Café: 519-510-2475 | Escape the Old Post : 519-510-2222

After being hidden away for more than a century,
the vision of Harriston’s original postmaster has come to fruition.

Can you solve The Postmaster’s Riddle?

Visit a remarkable heritage building to work as a team and solve puzzles in one of Ontario’s most unique escape rooms.

Your goal? Beat the clock, climb the tower and ring the bell for all to hear:
there’s a new postmaster in town.

Booking Information

FEES

Adults: $42 + HST per person
Students & Seniors (55+): $35 + HST per person

Groups of 6 or more

Adults: $40 + HST per person
Students & Seniors (55+): $33 + HST per person

A minimum of 4 players and a maximum of 10 players is required for all games.

GAME TIMES

Can’t find a time that works for your group? Additional time slots are available outside of regular hours. Please email us to discuss your group’s needs.

Thursdays: 7:15 p.m.

Fridays: 5:15 p.m. / 8:15 p.m.

Saturdays: 10:15 a.m. / 1:15 p.m. / 4:15 p.m. / 7:15 p.m.

Your game will last 90 minutes. Most groups win the game on their second visit.

LOCATION

Escape the Old Post is located on the 3rd floor of the historic former Harriston post office, in the centre of downtown Harriston.

Directions

Can’t make the weekend work?

We accept special bookings outside of regular hours to accommodate your group’s schedule.

Please email us with your preferred date and time to learn more and book your game time!

Looking for a memorable or last-minute gift for a friend or family member?

Escape the Old Post gift certificates make an amazing experience gift. They’re redeemable online, and you will receive a printable version with online redemption code to give to the recipient.

Escape the Old Post Reviews

  • Hands down the best escape room we’ve ever been to!! Absolutely incredible. Jacob is a fantastic game master. Loved learning the history of the building. Unbelievably creative clues and games - so many moving parts and surprises along the way. Highly recommend!!

    thumb Esther Boer
    March 23, 2024

    The best escape room experience I've ever done. Also the hardest. Do not expect to finish this on your first visit. It is designed to be completed over several, but it is amazingly complex and enriching. It involves many rooms, hidden compartments and more. The gamemaster will guide you if needed, without providing excessive help. Groups of four or more recommended, we had fun with eight people. Just go.

    thumb Tom Holder
    January 7, 2024

    I have been to a few escape rooms before but this was by far the best! Every little detail was thought of and we had such a fun time. So many good surprises - will for sure be back for part 2!

    thumb Bridget K
    December 29, 2023
  • Great night … can’t wait to go back and complete part 2. The event was so much fun and we thoroughly enjoyed the puzzles. Very well set out and the postmaster was very helpful. 5 gold stars for sure!

    thumb graham devlin
    November 19, 2023

    This was such an in-depth, well executed safe room. We had so much fun and even though we didn’t finish the first time we will definitely be back to try again! So cool and so fun.

    thumb Sheena Bell
    November 18, 2023

    Hands down one of the best escape rooms I've ever done. Well decorated/built, creative puzzles, and adaptive depending on your team's skill level.

    thumb Scott Macdonald
    November 11, 2023
  • One of, if not the best escape rooms we’ve been too! There was so much detail, so many clever puzzles! The room itself was decorated for Halloween which was awesome. Gamemaster Jacob & his team were awesome and made our entire experience even more enjoyable. We will definitely be back! Thank you!

    thumb Stephanie Adams
    October 21, 2023

    What a challenging, fun and well-constructed escape room! 💙 Our group had a great time solving all the riddles and puzzles! 😜 The second half was just as rewarding as the first half that we completed this past June. 🤯 Definitely worth a second visit!!! What a blast! 🥳 Bring your group to Harriston and escape from your daily grind! Thanks Mr. Game Master and Crew.👍

    thumb Julie Holmes
    October 14, 2023

    We had a wonderful time tonight at the escape room in Harriston. Many of us were newbies to escape rooms and our 2 grandmasters made it so much fun. We lived finding all the hidden gems and were very thankful for help in a certain area. Can't wait to go back for part 2!

