FOR THE KIDS : Haunted Habitats : Three houses play host to all manner of ghosts, ghouls and goblins in an attempt to put children in the spirit of Halloween.

Do your kids groove on ghoulish surprises, repulsive zombies, spidery spectres and bloodied ape-like creatures around Halloween? Then take them to a haunted house and scare the pants off them.

And maybe yourself.

Ventura County has at least three haunted houses this year that register at varying points on the scare meter. Consider your child’s age and fright tolerance before leaving home.

The Ventura Jaycees have transformed the 8,000-square-foot livestock hall at the Ventura County Fairgrounds into “The Factory of Terror.” The factory is open daily through Oct. 31.

Kids will get a scare even before they go into the pitch-black interior. At the gallows by the front door, they’ll witness a scofflaw with a rope around his neck hang when the trapdoor drops open.

Inside, don’t be fooled by the cozy cafe, with its homey brick siding, plants, fireplace and happy patrons. In one moment, that pleasant scene will literally tear apart with a blast of noise and air and another surprise that will almost knock you off your feet.

In the cemetery, a hand comes out of a grave and what happens to the gravedigger is worse than death. Although not as bad as what happens in the dungeon room.

In other scenes, beware of cannibals, fluorescent tennis balls that come out of nowhere, shrinking walls, and dizzying dots. Attempt the mazes with someone who has a keen sense of direction. For all this and more, you pay a $6 admission fee.

It’s the 15th year the Jaycees have built a haunted house. It’s a fund-raiser that grosses about $60,000, according to Glen Jenkins, chairman of the event. Much of that covers construction expenses. Some goes to other participating Jaycee groups that prepare scenes. About $7,500 goes to local schools that provide 60 kids a day who are willing to dress up as frightful characters and scream their tonsils out. The Ventura Jaycees net about $15,000.

During the Halloween season, 15,000 to 20,000 kids and adults brave the Jaycees’ haunted house, which takes 30 to 45 minutes to experience, Jenkins said. Each year the scenes are designed and built from scratch by the members.

The organization doesn’t recommend the “Factory of Terror” for kids under 7.

The same goes for the Simi Valley Jaycees’ “Terror Manor II--Halls of Doom” at Simi’s Mountain Gate Plaza shopping center.

Regardless of age, no one will be turned away, said Randy Greene, Jaycees president. “They’re not heart-pounding scares.” The decision is up to the parents.

“Some 5- and 6-year-olds can handle it, and some 9- and 10-year-olds can’t,” Greene said.

The Jaycees have taken over two empty retail stores in the shopping center where they spent the last six weeks building the various scenes.

Kids enthralled with bad boy Jason from the horror movie series “Friday the 13th” will get a dose of Jason’s special brand of terror.

They’ll pass the guillotine room and the cemetery where ghoulish surprises await them. Watch out for monsters in the maze.

Kids may not have seen Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic “Psycho,” but that won’t matter when they visit the shower scene for some panicky moments.

“They will be scared,” Greene said.

The ghouls, spooks and other repulsive characters are played by Simi Valley high school students and members from the Santa Susana Repertory Company.

The Jaycees hope to raise $30,000 for various charities from their second annual haunted house. “Terror Manor II” is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Oct. 31. The hours are 7 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children under 12.

Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District will open its spook house one day only, Oct. 31, for the younger set from 5 to 10 years old.

“We don’t do real bloody, gory things,” said Rob Giles, recreation supervisor for the district.

Giles and his crew set up the haunted house using four classrooms at the Camarillo Community Center. Kids will find monsters, scary lights and a graveyard among the chilling sights.

The district also has scheduled other Halloween activities at the center on Oct. 31. Game and food booths will be open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. A costume parade and contest will start at 6:30 p.m. The haunted house will be in operation from 6 to 9 p.m. and will cost $1.

* WHERE AND WHEN

Ventura Jaycees’ “Factory of Terror” is open daily through Oct. 31 at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. Hours are 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Cost is $6.

Simi Valley Jaycees’ “Terror Manor II” is at the Mountain Gate Plaza, First Street and Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley. Dates are Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Oct. 31; hours are 7 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Cost is $4 for adults and $3 for kids under 12.

Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District’s Halloween Thrillfest will be at the Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St., Camarillo. Haunted house is open 6 to 9 p.m. and costs $1.