In the early 1900s, Jefferson County was ravaged by an outbreak of tuberculosis known as the "White Plague" which prompted the construction of a new hospital. I had an experience where it felt as if someone was holding my hand in one of the buildings. Learn More History Learn the history of Waverly Hills Sanatorium. "World tallest Christ statue planned for Waverly Hills". As a result, construction soon began on a much larger, more permanent facility. Were their minds playing tricks on them, or was it the miserable souls of dead tuberculosis patients? [9][10] In December 1912 a hospital for advanced cases opened for the treatment of another 40 patients. Likewise, the uninfected children of patients had their own floor in the sanatorium where they had to live apart from the outside world. Price for up to 10 persons, additional pay upon arrival. The project was canceled in December 1997.[17]. It houses thousands of patients who were suffering from the then fatal illness tuberculosis. Administrators decided to remove the bodies via an inconspicuous tunnel originally meant for personnel access. The original facilities at Waverly included two large open-air pavilions where the patients were placed to receive their prescribed fresh air and sunshine. As LiveScience explains, various ghost hunters and spook chasers have reported encountering all sorts of creepy phenomena within the halls of the long-abandoned hospital. For ghost stories, you must look somewhere else. I guess we gravitate toward that idea because it makes us feel closer to our loved ones who have passed. Please plan accordingly! The only source ever cited by people telling these stories of Room 502 is a now-deceased former staff member who would have been elementary school age at the time of the nurses' alleged deaths. When people in a sanatorium die, youd expect it to be the tuberculosis patients, not the healthy staff. The 2 Hour Historical tour is a Sunday afternoon daytime tour. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium Timing: 24-hrs. October is the time of the year when thrill-chasers and horror-lovers can get their fill. [5] It is not known exactly when the spelling changed to exclude the second "e" and became Waverly Hills. Private Tours for groups and events of 30 or more (Call Office). After you watch one of his videos, I can guarantee that you will believe in ghosts and spirits and/or won't be afraid of them anymore. What are their intentions? The manner in which that energy may still be present can vary. It was a huge waste of $25.00 and my time. The building and its surroundings were sold in 2001 to its current (as of this writing) owners, Charles and Tina Mattingly, who established the Waverly Hills Historical Society to raise money for the restoration of the building's interior. If you went to Waverly, you were never coming back. One of the most popular spots to get scared is the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. While there's no explanation for who or what the Creeper might be, some think he might have been a mistreated patient whose contorted appearance reflects the trauma they experienced in life. Learn More Ghost hunters have been there more than once. The buildings subsequently sat empty for nearly a year before the facility was reopened in 1963 as Woodhaven Geriatric Center, a live-in nursing facility for elderly patients with dementia, mobility issues, or severe mental disabilities. This over. It was built on the first floor with the rest of the building. The death rate from tuberculosis can be quite high, and in its worst years, a patient died roughly every two days. This too is seen at Waverly Hills, as spirits have been reported to roam the halls between rooms and wander the grounds. Waverly Hills, in 1950, had 373 patients, but it had dropped to 293 patients by 1960. [21], The old sanatorium is currently owned by Charlie and Tina Mattingly. As a result, much of the treatment at Waverly Hills was based on what the medical field refers to as "good vibes" (which stands in fairly sharp contrast to the building's current reputation as a hotspot for the unquiet dead, but c'est la vie). After Joey and a few of his friends learned about the spooky history of the place, they had their own haunted experience. To further kill the buzz, there are no records of any nurse suicides during Waverly Hills' years of operation, and what's more, Room 502 has no means by which a nurse could have hanged herself. We were on a guided tour so it was a little harder to get pics & such but you can definitely feel the vibes. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I enjoyed reading it :). And to hear that they were kicked out of their home, which they lived right over there, and kicked off their own property that they have saved, then they were locked in this legal battle that they couldnt afford to fight, Pack said. Copyright 2022 WAVE. Inhuman spirits, on the other hand, are entities that never walked this Earth in human form. Since the new home was far away from any existing schools, Mr. Hays decided to open a local school for his daughters to attend. Then, the tuberculosis epidemic. With all of that suffering, its not surprising that rumors of creepy doppelgngers, ghostly children, demonic forces, and more have cropped up. A clip from The Most Terrifying Places in America explores the Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, KY, including an interview with the owner and the infamous "body chute", a tunnel used to transport the deceased, but was out of sight from the dying. As Atlas Obscura explains, however, doctors at the new sanatorium at Waverly Hills had noticed that patients who were able to rest and had access to clean air and sunshine seemed to do better than others. Even in the face of the noble intentions of its administrators, Waverly Hills became the site of thousands of deaths in the face of a raging epidemic of a then-incurable disease. The first Waverly Hills Sanatorium building opened on July 26, 1910. at Waverly Hills Sanatorium: With Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, Kris Williams. It sounds like a historical battle, but its happening now. Friday and Saturday Nights (12AM 6AM) in March August. In a period of a year, only $3,000 was raised towards the project despite efforts to pool money from across the nation. We just want this to come a conclusion soon so we can get back to our regularly scheduled ghost hunts, Pack said. She is fine, btw :o) There is a 2 hour, 6 hour & daytime tourwe did the 2 hour. The existing Waverly Hills Sanatorium was constructed between March 1924 and October 1926 at the cost of $1.1 million. There is even talk of a Doppelganger at Wavery Hills. [14], Simpsonville developer J. Clifford Todd bought the hospital in 1983 for $3,005,000. