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Thrill Builders on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost and how to buy escape rooms with immersive themed environments

Thrill Builders build custom attractions such as escape rooms, lasertag, haunted houses, mini golf, and more

MADISON, WISCONSIN: Life can get boring without some fun and when one needs an escape from the monotony, Thrill Builders come to the rescue building escape rooms for some excitement and adventure.

All customers need to do is share a unique idea with Thrill Builders and they will make the perfect escape room or game.

Thrill Builders build custom attractions such as escape rooms, mini escape games, lasertag, haunted houses, mini golf, and more. Along with this, they also specialize in making amazing games that are fun to play, and easy to run. They can also create immersive themed environments and displays. Thrill Builders are ready to make their big debut on ABC's 'Shark Tank' Season 15 Episode 5.

Thrill Builders founder Guy Kitchell will pitch his company Thrill Builders to the Sharks in the upcoming episode 5 of the popular show. The main question is will his pitch be able to strike a chord with the Sharks: Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, and guest Shark, Jason Blum. Let's learn more about Thrill Builders, its founder, and more. 

What is Thrill Builders?

Thrill Builders is a company located in Wisconsin, United States, that builds custom attractions like escape rooms, haunted houses, mini escape rooms, lasertag, and more. They can help customers create great games and can also make themed environments. Whether anybody needs a family entertainment center-themed or a photo-op built, they will deliver the best product.

They have a dedicated team of carpenters, themers, CAD drafters, artists, faux finish painters, and game designers, to help build customer's requests. Their shop consists of all the types of equipment like a 10-foot CNC machine, three welders and a metal fabrication station, a giant vented paint booth, forklifts, dock-height loading capabilities, that are required to build an escape room. They have more than 500 different escape room electronic consoles in stock.

Thrill Builders offers escape rooms, props, haunted attractions and more

Escape rooms are fun and fully immersive experiences and Thrill Builders can build complete escape rooms and turn-key escape rooms. Thrill Builders provides tiered production and installation options to fit any budget and customers can add a theme to their escape room with sound, scent, and lighting.

Customer can also select escape props they would like to have in their escape room from their wide collection of props. The DIY props which come with a list of instructions are easy to install and the company claims to have the largest selection of escape room props in the United States. 

Their team has professionals who are experienced in the theming and scenic building industry. Over the years, they have built many family entertainment centers, bowling venues, escape room complexes, and more and have their own production facility.

Thrill Builders also specializes in creating haunted attractions.

The team at Thrill Builders has built lasertag arenas for many FECs, bowling centers, Orlando attractions, and fun centers and aim to take lasertag to the next level.

According to their website, Thrill Builders also builds Mini golf courses and upon making a small investment, customers will require very little labor, electricity, and maintenance to keep the course running. Thrill Builders can build mini golf course – complete with animatronic installed at every hole.

Who is the founder of Thrill Builders?

Guy Kitchell is the founder of Thrill Builders. He is a prop builder who specializes in faux finishing, and management. He holds a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University. He also possesses a business degree from the University of Wisconsin and a degree from Edgewood College.

Along with Thrill Builders,  Kitchell is also the owner of other companies like Halloween FX and Klima Deodorant. Halloween FX is a business that revolves around Halloween decorations including props. Klima Deodorant provides deodorants and antiperspirants to treat and prevent extreme sweating. 

In the past, Guy worked hard to turn an empty building into a haunted house but it drew criticism as they used disabled veterans. The 1,500 square feet of a building was located in Westport and he wanted to make it into Wisconsin Scaryland. While having a chat with Channel 3000, he addressed the matter, and said, “Our backstory talks about this being an abandoned military hospital."

Kitchell hired a total of 37 people to work on the project including some mentally disabled individuals. He went on to say, “We didn’t mean to offend the disabled vets. In fact, my wife is a disabled vet, and an Army vet, and my lead fabricator is also a disabled vet. We have other Army vets and Air Force vets who are either volunteers or have been working at the haunt for the last 10, 11 months.”

At that time, the pro builder mentioned that haunted houses are not a reflection of the real world and they allow the people to step into a make-believe Halloween. He further added, “It’s a fantasy just like a video or a TV show or a movie. Our goal is just to create a fun place for kids and adults to come and see.”

What is the cost and how to buy Thrill Builders?

The cost of escape rooms and escape props can depend on various factors like size, the requirements for the room, and more. The range of complete escape rooms is between $40,000 to $70,000.  The prices of complete escape rooms are as follows: Pharaoh’s Revenge ($59,900), Enchanted Mine ($69,900), Captain’s Cove ($54,990), Haunted Mansion ($59,900), Wizards of Wormbly ($59,900), Alien Autopsy ($49,900), Gold Rush ($69,900), Disco Fever ($44,900), Piecemeal ($44,900), Hansel and Gretel ($69,900), Floor 23 ($69,900), Cryosleep ($59,900), Bunker 57 ($44,900), Eat or be Eaten ($49,900), Quick ViewWater Landing ($44,900).

Customers can simply order an escape room or any other product from the official website of Thrill Builders by following the steps mentioned below:

Contact the Thrill Builders: Gather all the information required.

Turnkey or DIY: Select how involved one would like to be with the project.

Choose themes: Customers can pick from 15 themes at present.

Sign the Contract: Draw the exact rooms to fit, using CAD software to show where everything goes. Make the needed changes if any.

Production Time: Everything will be built as per the customer's needs.

Shipping: Products will directly be shipped to the customer's location.

Unloading: Customers don't have to lift a finger. Products will be unloaded properly.

Installation: Thrill Builders will install the product.

Training: They will train customers about how to run the profitable room.

Support: Customers will get free support for the life of the room.

Customers have also left encouraging feedback on their website.

HM Entertainment said, "Thrill Builders is our preferred vendor and installer of escape rooms for family entertainment centers (FECs). They pride themselves on the quality, service, warranty, creativity, and durability they offer their customers."

Scott DeWeese commented, "We used Thrillbuilders for 2 room build-outs. Both rooms have run 5-star reviews from our customers since we opened the rooms 6 months ago. The Thrill Builder are very talented and can handle any job you have. Call them now!"

Where are Thrill Builders now?

Over the last couple of years, Thrill Builders has witnessed a beautiful journey from building just escape rooms to now creating games, turnkey rooms and so much more for their customers. Customers can get escape rooms, props, puzzles and games, turnkey rooms, and DIY kits from Thrill Builders. They currently have around 2K followers on their Instagram page. 

Who will steal the deal?

The million-dollar question is will Guy Kitchell's pitch be enough to get the right Shark on board? In the forthcoming episode of the show 'Shark Tank' Season 15, he'll have to impress all the Sharks: Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, and guest Shark, Jason Blum as well, to get an investor for his company. However, there is also a possibility that Sharks may not invest their hard-earned money in his business.

'Shark Tank' Season 15, Episode 5 airs on ABC on Friday, October 27, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like Thrill Builders, Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, American Ghost Walks and I Love Chamoy.

Missed episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, viewers can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.