Cancer-causing gas forces haunted house shift this Halloween

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) – The Catacombs of Doom haunted house announces a new change for the upcoming Halloween season due to environmental health risks.

In a social media post, the Old Courthouse Catacombs announced the location has been moved to a new location. Officials say they will be moving beneath the House of Lecter in Downtown Evansville.

Vanderburgh County Councilmember, Bob Deig, confirms this shift is due to Radon being detected in the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse.

The Environmental Protection Agency say Radon is a naturally radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. The gas can’t be seen or smelt and testing is the only way to know the level of exposure. It is said to also be the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

More health risks of Radon can be found on the EPA website here .

During the Vanderburgh County Budget Hearings, councilmembers say unsafe levels of the gas was detected in the subbasement of the Old Courthouse. They say the cost to remediate this issue is unknown at this time.

The haunted houses are set to open on September 27.

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