The Ultimate Escape Challenge: Alcatraz’s Most Infamous Prison Breaks

Alcatraz—the ultimate escape room?

The island prison in San Francisco Bay imprisoned some of America’s most notorious criminals during its 29 years of operation. A great deal of them were mobsters, many of them were murderers, and all of them were tougher and scarier than any of the spooky characters that haunt the halls of Krakit Vancouver Escape Game.

While the most famous men to ever have the misfortune to sleep within its walls are undoubtedly Al Capone, James “Whitey” Bulger, and Robert Stroud, aka the Birdman of Alcatraz, they also have something else in common—they never attempted to escape Alcatraz.

That distinction belongs to just 36 of Alcatraz’s inmates. Here are the most notorious of the bunch.

Clarence “The Choctaw Kid” Carnes

Alcatraz’s youngest ever inmate was also involved in one of its most notorious inmate-guard standoffs, known as the Battle of Alcatraz. Clarence Carnes and several other prisoners seized weapons and held guards captive in their attempt to escape. It went horribly wrong, resulting in the death of three prisoners and two guards.

Frank Morris

Immortalized in the film Escape from Alcatraz and played by Clint Eastwood, Frank Morris was the mastermind behind arguably one of the most notorious prison breaks in history. He and two other inmates literally used a spoon to help dig their way to freedom, which in itself is impressive enough. The trio was never tracked down, but it’s unclear whether they perished in the Bay or made it out alive, possibly to Brazil.

Arthur “Doc” Barker

Though held in Alcatraz’s most secure unit—D-Block—Doc Baker and four other inmates managed to escape the prison and reach the island’s shore, where they began constructing a makeshift raft. The escape was foiled when the guards spotted them and, after Barker refused to surrender, opened fire, killing him and wounding one other.

John Paul Scott

John Paul Scott has the sole distinction of being the only Alcatraz escapee to make it to the San Francisco shore by swimming. He was also one of the last prisoners to escape from the infamous jail, along with Darl Lee Parker, after cutting through bars with a makeshift saw. Both were captured and re-incarcerated shortly after escaping.