Joe DePinto is now serving the City of Yelm’s mayor in two capacities. Aside from leading the city’s government, he also acts as the fabricated mayor and game master of Yelm’s new escape room experience: Quark & Odo’s.
In the first of the business’s escape rooms, titled “Water Tower Winner,” participants win a city raffle to go up into the top of the Yelm water tower and explore the control center on a tour led by DePinto, who portrays the mayor. An emergency arises and participants must use puzzles to find a way out.
Quark & Odo’s Escape Room Experience, 10501 Creek St. SE Suite 2, Yelm, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Aug. 16, before the first customers trickled in.
DePinto, dressed in his top hat and white mayor sash, addressed community members in attendance at the ceremony and expressed his excitement in bringing another entertainment option to Yelm. After the event, he noted that while the business is named after two “Star Trek” characters, the escape rooms are not of a “Star Trek” theme and focus on a more local approach.
“I’m an escape room enthusiast. I think they’re fun and great entertainment, and there’s not much entertainment here in Yelm,” DePinto said. “I thought I could bring a new opportunity for Yelm and have fun doing it, too.”
DePinto signed the lease in May and has been working with his fiancée behind the scenes on crafting storylines and puzzles based on Yelm’s history. Another room, titled “Magical Might of Mystical Mike,” is also available. Participants encounter an odd stranger who asks for their help. He mentions something about his friend Mike, who hangs out in a cavern, and participants are tasked with finding out the “magical might” of Mike. This fall, Quark & Odo’s will also offer a spookier experience titled “The Ghost of James Longmire.”
DePinto said he took some inspiration from Cityscape Games, an escape room in Tacoma, for some of his ideas.
“There were a lot of things that were very centric to Tacoma in there, and so I really liked that kind of theme and I wanted to do at least one of these rooms that tied something locally,” he said. “Throughout the water tower room, you’ll see little nods to Yelm.”
DePinto described the escape room experience as “immersive” and “intuitive,” and he recommends two to four people in a room to solve the puzzle. He said the escape rooms are not intimidating to those who have never tried it, and he, as the game master, ensures that participants have a good time and offers clues if they are stuck.
“This is very unique. You’re not going to find this room anywhere else in the world. This is all from my imagination,” DePinto said. “You use your hands, use your brain, investigative skills. There’s an element in another room where you have to figure out different smells.”
DePinto said he considered opening the business in other markets in Thurston County, including Lacey, but felt it was important to provide recreation for his own city.
“If you haven’t tried one, don’t be afraid to. It’s a cool form of entertainment. It’s a fun option for a date night,” he said. “It’s cool to open this up here. I hope that this is worth it for folks and that they enjoy their time.”
Quark & Odo’s Escape Room Experience offers entertainment for participants aged 12 and up, and discounts are available for law enforcement, military, educators, healthcare workers, students and those with a Yelm address. Rooms cost $37 per person per person. The business is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. To learn more and book a room, visit https://quarkandodos.com/.
