Escape Backpack Game at Mackenzie King Estate is a free, one-of-a-kind adventure, blending history and mystery in the heart of Gatineau Park.
Up to six participants, ages nine and up, navigate the picturesque Mackenzie King Estate while decoding clues about the storied life of its namesake to crack the lock combinations on their shackled rucksack.
National Capital Commission partnered with Freemick Aventure to create a unique, free, escape room-style experience on the grounds of the picturesque Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park. Photo via National Capital Commission – Commission de la capitale nationale.
Puzzles rely on a combination of provided props, pre-existing interpretation panels, and artifacts found in and around notable locations on the estate, including the Kingswood and Moorside cottages, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Abbey Ruins.
National Capital Commission partnered with Freemick Aventure to create this free escape room-style experience. The result is a well-designed, entertaining, and educational exploration of the former prime minister’s upbringing, life on the estate, and legacy.
Puzzle-solvers work out one of the puzzle book clues. Photo: Kiefer Uuksulainen.
Escape room enthusiasts will find that the ten puzzles range from easy to medium difficulty. In addition to the clues, the puzzle book contains two levels of hints and an answer key for each brainteaser. We observed a few staff members inside the estate’s buildings to help stumped solvers get back on track.
Participants will carry one sturdy canvas rucksack, weighing 4.5 to 7 kilograms (10-15 pounds). Inside is a slew of well-made leather and wooden props used to crack the trio of combination locks on the outside.
Adventurer-seekers have up to three hours to complete the self-guided tour. Easy-to-follow navigation instructions are provided in the puzzle book (available in both English and French). Our triumphant trio completed the approximate 3-kilometre journey in just under 90 minutes.
A trio of successful solvers pose under the Arc de Triomphe on Mackenzie King Estate, one of the many notable locations used in the NCC’s new “Escape Backpack Game”. Photo: Kiefer Uuksulainen.
Enthused sleuths can reserve their free slot from now until Sept. 1 on the NCC website. Games run from Friday to Monday, every 15 minutes starting at 10 am to 10:45 am and from 1:45 pm to 2:30 pm.
The game begins at the Moorside Cottage garage at Mackenzie King Estate, 75 Barnes Rd., Chelsea, Que. Visitors may take the free Gatineau Park shuttle, which stops at Mackenzie King Estate, or park at the recommended lot, P6 (parking fees apply from mid-June to October).
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