DECATUR - Gary Moore has been designing and constructing haunted houses for nine years around Central Illinois, sometimes doing two a year. He and the volunteer group of about 30 people he calls his Creatures of the Night have worked on the Monticello Ghost Train, Bloomington's Creatures Crypt and the Decatur Jaycees' annual haunted house.

But the Decatur man hopes his current project, The Scream, rivals any haunted house the group has worked on.

It's not for the pleasure of scaring individuals out of their shoes, as they've literally done before, but to see Decatur Celebration continue.

The Scream will open Thursday in the former K's Merchandise warehouse at Mercer and Eldorado streets.

The haunted house, which runs until Nov. 1, is a fundraiser for the annual street festival.

Moore and his wife, Debbie, along with Kurt and Wendy Terry, have consistently volunteered their time to Decatur Celebration. When financial troubles surrounding its future surfaced, they wanted to help the best way they knew how.

"The Decatur Celebration was reaching out for fundraisers," Moore said. "We've worked with these haunted houses for a long time (and) we know the type of money it can generate."

The Creatures of the Night went to work Labor Day on the project, calling on other volunteers to help with constructing, providing materials and doing the scaring. Local sponsors and benefactors have donated much of the major materials, such as cardboard and wood.

The group had already amassed 1,500 volunteer hours two weeks before opening day, Moore said.

With 20 rooms of frightful fun, some of the rooms aren't as they appear, with twists and turns and surprises in every corner.

Moore's son, Adam, designed a lot of the rooms.

"Scary movies inspired a lot of that stuff," Adam Moore said of the Jason Voorhees forest, the Michael Myers "Halloween" setting and the farmhouse from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

"But a lot of it was designed behind the element of surprise," he said. "With this haunted house, we're trying to give people a little bit of everything - a little bit of a scare and little bit of a challenge to find their way through."

For an extra price, visitors can get a speed pass that lets them move to the front of the line. Concessions and souvenir t-shirts will be for sale.

Children under 7 years old will not be admitted, but they can enjoy Friendly Ghost Day on Sunday, Oct. 26, when lights will be on and masks will be off.

At a news conference, Celebration producer Fred Puglia said he anticipates 3,000 patrons will come through the haunted house, and the goal is to raise $20,000 toward the festival.

Ayn Owens, Celebration coordinator and media relations manager, said she has been impressed by the number of people who have volunteered their time to the project.

The Country Cloggers, the first act ever booked for Decatur Celebration, are also helping with the house, she said.

"With the amount of effort on this project, it shows how much people care about Decatur Celebration."

She added that they hope to have the haunted house every year as a fundraiser.

Gary Moore said he doesn't want the community to have the wrong idea about haunted houses: It's not all about blood, guts and gore. Moore prides himself on providing a safe and fun family event.

"Haunted houses are not what some people think they are," he said. "You hear a scream here and you hear a scream there and you hear laughter afterwards. Haunted houses are for a little spooky fun.

"We want this haunted house to be really good and do as much business for the Celebration as it can."

Anyone who wants to volunteer can attend a crew meeting at 4 p.m. Sunday at the haunted house location.

WHAT: The Scream haunted house.

WHEN: Oct. 2 to 4, 9 to 11, 16 to 19, 23 to 26 and 29 to Nov. 1; hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Sunday and 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

WHERE: 602 N. Mercer St., Decatur, behind Janes Cleaners.

TICKETS: $8 for general admission, $12 for a speed pass, $13 for combination tickets to The Scream and Terror on Washington Street in Clinton; advance tickets are $7 at Cub Foods and the Herald & Review.

ON THE WEB: www.decaturscream.com.

EXTRA: Children under 7 will only be admitted on Friendly Ghost Day, from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26. Admission is $4 per child and $1 for adults.

For private parties or tours at The Scream, call Ayn Owens at 423-4222.

aspates@herald-review.com|421-6986