Inspiring Conversations with Richard Wilson of Trapped! Escape Room

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Wilson.

Hi Richard, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2014 I was planning a Europe trip and saw something called “escape rooms” as a fun thing to do in several cities on TripAdvisor. Curious, I looked for an escape room in my area (there weren’t many). I tried one with a group of friends, and knew immediately this was for me. I’ve always been a gamer, board and video games and I’d run a backyard haunt for years, so the mix of puzzles, story, and practical effects clicked for me. I opened my first Trapped! location in Upland, CA in August 2015. Within two years I left a comfortable corporate job to go all in. We have since opened locations in San Dimas and Las Vegas, and this year marks Trapped!’s 10th anniversary. In the last year I also launched “It’s a Blast,” an immersive, high energy, video game style experience in Las Vegas. Today Trapped! has three locations (Upland, San Dimas, and LasVegas). It’s a lot of work but I really enjoy the game design and build/maker aspects of this industry.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I soon learned the hard part wasn’t puzzles – it was the business stuff. Taxes, filings, payroll, all the responsibilities you don’t see in the fun photos. I got a crash course in use permits, zoning, and fire codes a lot more to understand here than I ever expected. Marketing’s never been my strong suit, so getting the word out felt uphill. Managing employees is a balancing act: doing right by the team while keeping things efficient enough to make a profit. And as a small business, you’re up against bigger brands with bigger budgets and full-time teams to do a fraction of what I handle in a day.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We’re known for immersion and big effects – think “Disneyland on a tight budget.” We build practical, high-impact moments that feel larger than life without sacrificing the fun game aspect. What sets us apart is our customer service. We invest heavily in hiring and training the right people. Game masters who are integral characters in the experience. Not just sitting back and waiting to give hints. We’re a small, owner-operated team that can compete in quality with nationwide chains. Ten years in, we still evolving design better, smarter, more fun games. What to know: our games are fun, immersive, and award-winning, all designed and built in-house, from sets and props to control systems. We have 7 awesome, fun uinque games in the LA area that everyone should check out!

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
It can be fun, but at the end of the day it’s a business, be ready for that. There’s always a trade-off between skills and cash: the more you know, the less money you need to get started; the fewer skills you have, the more you’ll pay others. Put your money behind the product. Reinvest, improve, repeat.

Pricing:

• Weekdays (M-Th) $49 per person – 2 participants
• $42 per person – 3+ participants
• Weekends (F-Su) $52 per person – 2 participants
• $45 per person – 3+ participants

Contact Info:

• Website: https://trappedescaperoom.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trappedescaperoom/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrappedEscapeRoom/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8LxQGJd4mj8Dt66xlTJFg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/trapped-escape-room-upland