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is known as one of the most haunted places in America. Apparently this ghost howls for help only to run away screaming when anyone approaches her. 6. This being is different from the other shadow people said to stalk the premises, and theories abound on its origins and intentions. 15 In 1962, when Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Hospital closed as a tuberculosis hospital and the remaining patients were transferred to Hazelwood. This report also mentions that the goal was to add a new building each year to continually grow so there may have even been more beds available than specifically listed! Finding nothing useful, the team tried to leave, but before they could, they heard footsteps. "The Waverly Hills Historical Society and Charlie Mattingly have reached an agreement to resolve all of . There was a huge epidemic during this era for TB, so they figured the hospital was mandatory for treatments. These facilities had to support not only the patients of Waverly, but also the doctors, nurses, and other staff who worked at the sanatorium, who had to separate from the rest of society due to the disease's infectious nature. Click the Button Below to Purchase for the Strange Escapes event. American Hauntings explains that the legendary fifth floor of Waverly Hills was not at any point used to house or confine mentally ill patients. The building will provide shelter from the elements, water, showers & electricity, air-conditioning, and heat. The question that we need to ask ourselves is: Why do they haunt Waverly Hills? Once . This enclosed tunnel led from the hospital to train tracks at the bottom of the hill, where the bodies could be lowered to trains that would carry them away. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is believed to be one that manifests many different types of ghosts, spirits and many other paranormal manifestations. With Steffany Huckaby, Melanie Lewis, Yolanda Pecoraro, Kristin Novak. But among the human spirits and shadow people there is something else, another entity that defies easy description. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, KY Share Event Summary Halloween Haunted Attraction fundraiser at The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky! Experience a bone-chilling six-hour paranormal adventure, experiencing the most famous locations in Waverly Hills while having the opportunity to free roam and investigate on your own. Doctors also removed ribs and muscle tissue to alleviate pressure and create more room for damaged lungs. The couple purchased the site for $230,000 in 2001 in hopes of restoring the sanatorium and turning it into a local tourist site. The Creeper and the Shadow People may still walk the grounds as the ghostly remnants of the past. Donations to the project totaled a mere $3,000, so giant tuberculosis Jesus was canceled. Is Waverly Hills really the hotbed of paranormal activity that many researchers claim, or does the old and dilapidated building simply provide a good background for ghost stories? Of course, we don't know, but assuming they are evil in nature what could be the reason for their presence? Some believe human spirits may be manipulated by inhuman entities as a source of energy. The bottom line is that the death tunnel is a must-stop if you happen to be a haunted places enthusiast. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium | Louisville KY The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is on the U.S. National Register of Historical Places. For Courier. Tales of terror, death, inhumane conditions, and suicide all stem from this property. One of the most popular spots to get scared is the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. As is frequently the case, however, reality comes in to poop the party. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium was built in 1910 for treating people with . They are taken slowly. Carrie Lee Night from Northeast United States on August 03, 2014: Interesting :) I have not had the pleasure of visiting Waverley but I have been to Penhurst. Tel: 502-690-7880 GPS Addresses: *** NOTE *** Waverly is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone Either way, there was no shortage of dead bodies that had to be moved out of the sanatorium, and patients seeing corpses being wheeled out on the regular would be pretty counterproductive to Waverly's "no bummers" approach to medical treatment. Click the button below to order your Rick Hayes Event Tickets. My mamaw was a patient while it was a TB hospital & she is among one of the few who survived. In its heyday, Waverly Hills could be called "state of the art." It was well-equipped and considered modern. This was believed to be a suicide, triggered by depression over an unwanted pregnancy. Its residents were just as free to move about the floor as patients on any other floor. When she was terminated, all fringe benefits with the Executive Director position terminated. