The Old Courthouse Catacombs are moving to a new location, and have a new name too, after a dangerous gas was detected.

The Old Courthouse Catacombs and House of Lecter

Every October downtown Evansville gets a little spookier when the Old Courthouse Catacombs and House of Lecter open for the season. These two haunted houses have been around for years and are popular attractions for haunt enthusiasts. According to the website, the Old Courthouse Catacombs and House of Lecter have been producing the annual haunted houses for more than 40 years, with the first haunted house opening in 1980.

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What gives the Old Courthouse Catacombs an added spooky edge, is the fact that the haunted house itself is located in tunnels beneath the Old Courthouse in Evansville. This year the Old Courthouse Catacombs will be in a new location and also have a new name.

The Catacombs of Doom

This year the Old Courthouse Catacombs have transformed into the Catacombs of Doom, and they will be located underneath the House of Lecter. Here is a statement about the move from the Old Catacombs website:

The Old Courthouse Catacombs HAS MOVED and will be OPEN This HALLOWEEN Season!

The Old Courthouse Catacombs has moved from the Old Courthouse to its new location in the CREEPY underground CATACOMBS beneath the House of Lecter. Two Haunted Houses One beneath the Other Twice the Scare The House of Lecter and The Catacombs of Doom The Ghostly Spirits and Grisly Creatures have moved from the Old Courthouse to their new HAUNT in the Creepy Catacombs of Doom Beneath the House of Lecter… Where the Haunting continues…. Details coming soon!

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Why The Big Move?

After being underneath the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse in Evansville for years, many have wondered why the big move. According to our friends at Eyewitness News, the answer is scarier than any haunted house, radon was detected inside the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse.

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According to the EPA, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.

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Eyewitness News says that at the moment the cost to remedy this issue is currently unknown. It's safe to say that the Old Courthouse Catacombs, now Catacombs of Doom, have made the best choice for the safety of their employees and guests.

LOOK: How Halloween has changed in the past 100 years

Stacker compiled a list of ways that Halloween has changed over the last 100 years, from how we celebrate it on the day to the costumes we wear trick-or-treating. We’ve included events, inventions, and trends that changed the ways that Halloween was celebrated over time. Many of these traditions were phased out over time. But just like fake blood in a carpet, every bit of Halloween’s history left an impression we can see traces of today.

Gallery Credit: Brit McGinnis

Source: Evansville’s Old Courthouse Catacombs Moves to New Location Due to Radon Being Detected