Although Waverly Hills did their best to make life as comfortable as possible for their patients and their families, nothing was going to truly make things better until a cure for the disease was found. The Waverly Hills Historical Society runs tours by reservation only each year, March through August.There are three main types of tours; Guided Tours follow a strict path with a tour guide, Public Investigations that allow free roam for a period of time on each floor, and Private Investigations, which allow for free investigation of the building with or without a guide after initial walk-through. We as a family have an annual trek to Waverly Hills since 2004, This is a must for anyone interested in the paranormal. Many believe the Creeper to be an inhuman entity, a malevolent being not of this earth, but there are many possible theories. I was unsuccessful. Waverly Hills Sanatorium has remained abandoned since the early 80s. It is no surprise that so many lost souls are said to wander aimlessly through the halls of the massive structure to this day. The group went back inside, still pursued by shadows. Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky opened in 1910 as a facility for treating tuberculosis patients at the height of the early-twentieth century outbreak of the disease. Could the Creeper be an inhuman entity, feeding off the energy of the dead? For example, heat lamps, fresh air, and positive talk and reassurance helped to keep patients alive, since the death rate of TB patients at the time was one death per day. Shining a flashlight on real places around the world that are really haunted and really spooky. He looked a lot like me when I was 10. After Joey and a few of his friends learned about the spooky history of the place, they had their own haunted experience. Each year thousands of people visit Waverly to see the architecture, learn of the rich history, or chance an encounter with the unknown. Joeys friend Chris got so scared he wanted to jump off the roof. In the early 1900s, Louisville had one of the highest mortality rates from tuberculosis in the United . Louisville, KY,is home to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, whichmany people believe is one ofthe most haunted placeson Earth. Its residents were just as free to move about the floor as patients on any other floor. Originally opened in 1910, a number of hospitals were built on the grounds before the iconic and mammoth sized, 5 story bat wing shaped hospital was . He has been doing this for over 10 years and has over 1,000,000 subscribers. You have to make a reservation to view the property, building or visit. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a former Tuberculosis Sanatorium located in Louisville, Ky. Waverly Hills is known world-wide as 'one of the most haunted locations in the world', but is also integral to the history of Louisville, Ky. The historical society is trying to recover its alleged losses from the Mattinglys. Download Waverly Hills Sanatorium - One of America's Most Haunted Locations song and listen Waverly Hills Sanatorium - One of America's Most Haunted Locations MP3 song offline. With Steffany Huckaby, Melanie Lewis, Yolanda Pecoraro, Kristin Novak. The swampland of Kentucky had created a large amount of TB . In a period of a year, only $3,000 was raised towards the project despite efforts to pool money from across the nation. Let's be honest: it's no surprise that Waverly Hills Sanatorium is considered one of the most haunted places not only in Kentucky, but in the whole United States. Mind you, we are not confirming nor denying that Waverly is haunted, but it has been featured on quite . While it might be nice to think about living in a community like Waverly Hills where the philosophy of treatment is "sunshine and good vibes," it's important to remember that tuberculosis was an incurable, highly contagious disease that was spreading at epidemic proportions. The bottom line is that the death tunnel is a must-stop if you happen to be a haunted places enthusiast. In the early 1900s, Jefferson County was severely stricken with an outbreak of tuberculosis. Click the button below to order your Rick Hayes Event Tickets. Over the next two years of construction, a two-story wooden administration building as well as two connected open air pavilions on either side, each housing 20 male and female patients were built at a cost of $25,000. Theres over 200 claims in the lawsuit, said Ernie Pack, the founder of the Save Waverly Hills group. As the official Waverly Hills site explains, the original sanatorium was a two-story frame building with a half-timber design, with an administration building and the open-air pavilions for the patients to be exposed to air and sun. Theyre all petty, unsubstantiated, frivolous, claims that they have not yet been able to produce discovery for, Pack said. THANK YOU! So while it's true that the most common treatments were exposure to sunlight, bed rest, healthy foods, and fresh air, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium Memorial records that several other methods were applied to patients, including surgical methods that were cutting edge for the time, but that might sound barbaric now. FYI..the place is going to eventually become a hotel, so explore while you can!!! Woodhaven operated in this capacity until 1982 when it was closed by the state. Checkout time is Noon. Great spooky hub. Demon is the common term, but different religions and philosophies know them by different names. The stories say that a nurse was found in Room 502 in 1928, having hanged herself from a light fixture. The Mattinglys have always owned a private residence away from Waverly Hills property. This original building was meant to hold 40-50 patients at one time, roughly half male and half female. The answers are none too comforting. 