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Madison

About Madison

https://crossroadsescapegames.com

Madison is the CEO, Co-owner, and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. She graduated USC with a B.A. in Fine Art and Theatre in 2013 and begin designing sets for theaters across Los Angeles. She was the Lead Scenic Painter for The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor from 2013-2015 and has some pretty crazy ghost stories from her time aboard the ship. Her and her husband, Luke, opened Cross Roads Escape Games in January of 2016 and has been creating immersive experiences ever since!

Posts by Madison Rhoades:

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Cross Roads Escape Games: Celebrating a Year of Awards in 2023

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2023 has been a landmark year for Cross Roads Escape Games, earning multiple prestigious awards that solidify their reputation as leaders in the escape room industry, best escape room in Southern California, and world wide. Known for their innovative and immersive experiences, Cross Roads received accolades for both their newest game, The Weeping Witch. 

Cross Roads Escape Games was honored with the **Golden Lock Award** by Room Escape Artist, recognizing their excellence in escape room design. They also received the **Best of Morty Award**, further cementing their status as industry favorites. Perhaps most impressively, they were named one of the **Top Rooms in the World** by the Top Escape Rooms Project Enthusiasts’ Choice Awards (TERPECA), highlighting their global impact and unparalleled creativity.

If you have not yet, now is the time to book your ticket for The Weeping Witch, and see why it is rated as one of the best escape rooms there is. 

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Behind the Scenes: Reality Escape Pod

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Joining the Reality Escape Pod was an incredible experience for us. We’re Luke and Madison Rhoades, the creative forces behind Cross Roads Escape Games. During our chat with David and Peih-Gee, we shared the story of our evolution in the escape room industry, from our early financial struggles to the breakthrough success of games like “The Hex Room” and “The Weeping Witch.“

One highlight was discussing our innovative new business, “Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales,” which blends theatrical mechanics with immersive axe-throwing. We’ve always been passionate about pushing the boundaries of traditional escape rooms to create unique and memorable experiences for our players.

We also delved into our creative process, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and experimentation in our designs. It was exciting to reflect on how far we’ve come and to share a glimpse of what’s next for Cross Roads Escape Games.

If you’re curious about our journey and love the escape room industry as much as we do, we invite you to listen to our full conversation on the Reality Escape Pod. It’s an episode filled with insights, anecdotes, and a lot of passion for the art of escape rooms.

You can listen to the full episode here.

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The Newest Project By Cross Roads Escape Games- Axe Throwing

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Cross Roads opened in January of 2016 with The Hex Room. Since then, creators Luke and Madison have designed and built 3 more hour-long escape games, 2 mini-games, and even branched out into immersive theater with The Séance Experience in 2019. Now, they are embarking on a new adventure: Axe Throwing.

It’s been a year since we have seen something new from the creators of Cross Roads Escape Games. The Weeping Witch opened in September 2022, and fans have been eagerly looking forward to what will come next.

In December 2023, Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales opened in Costa Mesa, CA. The Cross Roads team is upping the ante to make the experience more immersive for everyone by using theatrics, special effects, interactive games, and beer! 

Axe Throwing at Slashers

“I see axe throwing the same as I saw escape rooms years ago: a fun and great idea, but lacking in immersive sets and theatrical elements,” said Madison Rhoades. “We plan to take Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales to the same elevated level as Cross Roads Escape Games.”

The axe-throwing area of Slashers looks like a dark forest outside a spooky cabin. Your hosts, dressed as camp counselors, will go over a brief safety orientation axe-throwing coaching before you begin. The beer bar area inside the spooky cabin provides an immersive atmosphere, show moments, special effects, draft beers, ciders, and non-alcoholic-themed drinks. 

Enjoying a beer at Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales.

 

When asked about the inspiration, Madison said, “I’m sure you can tell by the spooky games we have at Cross Roads that I am a huge horror movie fan. Axe Throwing and horror movies seemed like the perfect combination. Once I had the idea, I felt I had to make it a reality.”

What sets Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales apart from most Axe Throwing venues is the attention to detail, both with their horror movie references and safety precautions. The bar is adorned with horror movie props, which makes for a fun game of Eye Spy. Added safety precautions are also taken, such as implementing ‘no bounce’ mats around the target, caged-off lanes, and specialty-designed throwing axes (compared to the traditional axe you would use for chopping wood).

