Founders Launched OC Fright Nights Attraction
UC Irvine graduates have brought their professional haunted experience to Huntington Beach this month.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Food and Drink
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Three former home haunt operators have officially launched OC Fright Nights, a professional haunted attraction business. Their latest production, The Phantom Tavern: Haunted Speakeasy, is currently hosted at Playground Mini Golf in Huntington Beach.
Why it matters
The founders have transitioned from residential hobbyists to professional creators, aiming to expand their seasonal entertainment brand into a full-time venture. This move marks their departure from home-based haunt production as they pursue year-round event development.
The group hosted over 2,000 guests during their residential haunted attraction years. The current event at Playground Mini Golf requires attendees to be at least 21 years of age.
The players
Nolan Zweig
He is a UC Irvine graduate and co-founder of the professional haunted attraction company OC Fright Nights.
Srihas Payidiparty
He is a UC Irvine graduate and co-founder of the professional haunted attraction company OC Fright Nights.
Cameron Romeis
He is a UC Irvine graduate and co-founder of the professional haunted attraction company OC Fright Nights.
Playground Mini Golf
This is the Huntington Beach venue serving as the partner and host for the current haunted speakeasy experience.
The details
The founders, who maintain professional careers in engineering, marketing, and finance, design immersive events featuring live actors, practical effects, and coordinated audio sequences. Their newest experience features a 1926-themed speakeasy setting integrated with a 9-hole mini-golf course.
Timeline
Fall 2023: The team held the inaugural Irvine Haunt for 150 guests.
2024: The group produced the Scarecrow Haunted Maze.
2025: The founders produced Scarecrow II: The Curse of Grant Manor.
October 2026: The Phantom Tavern and mini-golf events were held.
Winter 2026: A potential holiday-themed event is scheduled.
Industry Dynamics
This venture follows the established industry trend of independent creators scaling residential hobby projects into professional pop-up event businesses. By partnering with established venues, these founders are positioning themselves to compete with larger commercial seasonal entertainment operators.
The Phantom Tavern event is strictly reserved for guests aged 21 and older due to the speakeasy theme. Interested participants can book their attendance through the group's online portal.
The takeaway
Transitioning from a residential hobby to a professional business requires careful venue selection and thematic consistency. Aspiring entrepreneurs can learn from this model by leveraging existing infrastructure like local golf courses to lower initial overhead costs.
What happens next
The founders have scheduled a potential holiday-themed event for the upcoming Winter 2026 season.
Further reading
Learn more about local culinary and leisure events in the Food and Drink section.
More information
To book your visit or check availability, visit the OC Fright Nights reservation portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Times.
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