When workers began to renovate the historic Creston Opera House 12 years ago, Dede Forrest knew she had to take advantage of the window of opportunity to build a haunted house.

“I have been wanting to do this ever since we gutted the building,” Forrest said last week as she conducted a tour through a maze of plywood walls. Forrest is a member of the Creston Booster Club, which owns the building. She noted that this is the first year that the renovated first floor will have electricity to power the lights and attractions needed for a haunted house.

The Haunted House Association’s website says that “Haunted houses have been making America scream for nearly 40 years,” and that haunted houses are a 100 percent American form of entertainment. The website also reports that more than 2,000 haunted attractions in the United States will charge admission this year.