    thumb Kelsey Anderson
    October 1, 2023
  • They were very nice to work something out with us! The place is super cool with some history to it. The escape room has a lot to do and very tricky puzzles. Hopefully we can come back some day and try to finish!

    thumb Nathaniel Lantz
    September 18, 2023

    The escape room was so enjoyable and well thought out. The whole experience was a blast and we will definitely be returning to finish the second portion (it is meant to be done in two sessions, if you are planning on visiting). Thanks so much!

    thumb A Teeter
    August 10, 2023

    I highly recommend Escape The Old Post! Our family had a wonderful time working through the puzzles to ring the bell!! Jacob the gamemaster truly goes above and beyond to make sure you have the best experience possible, which includes cheering you on when you have successfully solved a puzzle, or giving a helpful little hint when you're getting stuck somewhere! 😉 The room is very cleverly designed, and many of the puzzles require team work, which makes it fun for a group! 😊 3 of our group members had completed the room a few years ago, with other friends, and so we had the exciting and fun experience of being co-gamemasters, which meant being able to watch the rest of our family work at the puzzles in the room, and sharing clues when needed. It was the best possible way to be involved with the experience the second time, while not giving away too much info by doing the Escape Room with the newbies! Again, thank you for allowing us to have a fantastic, fun experience, and being so accommodating to our group! For anyone looking for a fun-filled, intense and exciting evening, with family or friends, be sure to check out The Old Post!! 😀😊 you won't be disappointed!!

    thumb Eva Beth Martin
    August 1, 2023
  • This was one of the best, if not the best, escape rooms we’ve done! It is a challenging room, but the game master is helpful and can provide some guidance when needed. The game was full of surprises and neat puzzles. We only did the first part, but will definitely be going back to do part 2 sometime!

    thumb Sheyenne Hooghiem
    July 23, 2023

    We thoroughly enjoyed our team building exercise involving 7 Directors and 2 Staff at "Escape the Old Post". It was amazing how each individual collaborated and worked together to solve the various clues and puzzles. It was interesting to see their dynamic leadership skills at work in a fun atmosphere. A great experience!

    thumb Anne Schneider
    July 14, 2023

    I was able to take my grade 7/8 class to the Old Post for a field trip. They were amazing with the students and accomodating with the space both inside and outside for the groups to have lunch and to play game/watch the other groups work their way through the escape room. My students loved the experience and are already planning how to return, even trying to convince myself and their principal we should return this school year. It is a great team building experience that allows for students of all types and abilities to participate and to show their strengths. Students use math, geography, problem solving, reading, writing, team work and other skills to find their way through the puzzles. I would highly recommend giving the Old Post a look for your own class trips.

    thumb Janelle Vogel
    June 9, 2023
  • Our group of 10 thoroughly enjoyed Escape the Old Post. After an absolutely delicious dinner of pizza, panzerottis, salads and Caesar’s at Harry’s Stone restaurant we walked down the street to the Old Post. We loved the charm of the old building, the history, cleanliness, and the quality of the whole set-up. Sadie, our escape master, was excellent in providing the background and rules of the experience and got us started quickly and efficiently. We worked very well together and started finding clues right away. There was a great variety of puzzles to solve, keys to find, paddle locks to unlock, etc. A lot of thought and creativity went into all the steps in the sequence. Sadie was very helpful in guiding us when we needed it and came up into the attic a few times to assist us. Two improvements that could be made are 1. a louder speaker system (or she could speak louder?) because sometimes we had to get her to repeat her clues and instructions, and 2. more fans or an upright air conditioner as it was a very hot day/night and the smaller and higher rooms were very hot (we were sweating and parched by the end so a water machine or bring your own water would be great!). Sadie compensated by getting us glasses of water from the kitchen and debriefing outside where it was cooler. After a lot of teamwork, thinking, fun and laughs we were successful in completing the first part of the challenge. Yeah!! We plan to return in the fall/winter when it is cooler to try the second part. All 10 participants would highly recommend Sadie and Escape the Old Post as a group activity for a special occasion or just for the heck of it!! Thanks so much for a memorable experience that we will definitely be telling our friends and families about!! It was a great way to celebrate my 56th birthday with lifelong friends!👍♥️🌹

    thumb rose kellington
    May 13, 2023

    Booked for a bachelor party activity, everyone loved it and was very impressed with the amount of detail put into the puzzles. We had to reschedule due to an illness and the gamemasters (Micheal and Jake) were super accommodating. Can't recommend this place enough!