Beer Bar at Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales.

Slashers is also the only venue in SoCal to implement big axe throwing, draft beer, and interactive projected targets. Projected targets allow players to choose between different games and different targets to throw at. Although they do have the standard bullseye, they also have classic games like Tic-tac-toe, Battleship, Space Invaders, and many more, all with an axe-throwing twist.

Projected targets at Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales

Slashers is open Wednesday-Sunday in Costa Mesa. Tickets are $40 per person for a 1-hour session and $65 per person for a 2-hour session. Reservations are recommended. Walk-ins are based on availability. Reservations can be made at https://www.slashersoc.com/book-now

Owners and creators of Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales

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A Look Back at 2022

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2022 was a big year for us! A small team of people runs Cross Roads Escape Games, and every year, we are so proud of what we have accomplished. The husband-and-wife team, Luke and Madison, opened Cross Roads in January 2016 and designed all the experiences with the help of their staff and skilled programmers. You can read about our beginnings HERE. At the end of the year, we like to reflect on some of the events that happened and get excited for what is to come next!

2022 in review:

In February, owners Luke and Madison had the pleasure of playing an escape room with Jeff Goldblum for his ‘Puzzles’ episode of ‘The World According to Jeff Goldblum’ on Disney +. You can read all about our experience behind the scenes in our blog post HERE.

On May 1st, we said goodbye to The Psych Ward game and began a hectic 4-month build of The Weeping Witch.

Luke taking apart The Psych Ward

In September, we opened The Weeping Witch with fantastic feedback from the press and our guests. It sold out for 3 months solid. It’s a game we are so proud of, and we look forward to bringing more games to you at this same level of theatrical storytelling.

October 1st was National Escape Room Day. Last year we started the tradition of hosting a massive free event at Stereo Brewing, open to all escape room enthusiasts. This year, we celebrated again with eight mini-games from many different SoCal escape rooms, raffle prizes, food trucks, and beer.

To end the year, we were honored to win multiple awards. We were finalists for the 4th year in the International Top Escape Room Project (TERPECA) and were awarded Top Escape Room by the Morty escape room tracker app. We love what we do and are very grateful for the recognition.

So, what is next?

2023 is shaping up to be another busy year! We still have plans to revamp The Hex Room. We want to redesign all the rooms with new puzzles and special effects to bring them up to the same level we achieved with The Weeping Witch. Also coming soon, we have a fun feline-themed game designed (on paper), which will eventually take the place of The Fun House.  Will these two projects happen in 2023? I hope so! But it all comes down to having the time and the money. Make sure to send your friends to Cross Roads so we can continue to grow and improve!

Our biggest project for 2023, which has already been a year in the making, is opening a brand-new business: Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales! We are elevating the sport of axe throwing by giving it a unique 1980s horror movie twist with the story, theming, special effects, and games! Slashers Axe Throwing & Ales is coming to Costa Mesa in the Fall of 2023. Follow Slashers_AxeThrowing on Instagram for updates!

Thank you for helping us make it to 2023. We wouldn’t be here without your support!

Luke and Madison Rhoades

 

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National Escape Room Day 2022

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Join us at Stereo Brewing in Orange County on Saturday, October 1st, from 6:00pm- 11:00pm! There will be prizes, mini-games, food trucks, beer, and exclusive discount codes to local escape rooms!

This event is FREE to attend, and mini-games are FREE to play!

Play exclusive escape room mini-games by:
Cross Roads Escape Games
Terminus Escape
Square Escape Room
Ministry of Peculiarities
Funbi Games
Intrepid Escape Rooms
Exit Game OC
Trapped!

Win amazing prizes from:
Cross Roads Escape Games
Not Another Escape Room
Exit Game OC
Red Lantern Escape Rooms
Legacy Escape
Two Bit Circus
Terminus Escape
The Laboratory
Wild Goose Escapes
Funbi Games
Mind Trap Escape Room
Wizards and Wires
Unlocked
and more!

AND receive exclusive discount codes to some of the best escape rooms in SoCal!

RSVP on our Facebook event OR Meetup event

This event is sponsored by Cross Roads Escape Games.
UNLOCKABLES made a video of last year’s event: https://youtu.be/RNC90D-MIJ8

PARKING: Stereo Brewing is located in an industrial area. All the surrounding businesses will be closed, so feel free to park in any parking lot or on the street.

ADDITIONAL INFO: The event takes place both indoors and outdoors. Open to all ages.

The Weeping Witch Playbill

The Weeping Witch Playbill

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The Weeping Witch 
By Cross Roads Escape Games 

Crew:

Game Design: Madison & Luke Rhoades
Scenic Design: Madison Rhoades
Lighting Design: Ian Momii
Special Effects: Christian Mutter
Sound Design: Dan Waldkirch
Lighting and Sound Technician: Ian Momii
Master Carpenter: Luke Rhoades

Voice Cast:

Weeping Witch: Jonica Patella
Little Girl Radio Ghost: Wendy Hellmuth
Man Radio Ghost: Eric O’Keeffe
Ghost Doll: Lois Hellmuth

Special thanks to Lauren Orgill, Blake Orgill, Geoff Durham, Sean Christopher, Creepy Duck Design, Slaughterhouse FX, Cooper Floors, Slater Wood, and all of our Beta Testers!

Crew Biographies:


Madison Rhoades (Game Designer & Scenic Designer)

Madison Rhoades is the Co-Owner and Creative Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. She graduated with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Theatre from USC in 2013. After falling in love with escape rooms, she and her husband opened Cross Roads Escape Games in 2016 and together have designed The Hex Room, The Fun House, The Psych Ward, and two mini-games. Madison is excited to be stepping beyond the veil again after writing, directing, and designing the interactive theatre show, The Séance, in 2019.

 

Luke Rhoades (Game Designer & Master Carpenter)

Luke Rhoades is the Co-Owner and Technical Director of Cross Roads Escape Games. He graduated Vanguard University in 2014 with a B.A. in Theatre. Upon graduating Luke was the Master Carpenter at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood. He opened his own Escape Room business with his wife in 2016.

 

Ian Momii (Lighting Designer)

Ian’s background ranges all over the live event spectrum, having his hands in anything from theatre and concerts to corporate events and award shows. Locally in Los Angeles he is likely best known for his work as Lighting Designer and Technical Supervisor for Delusion from 2014-2021 and Scout Expedition Co.’s The Nest. Other recent work includes Ceaseless Fun Loser and JFI Night Fever. Ian is honored to be brought back to work on The Weeping Witch after helping Cross Roads Escape Games on their production of The Seance.

 

Dan Waldkirch (Sound Designer)

Dan Waldkirch is a musician, artist, and chess player from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. His music has been heard on over 40 primetime television shows and major motion pictures, including It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Twilight Zone, and Minari. He composed the music and sound for all of Cross Roads’ escape rooms and experiences, and his football musical The Unsackable Man recently enjoyed a four-week run at Zombie Joe’s Underground in North Hollywood. He’s excited to work on The Weeping Witch, but even more excited to play it!

 

Christian Mutter (Special Effects) 

Christian is an avid maker and tinkerer who loves to find inventive ways of mixing art and science. He graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2019 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He now works at ArtCenter as a shop instructor helping students realize their creative ideas. Christian is thrilled to be back at Cross Roads after having worked on The Seance.

 

$30 tickets! Available only at Midsummer Scream 2022

Exclusive Discount Tickets

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Save $8 per ticket!  Available only at Midsummer Scream 2022

Come by our booth at Midsummer Scream 2022 to purchase tickets for only $30 per person! Tickets are valid for 1 single-person admission for any of our games (including our newest game, The Weeping Witch), and they never expire!

Save $8 per ticket when you buy it from our booth at Midsummer Scream 2022! All you need to do is visit our booth (Aisle 100, Booth #188) during Midsummer Scream Friday, July 29th- Sunday, July 31st, at the Long Beach Convention Center. This ticket will come with a unique code valid for one admission ticket that you can use when purchasing your game online or in-store, as long as the game is reserved in advance. 

This 3-day sale is at our booth at Midsummer Scream while supplies last. Only 500 discount tickets in stock. Max of 8 tickets per customer can be purchased with either cash or card.

