Island Escape Room
Unlocking Fun in Southern Illinois: Island Escape Room Brings Puzzle-Based Entertainment to Carbondale
If you’re looking for a fun, mind-bending way to spend an hour in Carbondale, Island Escape Room is ready to deliver. This new entertainment venue invites guests to step into immersive, story-driven adventures that test teamwork, creativity, and quick thinking. Each unique challenge is carefully crafted to keep players engaged and on their toes.
Strategically located near Southern Illinois University and Carbondale’s downtown, Island Escape Room is quickly becoming a go-to destination for students, families, corporate groups, and visitors alike. Behind the scenes is local entrepreneur Forrest Palis, whose passion for puzzles and interactive storytelling inspired him to bring this exciting, group-based entertainment option to Southern Illinois.
Palis had a goal: to add a second escape room experience to the venue. But before expanding, he knew he needed to strengthen the foundation of his business—get more organized and build a financial plan that would support long-term growth. That’s when he turned to the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU for guidance.
With help from the SBDC team, Palis explored market research to better define his target audience, fine-tuned his marketing strategy, and gained the tools to understand, track, and forecast his business financials. “It was a fantastic experience—a little stressful, but overall wonderful,” he says, noting that he plans to continue using SBDC services as the business grows.
Palis already has a theme in mind for his second room and hopes to add a third in the near future. His long-term vision includes franchising Island Escape Room and bringing his brand of interactive entertainment to more communities across the region.