    thumb Chris Vandevalk
    May 8, 2023

    So much fun! First timers - group of 6 - was for my birthday! The building itself is absolutely beautiful, they have kept so much of the original charm and incorporated allot of it into their escape room. The game master is great, he made the experience fun, gave us some help along the way and gave us a few laughs! Going in as a newbie, we didn’t know what to expect but WOW. So many twists, turns and fun/clever puzzles. We will be back as we haven’t finished part 2, and there is so much more to discover. Highly recommend trying it out! Thank you to the team! What an amazing piece of history you have and with how you’ve done things and restored parts to its original beauty is something to be incredibly proud of!

    thumb Megan Horrigan
    May 7, 2023
  • What a phenomenal time! Would highly recommend to any group looking for some fun and adventure. Jacob our Game Master was gracious, enthusiastic and well informed on the history of the Old Post building itself. The inquisitiveness, playfulness, organization, and superb construction made it the best Escape Room- bar none; that any one of our group had ever experienced. RUN don't walk to Escape the Old Post!

    thumb Vanessa Hudson
    April 18, 2023

    We had an amazing time!! The history of the building made this escape room so unique - the staff was very kind and knowledgeable and the room itself was incredibly designed!! 10/10 recommend!!

    thumb Brittany Taylor
    April 15, 2023

    Hands down the best escape room we have ever experienced! Jacob was a wonderful host and we will be sure to be back soon!!

    thumb Anita Weber
    March 17, 2023
  • My favourite escape room so far! It is so creatively built and has a really good variety of tasks and puzzles. We didn't make it all the way through but it's definitely one we'll come back to until we do!

    thumb Kendra Vander Kooij
    January 10, 2023

    Beautiful building with some really cool history. Really enjoyed our time there even as a big group of 9 there was lots to keep us all busy and working away. The game master made our time more enjoyable making sure we weren’t getting too far off track, that we had snacks etc. A really fun experience for any ages. Definitely will be returning to ring the bell

    thumb Jasmine Lawlor
    December 19, 2022

    Challenging, surprises around corners you don't expect! Our team had an awesome evening at the Post, from a catered dinner in the Cafe to great direction from the GameMaster Jacob to a last minute thrill of success! A great team building experience and tons of fun! We can't wait to come back for Part II!

    thumb Cindy Beatty
    September 25, 2022
  • My hubby and I host a Cousins Camp each year for our grandkids. This years theme was 'Mission Possible', so of course, we needed to do an Escape Room. The kids came back from Escape the Old Post in Harriston sooooo excited they could hardly get the words out fast enough! They loved, loved, loved it! Jacob was awesome to work with. SO FUN!!! Definitely need to do this again next year!

    thumb Margaret Oakey
    August 14, 2022

    Just….wow!!!! What an amazing time we had at ‘Escape the Old Post’! Not easy to find something that the whole family enjoys…but this was bang on. We booked the excursion for my son’s 17th birthday and we had an absolute blast. Delicious food and lovely folks in the cafe, and Jacob was a fantastic Games Master. They were kind enough to personalize the experience for the birthday boy, by hiding a few of our gifts and incorporating some of his favourite music, as well. The clues and puzzles were varied, so there were twists and turns to suit everyone’s way of thinking. Definitely recommend for a family outing, or team building event for the office. Put on your thinking caps and get ready for some fun!

    thumb Kerri Gallop
    August 2, 2022

    If you are looking for an extremely fun way to spend a couple of hours then this escape room experience is it. Packed with excitement from the beginning to the end. The 90 minutes goes by so fast and leaves you wanting more which is what makes this escape room unique…you can come back to finish the second half another day! Loved it and looking forward to our return 😀.

