Nolan Zweig, currently in his second year at UC Irvine, felt compelled to create a haunted house, driven by his lifelong fascination with theme parks and immersive storytelling. Partnering with college friends Srihas Payidiparty and Cameron Romeis, they launched OC Fright Nights, beginning with their inaugural event, Irvine Haunt, in Fall 2023, which attracted over 150 guests at a friend’s house.
Their latest endeavor, The Phantom Tavern: Haunted Speakeasy, is a 21-and-over immersive experience set in the 1920s, hosted in partnership with Playground Mini Golf in Huntington Beach. This immersive attraction combines live actors, practical effects, and storytelling, transporting guests to 1926 during Prohibition.
Over the years, they evolved from free community “home haunts” to structured events, including the Scarecrow Haunted Maze in 2024 and Scarecrow II: The Curse of Grant Manor in 2025. They boast over 2,000 attendees at their previous events, showcasing a strong commitment to community and collaboration with volunteer actors.
Now operating with a focus on tailored, venue-specific experiences, they aim to create seasonal, year-round attractions, with a potential holiday event on the horizon. Each friend remains engaged in their respective professional fields, yet their ambition to make OC Fright Nights a full-time venture continues to drive their creativity and passion for themed entertainment.
