?

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled reservation time, as games start promptly. If you don't know when that is, you probably won't be making it out of your room!

Late arrivals may be admitted, but your 60-minute window may not be extended, so you will have less game time. No refunds are offered for late arrivals or no-shows.

Can I come at a time that's not listed on the schedule?

Absolutely — reservations are available at the time that's best for you. Contact us if you'd like a specific date and time outside of our normal hours.

Will we really be locked in a room?

No. The door you enter from acts as both an entrance and an emergency exit and is never locked. You may exit in case of emergency or urgency, but the clock will not stop for any reason once it starts.

Please use the restroom before your session. If you wish to exit, simply contact our staff and you will be promptly let out, but you cannot come back in.

Can I pay in cash on arrival?

We accept walk-ins IF the room has not already been booked AND a Gamemaster is available. To book a room, the balance must be paid in full at the time of booking. Online booking is highly recommended so you can choose the day and time that works best for you.

What is the minimum number of players needed to play?

The minimum is four (4) players. If you book fewer than four, additional people will need to book the same game time with you, and your party may be grouped with other players until the maximum of eight (8) is reached.

To avoid this, we recommend booking all eight spots for your group. If one party books 8 spots, the room is considered full — and booking the entire room is less expensive than purchasing 8 separate spots.

Can I book an entire room?

Each escape room holds 8 people. If you want the entire room for your group only, you must book all eight spots, even if you have fewer than 8 people. A minimum of two (2) people must play for the game to be valid. Buying all 8 spots is considered a private party.

We attempt to fill each room to capacity by placing separate groups together. For an exclusive room you can: 1) bring enough people to fill the room, 2) purchase all available tickets for the room, or 3) reserve with fewer than the maximum and hope nobody else books the same time.

I made a reservation, but I can't make it. What do I do?

We understand things come up; however, there are no refunds for any paid reservation, including no-shows, cancellations, or arriving with fewer players. Our rooms are live-action events most people book days or weeks in advance, so once your booking is confirmed, refunds or reschedules are not accepted.

I have a health condition. Is it safe for me to play?

It depends — some health conditions may pose considerable safety risks. If you have a pacemaker, severe heart condition, epilepsy, claustrophobia, are pregnant, or have a physical disability that makes standing difficult, we may politely ask you not to participate. Our staff reserves the right to refuse anyone for any reason.

Is there an age limit to play an escape room?

Our puzzles are designed for adult minds, but we welcome all ages. If any member of your party is 15 or under, at least one adult chaperone must accompany them in the room.

If any member of your party is 10 or under, you must purchase all tickets for the room to ensure a private game, as a courtesy to our other customers.

What should I wear or bring?

Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing, and bring reading glasses if you normally use them for reading and low-light conditions — you will encounter both. We provide pens and paper if needed to solve clues.

Are phones or cameras allowed in the rooms?

No. Phones, cameras, and any items you do not wish to carry will be stored in a locker, and you will hold on to the key until your experience is complete.

How does one get out of an escape room?

Once the room is locked, you have 60 minutes to uncover clues and solve puzzles. No cheat codes or unfair advantages — but clues can be requested when you're at a standstill. When your 60 minutes expire, you must leave the room so we can reset it for the next group.

What happens if my team fails to get out?

If your team fails to solve all the puzzles before the clock runs out, the room will explode and your bodies will be blown into tiny pieces. No, seriously — even if you fail to get out in 60 minutes, you will still have had an awesome time with laughter, nerves, intrigue, and maybe a little anxiety as you tried to beat the clock.

Before you play

Helpful tips and tricks

While we won't give you any clues before your visit, these tips will help you have a great experience at Howe To Escape:

  • The most successful teams remain organized and communicate well with each other.
  • If you are entering the room with people you don't know, come early so you can get to know your team. They may have skills that help in the game.
  • When you find a new clue, tell the entire team. It might be for a puzzle someone else is working on.
  • Don't misplace or forget any clues. Keep everything organized so you don't forget something vital to escape.
  • All of our games have a theme. While not required, consider dressing for it — it adds to the mood and the experience.
  • Your experience lasts 60 minutes, so please use the restroom before entering the room.
  • Plan to arrive 15–30 minutes before your time slot for check-in and rules, plus time to relax in our cafe with a beer, wine, or soft drink.

Please note: We cannot add people to a session after it has begun. If you come late, you will not be allowed to enter the room — don't be late! We also reserve the right to refuse participation to any individual who appears intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

Private parties & groups

Escape room private parties

Private escape room parties for friends, family, offices, scouts, teams, wedding parties, church groups, fraternities, sororities, and birthdays — on your schedule! We have you covered for birthday parties, corporate outings, holiday parties, bachelor or bachelorette celebrations, team building, family reunions, professional development, and more. Call 518-296-8900 and we will help you customize an event to suit your needs.

Corporate groups

Ready to escape the office routine? We offer a wide range of options, flexible hours, and special group pricing — plus a cafe and meeting/dining area overlooking the beautiful Helderberg Plateau, so you can host your meeting on-site before or after your games.

Our dining/meeting room comfortably seats 80 and has a projection screen for presentations or training. We offer pizza, sandwiches, and many other customized menus to meet your needs.

Call 518-296-8900 to reserve what is sure to be one of the most exciting team-building events your company has ever experienced.

Team building: teams that play well together, work well together

Locked in a room, your team must work together toward a common goal — escape! Everyone uses their varied skills to decipher clues, communicate effectively, and stay flexible as unexpected challenges arise, celebrating collective victories as the clock ticks down to 00:00.

Our intricately designed puzzles help team members appreciate each other's strengths. Your team will gain a sense of accomplishment, mutual respect, better communication, and a stronger sense of camaraderie.

Special packages and pricing are available for groups or corporations of 20 or more that book the escape room along with a cave tour.

Policies

Before you book

All ticket sales are nonrefundable and may not be exchanged.

We do not respond to general inquiries or handle motel and ticket reservations or group bookings via email or Facebook Messenger. Motel and ticket reservations can be made online at howecaverns.com.

Group bookings of 25 guests or more must be made by calling our reservation team at 518-296-8900, Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.

Right to refuse service: For the safety and enjoyment of all guests, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at our discretion, including individuals who exhibit disruptive, unsafe, or disrespectful behavior, appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or do not comply with guidelines and staff instructions. No refunds will be issued in such cases.