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. The community at Waverly Hills became essentially its own city, complete with its own ZIP code and post office. The 2 Hour Historical tour is a Sunday afternoon daytime tour. Reservations are required. Contact the spirits and ask why they are still here. Enelle Lamb from Canada's 'California' on May 28, 2012: Very interesting hub. The Board liked the name Waverley Hill and kept it, though at some unknown point, the second "e" was dropped. [14], Simpsonville developer J. Clifford Todd bought the hospital in 1983 for $3,005,000. Louisville, KY, is home to the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, which many people believe is one of the most haunted places on Earth. But theyre only allowed on one side of the fence. 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. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a former hospital for tuberculosis patients. It's impossible to say how many people died at Waverly Hills during its time as a tuberculosis hospital, but the fact is that, during its years of operation, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in Kentucky and had no known cure, so patients at Waverly were dying at a pretty steady clip. She also received additional fringe benefits, including a company car. It is one of the most famous Kentucky ghost stories, and the haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium is known worldwide. Waverly Hills is indeed haunted and even through I have never been there before, I believe that 'The Creeper' does exist. You want to ensure you are taken to Gate B. Friday and Saturday Nights (12AM 6AM) in March August. Embark on an exciting and bone-chilling two-hour paranormal adventure, experiencing the most famous locations in Waverly Hills while learning the rich history of a place loved by thousands around the world and integral to Louisville, Kentucky. As the legends go, the most haunted location in the entirety of the Waverly Hills facility is the fifth floor. There were no schools in the area, so Hays decided to build a one-room schoolhouse for his own children. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a beautiful example of early 20th century early Tudor Gothic Revival style architecture and a significant contributor to the Louisville, Ky community. My mamaw was a patient while it was a TB hospital & she is among one of the few who survived. Charlie and Tina Mattingly own all of the property and the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Legends about the haunting of the sanatorium tend to center around the 51 years that the site was used to house tuberculosis patients. However, Woodhaven failed greatly because it was severely understaffed and overcrowded. Other common sightings include an older woman with chains around her wrists, often believed to have been a resident when the building was a geriatric center. As the non-profit steward for the property, the Waverly Hills Historical Society continues to offer educational and paranormal events (such as tours), and this legal issue has not forced the Historical Society to cancel tours or events. Todd and Thompson then proposed converting the hospital into apartments, but they counted on Jefferson Fiscal Court to buy around 140 acres (57ha) from them for $400,000, giving them the money to start the project. It was a huge waste of $25.00 and my time. Learn More F.A.Q.'s Answers to frequently asked questions. The WHHS now runs Tours and Investigations, plus special and seasonal events to raise funds to accomplish their goal. By the early 20th century, tuberculosis was sweeping the United States, and Louisville was particularly hard hit because of its growing industrial economy and location within the Ohio Valley, both of which contributed to a lack of fresh air flow through the city. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is home to many ghosts, including the infamous Creeper. 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. Together with volunteers from Waverly Hills Historical Society, the group now runs regular historical and ghost tours all year round. You can choose to sleep or continue your investigation in the Bunk House. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium was built in 1910 for treating people with . When it opened it originally accommodated just about 50 patients but soon expanded to hold almost 500 patients. The Haunted Halls Of Waverly Hills Hospital BuzzFeed Unsolved Network 5.39M subscribers 348K 19M views 5 years ago Watch the new and 7th season of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime!. October is the time of the year when thrill-chasers and horror-lovers can get their fill. The statue, which was inspired by the famed Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, would have been designed by local sculptor Ed Hamilton and architect Jasper Ward. Most spirits behave at least reasonably similar to the way they would act in real life, but the Creeper seems to go beyond the norm. The hospital closed in 1961, due to the antibiotic drug streptomycin that lowered the need for such a hospital. 