What can you do in 60 minutes?

Watch a TV show? Bake some bread? Take a nap?

Counter an evil espionage organization planning a nuclear attack on Canada?

OK, that last one sounds a little far-fetched.

But if it appeals to you then head to the Diefenbunker, the federal government’s cold war-era underground headquarters turned museum in Carp in rural west Ottawa.

The Diefenbunker Museum has teamed up with Escape Manor, an Ottawa company that specializes in the new entertainment phenomenon of escape rooms - specially-designed theme rooms that challenge players to find and follow a series of clues and escape the room under a set time.

They’ve managed to turn an entire floor of the 4-story, 100-thousand square foot underground bunker into the world’s largest escape room.

The scenario is that spies have infiltrated the Diefenbunker and are planning a nuclear strike on Canadian soil. You and your team have one hour to stop it. (So, technically, you aren't escaping the room so much as you're escaping nuclear disaster. No pressure!) 

“You have to complete a whole series of tasks, solve puzzles, go through different rooms and then ultimately come back and work together for the final piece where you'll stop the actual launch sequence," says Escape Manor’s Steve Wilson.

Unlike a specially-constructed escape room, the designers can’t actually build or modify anything at the historic site. Instead, they use the existing rooms with a few added props and hidden clues. The sheer size and floorplan of the museum also becomes part of the challenge.

“We thought it would be a great way to interpret our facility in new ways and bring out different audiences, bring out younger audiences who don't really have a connection with the cold war," says Megan Lafreniere, Curatorial and Marketing Manager at the Diefenbunker Museum.

Escape the Diefenbunker takes place Thursday through Sunday evenings. The cost is $30 per person. Each hour involves a team of 12 players who break up into three groups, each with a different objective.

Good luck. We're all counting on you!