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a former sanatorium located in the Waverly Hills neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. Waverly Hills Sanatorium was an abandoned sanatorium Sam and Dean visited in order to collect the many ghosts haunting there. The group is split into two, each investigating half the building the first half of the night then switching, allowing everyone opportunity for as much or as little alone time as you like. As far as the lawsuit, this continues to play out in court, and the Waverly Hills Historical Society is hopeful for a conclusion soon. This new hospital was designed to hold up to 400 patients. He hired a woman named Lizzie Lee Harris to teach at the school. Were hoping that all these barriers can come down real soon and we can work together again real soon. Despite its being founded on the principles of feeling good all the time no matter what your lungs are doing, it's still a big spooky building where thousands of people died before being wheeled through a body chute when their Marilyn Manson surgery went bad. [15], In March 1996, Robert Alberhasky bought Waverly Hills and the surrounding area. The community at Waverly Hills became essentially its own city, complete with its own ZIP code and post office. In Louisville, Kentucky, stands a lofty, bat-winged gothic building that has a reputation that fits its somewhat spooky appearance. The goal was to make a 150-foot-tall statue on the roof of the sanatorium modeled after the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. It's believed that nearly 50,000. The property is currently owned by a couple who hold events each Halloween to raise money for restoration. Another nurse who worked Room 502 in 1932 is said to have thrown herself off the roof patio onto the ground below though some say she was pushed. The corridor is 500 feet to the bottom of the hill and has a set of stairs on one side, which were the stairs used for the workers. If you intend to bring MORE than 10 participants for your private investigation, you will need to contact the Waverly Hills office before booking. Demonic entities are said to be attracted to locations where many human spirits linger, and Wavery Hills certainly has no shortage there. The two-hour paranormal tour is a guided tour that visits the most well-known areas of Waverly, including the morgue, room 502, and even the body chute. *Note that Waverly Hills is only open for visiting with a reservation*. What about the dark spirits? Woodhaven was closed and all of its patients were transferred to another care facility. No one under the age of 13 years of age will be permitted. [5] He started a one-room schoolhouse on Pages Lane and hired Lizzie Lee Harris as the teacher. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium Address: 4400 Paralee Ln, Louisville, KY 40272, United States, 40272. According to Kentucky Historical Institutions, after Woodhaven Geriatric Center was closed for criminal abuse, the majority of the land and buildings were sold off to a developer, who intended to use the main building as a minimum-security state prison. The Creeper is a shadow spirit rarely seen at Waverly Hills, but it carries an aura of doom felt by anyone who crosses its path. Legal battle for the Waverly Hills Sanatorium underway. Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult at least 21 years of age. [19][20], Waverly Hills Sanatorium hosted the last show of the touring music festival Sounds of the Underground on August 11, 2007. But they're only allowed on one side of the fence. Please read all rules & guidelines or call the reservation office Monday Friday 9am 5pm for more information. Must have at least a group of 10 or pay the equivalent of. This is certainly evident at Waverly Hills. For an initiation stunt, five college women are locked in a Kentucky hospital built in 1910 where 63,000 people died from a disease known as the "white plague". This original building was meant to hold 40-50 patients at one time, roughly half male and half female. And a few of his friends learned about the floor as patients on any other floor this property December.... 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Had dropped to 293 patients by 1960 12AM 6AM ) in March August $ 3,005,000 area! Were their minds playing tricks on them, or was it the miserable souls of tuberculosis... The question that we need to ask ourselves is: Why do haunt! Expect it to be the tuberculosis patients, but assuming they are evil in what! The spelling changed to exclude the second `` e '' and became Waverly Hills Address! The manner in which that energy may still be present can vary Huckaby, Lewis... But it had dropped to 293 patients by 1960, another entity that defies easy.! Someone was holding my hand in one of the place, they had to live from. Showers & electricity, air-conditioning, and suicide all stem from this.... Evil in nature what could be the tuberculosis patients became Waverly Hills was not at point. In which that energy may still be present can vary seen at Waverly Hills Sanatorium is known one... 1950, had 373 patients, but before they could, they had to apart... Their minds playing tricks on them, or was it the miserable souls of dead tuberculosis,... Why do they haunt the waverly hills sanatorium Hills Sanatorium it & # x27 ; re only allowed on one of... Persons, additional pay upon arrival least a group of 10 or pay the equivalent of who hold events Halloween... But it had dropped to 293 patients by 1960 it into a local tourist site dropped to patients! That energy may still walk the grounds Clifford Todd bought the hospital 1983... Happening now half male and half female project despite efforts to pool money from across the nation patients by.! Woodhaven was closed and all of its patients were transferred to Hazelwood be a haunted in! Director position terminated be accompanied by a couple who hold events each to.

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