Ten Thirty One Productions Shark Tank Update: Where Are They in 2026?
If you are a fan of the television show Shark Tank, you likely remember the unforgettable moment when Melissa Carbone walked into the room surrounded by terrifying, movie-quality monsters.
She pitched her horror entertainment company, Ten Thirty One Productions, and walked away with one of the most famous deals in the history of the show.
Mark Cuban agreed to invest a massive $2 million for a 20% stake in her live-action horror business. At the time, it was a record-breaking moment that left millions of viewers totally stunned.
But what actually happened after the cameras stopped rolling? Did the company survive the harsh realities of the live entertainment industry? Did Mark Cuban ever make his money back?
There is a lot of false information online regarding bankruptcy and closed events. Here is the ultimate 2026 update on Ten Thirty One Productions, the truth about the legal rumors, and exactly where founder Melissa Carbone is today.
Fast Facts: Ten Thirty One Productions
| Business Detail | Information |
| Founders | Melissa Carbone & Alyson Richards |
| Product | Live horror-themed entertainment and haunted attractions |
| Original Ask | $2,000,000 for 10% equity |
| Final Deal | $2,000,000 for 20% equity |
| Shark | Mark Cuban |
| Current Status (2026) | Acquired by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group |
What Was Ten Thirty One Productions?
Ten Thirty One Productions was an entertainment company based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2009 by Melissa Carbone and Alyson Richards, the company focused on creating immersive, interactive, and terrifying live-action horror experiences.
The company is best known for creating the world-famous Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. Carbone, who was working as an executive at a major media company, noticed how much people loved Halloween.
She decided to invest her life savings to launch a haunted hayride in Griffith Park. The event was a massive, instant hit.
From the moment guests drove into the parking lot, they were completely surrounded by heavy fog, creepy actors, and terrifyingly realistic sets.
Before even appearing on Shark Tank, the company was already highly successful. In just 17 nights of operation during the Halloween season, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride generated an impressive $1.8 million in revenue and $600,000 in pure profit.
The Record-Breaking Shark Tank Pitch
In October 2013, during Season 5 of Shark Tank, Melissa Carbone entered the tank to pitch Ten Thirty One Productions to the wealthy investors.
She asked the Sharks for $2 million in exchange for a 10% equity stake in the company. This gave her business a massive valuation of $20 million. She explained that she wanted the money to help take her haunted attractions across the United States.
The Sharks were incredibly impressed by her sales numbers, but the high valuation scared most of them away.
Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner all dropped out of the negotiations. Daymond John saw the vision and made an offer of $2 million, but he wanted a 40% stake in the company.
Carbone countered the offer, asking the room if anyone would do $2 million for 20%. Mark Cuban immediately jumped in and said, “I’ll take that offer.”
This agreement was Mark Cuban’s largest investment during his first five seasons on the show. It completely changed the future of Ten Thirty One Productions.
The Post-Tank Boom and Expansion
With a billionaire partner and the massive exposure from national television, Ten Thirty One Productions grew incredibly fast.
Mark Cuban’s involvement instantly opened doors for the business. Landowners, event spaces, and partners started calling the company directly, which saved them years of scouting for new locations.
Cuban also introduced Carbone to the CEO of Live Nation, a giant in the ticket and event industry, who became another major investor in the brand.
The company quickly expanded its list of frightening events:
- The New York Haunted Hayride: This new East Coast location was a huge success. In its very first year, it made 36% more money than the Los Angeles hayride did in its second year.
- The Great Horror Campout: A 12-hour, overnight immersive horror camping experience where guests were “hunted” by monsters in the dark.
- Ghost Ship: A terrifying haunted cruise experience set on a massive boat.
- Shadow House Films: A film production company designed to make horror movies based on their live attractions.
By the end of 2015, the company had nearly 1,000 cast members working across its different events to scare the public.
The Lawsuit and the Bankruptcy Myth
If you search the internet for updates on this company, you might find old rumors claiming that Ten Thirty One Productions filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018 because they ran out of money. This is completely false.
The company did face a major challenge, but it was not bankruptcy. In 2016, during an event in New York, a patron was injured when a fog machine fell on her. This unfortunate accident led to a very long and public lawsuit.