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. There is even talk of a Doppelganger at Wavery Hills. 2023 Waverly Hills Historical Society | All Rights Reserved. For ghost stories, you must look somewhere else. In 1962, the sanatorium reopened as Woodhaven Geriatric Center, a nursing home treating aging patients with varying stages of dementia and mobility issues. Much of life's necessities were carried out within this community, including raising their own fruits and vegetables; raising, slaughtering, and butchering their own meat; and maintaining their own water treatment facility. While it's nice to imagine Waverly's philosophy of making things as pleasant as possible for their patients suffering from tuberculosis worked, the fact is, there's a limit to how pleasant you can make life for someone who's constantly coughing up bloody mucus. It was within this devastating context that the Waverly Hills Sanitorium first opened its doors on July 26, 1910, as a two-story wooden structure built to house about 50 patients. Where these ghostly beings are usually reported to exhibit human characteristics, the shadow people are different creatures altogether. Other amenities included laundry facilities and an auto maintenance garage. No one else was in the building, let alone using the ruined kitchen to bake bread. Price for up to 10 persons, additional pay upon arrival. Ability to stay on Waverly property in an original historic building. The tales about 4400 Paralee Lane in Louisville began back in 1883, when a Major Thomas H. Hays purchased it. But, there are 5 flights of stairs in total on the tour. Note: Only Private Paranormal Investigation groups are able to reserve the Pump house Bunkhouse. The existing Waverly Hills Sanatorium was constructed between March 1924 and October 1926 at the cost of $1.1 million. Apart from transporting dead bodies out of the sanatorium, the tunnel also served as a temporary air raid shelter during World War II. But until then, the legal fees keep coming. So, too, are they spotted on the grounds themselves, the stains of people long dead and forgotten. The city suffered one of the largest outbreaks in the country. In its heyday, Waverly Hills could be called "state of the art." It was well-equipped and considered modern. Is the Creeper such a monster? Voices in the Attic reports that some pregnant visitors have felt extremely uncomfortable in Room 502, while others have felt supernaturally compelled to jump from the window, even to the point of having to be talked down. Public Investigations are semi-guided, so a guide will be available as needed after an initial walkthrough. In this case, the activity is more like a recording of the environment. One of the saddest ghost stories is that of an elderly woman who supposedly roams the hospital, moaning and bleeding from her chained hands and feet. Though she cries for help, when outsiders approach her, she runs away screaming in terror. Despite this, Room 502 seemed to invite sadness. Private Tours for groups and events of 30 or more (Call Office). Now imagine that respiratory illness is so contagious that it has been a worldwide pandemic for years, and humanity remains ill-equipped to fight it.This scenario was the reality for generations of people co-existing with tuberculosis. If you do not believe in spirits, check out a youtube channel named 'Huff Paranormal'. The stories say that it is on this floor that people have seen shapes moving in the windows, heard voices telling them to get out, and evenso they sayjumped to their own deaths. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium Waverly Hills Historical Society | 4400 Paralee Drive, Louisville, Ky 40272 NOTE: No one is allowed on Waverly Hills property without a reservations. Haunted sanatoriums are scary, but the spooky stories from Waverly Hills Sanatorium are downright terrifying. Waverly served the community through decades of the worse TB outbreak in the country. There was a huge epidemic during this era for TB, so they figured the hospital was mandatory for treatments. From there, a motorized rail and cable system lifted the cadavers into trains that would take them away. Thisresultedinpainful, ineffective, and often fatal surgeries. [17], The plan to construct this religious icon fell through because donations to the project fell well short of expectations. "The Waverly Hills Historical Society and Charlie Mattingly have reached an agreement to resolve all of . In 1996, Waverly Hills was purchased by a non-profit ecumenical group to build the most logical possible thing for the location: the world's tallest statue of Jesus. 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. The teacher he hired was named Lizzie Lee Harris, who was a big fan of the long series of novels by Sir Walter Scott known as "the Waverley novels" and asked Hays if she could name the school the Waverley School. Learn More History Learn the history of Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Other Special Events as announced See the reservations page for calendar. He hired a woman named Lizzie Lee Harris to teach at the school. 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. The question that we need to ask ourselves is: Why do they haunt Waverly Hills? According to local legend,the head nurse of Room 502 was found hanging from a light fixture. Not so at Waverly Hills. By the other nurse ghost? While spooky stories like these cant truly be proven, there are plenty of people who will swear on their lives that theyre true. