FISHERS, Ind. -- A new World War II-themed Escape Room in Fishers has drawn mixed reactions as to whether it is in poor taste, or just a harmless attraction.
The Escape Room Indianapolis posted about the theme to the new room on Facebook Wednesday, and comments on the post have ranged from outrage to excitement.
Escape Rooms are growing entertainment attractions in which a group of people enter a room and are timed to find clues to get out or solve a puzzle. It promotes team-building, problem solving, and it can be a lot of fun.
The newest theme set to launch in Fishers is described as putting you into a WWII POW camp in central Germany two years after your bomber plane was shot down in enemy territory. They call the room Stalag 21 (aka: Camp Blackjack).
The setting puts you just prior to the D-Day invasion, putting the success of the attack on your group to find a set of plans before German command returns from business.
The Escape Room Indianapolis describes the success of the mission as follows: "The success of the D-Day invasion lies with you. If caught in your mission, you will be handed over to the Gestapo for interrogation, torture, and certain death. Failure IS NOT an option!"
Some of the comments on the post expressed disappointment in the new theme, with some claiming it's disrespectful to veterans and insensitive. One woman called it a "terribly conceived idea!". Several complained about the setting, labeling it a traumatic retelling of a "concentration camp." The Escape Room Indianapolis did reply to comments clarifying it's a POW camp, not a concentration camp, but in World War II Germany, POW and concentration camps were often mixed, if not serving the same purpose.
Others saw the flip-side with comments about their excitement for the new exhibit, saying it helps honor those who fought in the war. One man referred those complaining to the classic sitcom Hogan's Heroes and its setting inside a POW camp as a beloved TV series that had a similar premise.
For years, critically acclaimed video games and movies have glorified not just the act of war, but dramatized depictions of the horrors of POW camps and concentration camps.
You can read the full post about the Escape Room below, and the comments on it. We're curious what you think: Weigh in on the RTV6 Facebook page.
