The Secret Chambers Escape Room - Arlington — Attraction in Arlington

As a lifelong fan of Edgar Allan Poe—so much so that I once made a special trip to Maryland just to visit his historic home and gravesite—I was genuinely excited to try The Edgar Allan Poe Experience at The Secret Chambers in Arlington. With such a rich and macabre literary legacy to draw from, I had high hopes for an immersive, spine-tingling experience.

Unfortunately, the execution fell disappointingly flat.

The “ghost” who served as our guide through the experience was anything but engaging. Rather than setting a chilling, immersive tone, he came across more like a sarcastic drill sergeant than a spectral storyteller. When my daughter asked a simple question, his curt response was, “Let me do my monologue in peace, please.” That single comment set the tone—one that felt more awkward and cringey than atmospheric. There was very little theatrical commitment or energy; he simply didn’t embrace the character or theme, and it made the entire experience feel stale and uninspired.

The decor, I will say, was beautifully done and full of gothic charm. The set design was by far the highlight and the only reason I’m giving this two stars instead of one.

As for the puzzles, they ranged from moderately challenging to completely nonsensical. And when we asked for a clue, the actor—still in his spirit persona—seemed genuinely confused or dismissive. It added frustration instead of fun, and his demeanor truly dampened the overall mood.

To contrast, the actor hosting the ship-themed room was far more in line with what we had hoped for—charismatic, immersive, and committed to the theme. That kind of energy was sorely missing from the Poe experience.

At $150, this was a significant letdown, and I walked away feeling more disappointed than spooked. For fans of Edgar Allan Poe or true escape room enthusiasts looking for a rich, eerie adventure—this, sadly, wasn’t it.

PS. Toward the end of the experience, the guide showing us out, did even want to take...

I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction regarding a recent power outage that occurred at The Secret Chambers on May 26, 2024. Unfortunately, I and other customers were not informed about this outage in advance, which caused significant inconvenience and frustration.

I had scheduled a visit to The Secret Chambers for a birthday celebration. Upon arrival, I discovered that the venue was experiencing a power outage, rendering the planned activities impossible. Not only was there no prior notification about this outage, but there was also no on-site communication from staff regarding the situation and how it would be resolved.

As a loyal customer, I find this lack of communication unacceptable. Had I been informed in advance, I could have rescheduled my visit or made alternative arrangements, saving both time and effort. Effective communication is crucial, especially when unforeseen circumstances arise that affect customers' plans and experiences.

I request that The Secret Chambers take the following actions to address this issue:

Provide a formal apology for the inconvenience caused by the power outage and the lack of communication. Implement a notification system to inform customers promptly about any power outages or similar disruptions. Offer compensation for the affected visit, such as a refund or a complimentary rescheduling.

I hope that you will take this complaint seriously and address these concerns promptly. I look forward to your response and to a satisfactory resolution.

Thank you for your attention to this...

Okay, so our team, #UnsupervisedProfessionals came into the new location at Arlington and played the Edgar Allen Poe room. We did win in about a half an hour. We took some time to discuss this one one over dinner and here’s what we think. First, the use of lighting in this room is absolutely outstanding; it’s used as an actual element of the game and not just as a set element. Secret Chambers was wise to confiscate our phones/flashlights before we entered the room. Unfortunately, the room was actually too easy; there are no red herrings and each puzzle, when solved, pointed us straight to the next with little searching required. This room could do with a few elements that were less obvious about their function. Linearity, while great for narrative, doesn’t usually make for great puzzle building in an explorative environment. As we have come to expect from Secret Chambers, their grasp on set pieces is absolutely bar-setting, with animated parts, extraordinarily well-thought out effects and well thought out mood-setting set dressing from top to bottom. Naturally, my favorite part about every one of their rooms is the acting; staff really goes all out for their parts with outfits and accents which all leads to the best thing about these rooms - they have satisfying endings. Rather than just finishing the last puzzle and walking out into the lobby, you’ll get a sense of closure and accomplishment from all of the rooms we have played at Secret Chambers. The Edgar Allen Poe Room 8/10 Everything to love about Secret Chambers but lacking...