    thumb Wendy L
    July 26, 2022
  • Amazing experience, gamemaster was so helpful. Puzzles were witty and made sense (but a little tricky). Overall great time

    thumb Tristan Majetic
    July 15, 2022

    Escape the Old Post was a very fun experience. There were six of us in the group and we all had escape room experience, and we only made it about 60% of the way through. This escape room is definitely different than other ones but super fun. The game master explains everything and does a really good job helping you out through the game. I would highly suggest anyone go here and have an amazing time. We will definitely be going back the next time we are in Elora.

    thumb Sarah Peck
    July 10, 2022

    The girls had alot of fun doing the escape room. They are already looking forward to coming back and trying again.

    thumb Kim Lewis
    July 9, 2022

The Postmaster’s Riddle

The Old Post has seen its share of renovations in the last couple of years, and no area more so than the attic.

For more than a century, this magical space was only accessed by an old wooden ladder through a small hatched opening in the second storey ceiling. The potential of this mostly forgotten floor was begging to be explored.

Once restoration of the first and second floors were complete in early 2016, interest inevitably turned upward to the mysterious and completely untouched third floor. With unique characteristics such as a clock tower, a 1,200 pound bell, the small “archer’s” room with six slender windows, and the massive central skylight structure, the design possibilities were extraordinarily interesting to say the least.

But what to do…

WHO WAS THE MCCREADY FAMILY?

It was obvious from our research that the McCready family was going to play a very prominent role in the history of The Old Post. Alexander McCready was appointed Postmaster of Harriston in 1859.

He was a respected citizen of the town, but was also remembered as somewhat of an enigma, being a bit eccentric and known to be a master storyteller. Holding the position for 45 years, he handed over the title to his eldest son Robert in 1905.

 

ALEXANDER MCCREADY’S DREAM

Sadly, Alexander died in 1908, just a few years before the construction of the Old Post began in 1912. His long-desired dream of gazing up at the four storey clock tower and hearing the ringing of the bell was not meant to be.

Robert McCready was Postmaster until 1939 when he, in turn, handed over the reins to his only son, Archibald. This was the first time a third generation appointment had ever been made. Archibald was Postmaster until he retired in 1970.

Now, how does all this relate to what’s been happening on the third floor?

Well, even though old Alexander McCready died prior to construction of the Old Post, his influence has very much been felt.

Amid the cleanup of the third floor, some documents were discovered hidden in an old crate.

Two of the articles within these documents became immediately noteworthy.

 

The first was a rudimentary sketch of the third floor dated 1914, diagramming possible design features and concepts, and covered in extensive notes and descriptions.

The second article was a lyrical poem or “riddle” written by none other than old Mr. Alexander McCready. It was instantly clear that the two articles were related and that somebody, predictably Robert McCready, envisioned the construction of a fairly peculiar endeavour on the third floor of The Old Post based on his late father’s riddle.

 

Why the plan never became a reality is a mystery.

Perhaps the fact that the country would soon join the First World War has something to do with it.

After being hidden away for more than a century, the combined vision of Alexander and Robert McCready has come to fruition.

 

Can you solve The Postmaster’s Riddle?

Create A Complete Escape Experience

Complete your Escape the Old Post experience with a visit to the Café before or after your game!

The Café at the Old Post is a community-focused café offering locally-sourced specialty coffee, handcrafted sandwiches and soups, baked-in-the-building sweet treats, and soft serve ice cream. A curated selection of Ontario craft beer, cider and cocktails are also available.

The Café features indoor seating, and a street-side courtyard that offer the perfect setting for pre-game strategizing and post escape room debriefing.

For larger groups, the Post Script event space on the lower level can be booked before or after your game.

FAQs

Booking Questions

How much does the Postmaster’s Riddle game cost?
$35 + HST per person. Special rates for students and seniors. See online booking for details.

Is there a minimum number of people who can play? What is the maximum number of players?
We recommend 6-8 players for the Postmaster’s Riddle game. If you’re up for a challenge, you can book with only 4 people. We do not allow more than 10 people, or less than 4, to play at one time.

What age do the players need to be?
We recommend that the players be 13 years of age or older. Younger players are welcome to join their family or group, but may find the puzzles to be challenging. All participants will pay the regular pricing, regardless of age (student and senior rates available).