However, the courts eventually ruled in favor of Ten Thirty One Productions. The judges stated that the company was not negligent because a third-party vendor had installed the machine, and Ten Thirty One Productions did not have exclusive control over the equipment.
The legal battle was stressful and time-consuming, but the company survived and continued to bring in millions in revenue.
The 2018 Acquisition: Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group
In January 2018, Melissa Carbone made a massive business move. She officially sold Ten Thirty One Productions to the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.
Thirteenth Floor is the largest Halloween-themed entertainment company in the entire world. They own massive haunted houses, escape rooms, and scary festivals all across the country.
By joining forces, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride gained the massive financial backing of a giant corporation, ensuring the event would live on for years to come.
Mark Cuban’s risky $2 million investment paid off perfectly. When the company was sold, Cuban walked away with an estimated $2 million in pure profit after taxes.
He has proudly called Ten Thirty One Productions one of his most successful Shark Tank investments ever.
Is Ten Thirty One Productions Still in Business in 2026?
As a standalone company, the name Ten Thirty One Productions was retired after it was absorbed by the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. However, the events created by the company are still alive and terrifying fans in 2026.
The Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group is thriving today. They operate massive haunted attractions in major cities like Chicago, Phoenix, Houston, and San Antonio.
They also run “Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor,” a massive haunted festival on a real ocean liner in Long Beach, California.
Here is the 2026 status of the original Ten Thirty One events:
- Los Angeles Haunted Hayride: The flagship event is stronger than ever. The event moved to the Crystal Springs Picnic Area inside Griffith Park. The 2025 and 2026 seasons mark the 17th year of the hayride. The event now features massive celebrity crossovers. Recently, Cassandra Peterson (the famous horror host known as Elvira) took over the event with a special attraction called Elvira’s Trick or Treat Mayhem. Famous singer and actress Janelle Monáe also partnered with the event to create a highly stylized haunted party maze called Monáe Manor.
- The Great Horror Campout: If you were hoping to sleep in the woods with monsters, you are out of luck. This extreme camping event has been closed and on an indefinite hiatus since 2015.
- New York Haunted Hayride: While the brand expanded heavily in its early days, the New York attraction was eventually absorbed and replaced by other East Coast haunted houses run by the Thirteenth Floor brand.
Where Is Melissa Carbone Today?
Melissa Carbone is still a powerhouse in the entertainment world in 2026.
After selling her company, she did not simply take her money and step away. She became an owner and producer at the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, helping them run their global empire of scares.
She also expanded her business horizons far beyond Halloween. In 2018, Carbone created Tailgate Fest, a massive country music festival in Los Angeles.
Unlike normal concerts, Tailgate Fest allows fans to keep their tailgate parties going right next to the stage while the bands play. The festival has featured huge country and hip-hop stars like Nelly, Toby Keith, Brantley Gilbert, and Florida Georgia Line.
In addition to producing live music events, Carbone became a published author. She wrote a book called Ready, Fire, Aim: How I Turned a Hobby Into an Empire.
The book teaches other entrepreneurs how to take big risks, pitch to investors, and overcome their fear of failure.
Where Is Mark Cuban Today?
Mark Cuban remained on Shark Tank for over a decade, helping countless entrepreneurs grow their businesses. However, Cuban officially retired from the hit show in 2025 after Season 16.
Today, he continues to run the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, which provides low-cost prescription medications directly to consumers. He is also a minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team.
In early 2026, Cuban made headlines again by investing heavily in another live-event company called Burwoodland, proving he still believes deeply in the power and profitability of live entertainment.
Conclusion
The amazing story of Ten Thirty One Productions is a perfect example of how an incredible pitch can change a life. Melissa Carbone took a fun backyard hobby, turned it into a multi-million-dollar empire, and proved the doubting Shark Tank investors wrong.
Despite false internet rumors of bankruptcy and the stress of a major lawsuit, the company was a massive success that resulted in a highly profitable buyout for everyone involved.
Today, the spooky legacy of Ten Thirty One Productions lives on through the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group. Every October, thousands of people still climb aboard the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, ready to get the scare of a lifetime.