Midsummer Scream is a yearly Halloween and Horror Convention at the Long Beach Convention Center. Tickets are required to enter the convention. Purchase your tickets to Midsummer Scream HERE. 

Ticket Terms and Conditions: This single-use admittance code is valid for one single-person ticket to an escape game at Cross Roads Escape Games in Anaheim. The game must be reserved in advance. Not valid for gift cards. Does not expire. The code on the card is your ticket, do not lose it, or it cannot be used.

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Easter Egg Hunt

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Easter Eggs will be hidden inside all three of our games between April 13th-17th. Find all the eggs to help solve the bonus puzzle to win 25% off your next game!

Our Easter Egg challenge has always been a huge hit every year! In the past, we have offered gift cards and tickets donated from other companies as a prize for finding all the hidden eggs. Last week we took a poll on Instagram, and you all voted that you wanted your prize this year to be a discount on a future game, so we are giving away 25% off discount codes!

This year we are going to switch things up. In the past, players had to find all 10 golden eggs and escape to win. This year, there will be 12 eggs to find, each with a different clue. Players must find all 12 eggs to help them solve a bonus puzzle in the game to win! The catch, the box to unlock your prize is locked away towards the end of the game.

Will you be able to get to the end of the game, find the eggs, and solve the bonus puzzle before the time runs out?

You have one week to find out! Come play one of our three games between April 13th-17th, 2022 to experience this added challenge.

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Public Games- One Night Only

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On Sunday, April 10th, 2022, we will have 6 games open for public bookings. If you have always wanted to play The Hex Room or The Trust Experiment (formally known as The Psych Ward) but struggled to get a group of 5 together, this is your chance!

The Hex Room will be open for public bookings for the 4:20pm, 6:00pm, and 7:40pm games. The Trust Experiment will be available for public bookings for the 4:30pm, 6:10pm, and 7:50pm games. Tickets are $38 per person per game.

Tickets must be reserved in advance. To book, please click HERE and select April 10th. 

If you purchase a ticket during any of the above times on April 10th, you will play with strangers. This is a great chance to meet new people and build an escape room team!

DISCLAIMER: Both The Hex Room and The Trust Experiment still require at least 5 players for these games to function. If at least 5 tickets are not purchased for a time slot, the game may be canceled. In that event, you will be notified 1 hour before the game and be issued a full refund for your ticket for that game. Our other standard cancellation and refund policies still apply.

 

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New Name, Same Game

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You may have noticed that The Psych Ward is no longer listed on our website. Do not fear! It’s not gone! The game still exists, but it has a new name- The Trust Experiment. The previous title, The Psych Ward, did not accurately describe the true nature of the game. We decided a name change would help customers better understand what they are getting into, and we changed it to The Trust Experiment.

Why did you change the name?

We noticed that many people were hesitant about booking because they thought the game would be scary. Understandable with how many great horror films occur in Psychiatric Hospitals, but our game is not scary. It misled people who avoided it because they didn’t want to be scared and misguided people who thought it WAS going to be scary. We want to set people’s expectations appropriately and then exceed them.

Also, the game is more than just escaping a Psych Ward. The original name made it seem like this was an ordinary escape room, but this game is unique. Players must compete against one another, build alliances, betray friends, steal points, and so much more.

Why did you choose The Trust Experiment?

We played around with many names, but it seemed to click when our Manager, Geoff, suggested the name The Trust Experiment. With a name like The Trust Experiment, you know it will not be a traditional escape room. You know there will be some trust involved and that you will be tested on it. But why? And will you succeed? Only one way to find out…

Why was it ever called The Psych Ward?

We kept the name The Psych Ward because it fit so nicely with The Hex Room and The Fun House. They were all names of places, and it seemed appropriate to name this game after where it is placed.

Did anything change in the game?

It depends on when you played! The game opened in Dec. 2018 and went through a few adjustments the first few months. It got a big update and change to the strategy and sabotage element in Sept. 2019. Sadly, the game was closed for almost a year due to the pandemic and reopened in March 2021 with a handful of new puzzles. So if you played before March 2021, yes, the game has changed! With all that said, the game is also repayable since the teams are randomized for every game, and there are more puzzles then can be completed in an hour!

Learn more and get tickets to The Trust Experiment here!

 

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