How do I book/reserve my game?
All of our bookings are completed online on our website. Click here to check the availability of time slots for Escape the Old Post. All modifications and changes to your game booking are also completed online before you and your team arrive.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule my game?
We require 48 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your game. Cancellations, re-scheduling and other modifications to your booking should be completed online. Check your confirmation email for links to modify your booking.

Can I change the number of players once my game has been booked?
Yes, you can add players to a maximum of 10 people. All booking changes and additional player fees must be paid in advance of arriving at Escape the Old Post.

Do you offer group rates or bookings for special events?
For special group rates, please contact escapetheoldpost@gmail.com for more information.

Is there a room we can rent before or after our game? What can we do before or after we play?
Yes, if you are looking for a private area for your group, please contact us at 519-510-2222. We can assist with this as well as arrange potential food and beverage options. We also highly recommend local restaurant Harry Stone’s Social House. Contact the restaurant directly to make a reservation for your group.

Before or after you play, there are many other local experiences that we suggest to enhance your time. Just ask one of our customer service staff members and they will be happy to give you some suggestions. You can also visit the Treasures of Minto website for more details on local attractions and events, restaurants, accommodations and more.

Game Questions

How long is each game?
Each game will be a maximum of 90 minutes to complete. The introduction will take about 10 minutes and after the game we’ll have some time to chat and take a picture of your group. You can expect to leave Escape the Old Post at the latest 2 hours after your booked time begins.

Does the room have any scary elements or require physical effort?
Our game focuses primarily  on the mental challenge  of solving puzzles. The experience is not intended to be scary. There are some narrow walkways and spaces that you may find challenging. You are never locked in or confined to a space – there are always distinct exits. There may be light lifting, twisting, turning, reaching, stepping up or down, or kneeling to solve or find clues. There may be some elements that may not be suitable for children under the age of 13.

Can I bring my phone/ bags/packs into the game?
No. We do not allow ANY technology to be brought into the game. There will be a safe place to lock up your cell phones and belongings.

Do you give us hints if we get stuck on a puzzle?
Staff members will be monitoring your game and will assist you with clues if your group asks for assistance.

Is there surveillance?
All game areas and public spaces have cameras. Cameras in the game zone allow us to observe your progress and assist you directly if your team requests a clue or other help. Surveillance also helps ensure the safety of you and your team.

Is everything in the room part of the challenge?
No. Items such as fire extinguishers, sprinklers, duct work and some fixtures/furniture may not be touched. These items will be clearly marked and will be discussed during your team’s game orientation.

Can I leave the room to go to the bathroom?
We have washroom facilities within the game playing zone. If for any reason you require leaving the game, the game will continue. You are not permitted to return to the game and no discounts and refunds will be given.

How often do you change the game/puzzle?
We will announce any new games or changes on our website and via social media.

How should I dress to play your games?
Please dress comfortably, in clothing that allows you to move comfortably, search, bend down and solve puzzles.

Are we actually locked in the room?
No, the door will not be locked. You can leave at any time though you are not permitted to return. If you exit, no refund or discount will be given.

Can participants be refused entry to the room?
Yes. For safety and insurance reasons, if it appears that a participant is intoxicated or behaving inappropriately, they will be refused entry. For everyone’s safety, we maintain the right to refuse any person(s) from entering our premises and/or the game room and no refund will be given.

Other Questions

Where should I park/how do we access Escape the Old Post?
Escape the Old Post is located on the 3rd floor of the historic former Harriston post office, in the centre of downtown Harriston. You can find directions here.

There is street parking in front of the building, and a free parking lot located behind the building. You can park outside of Escape the Old Post and enter through the doors on the right at the front of the building. Your gamemaster will meet you in the Armory (first floor) just before your game.

Are your games suitable for pregnant women, those with health conditions, or people on crutches?
You are required to sign a waiver prior to the start of your game. When you sign your waiver, you release us from any liability. You are to use your own judgement. As indicated on the waiver, any health conditions that may affect your participation should be disclosed to staff.

Is Escape the Old Post wheelchair accessible?
We have one game that is located on the 3rd floor of the building. Due to the building’s age and heritage designation, the building does not have an elevator. We apologize for any inconvenience.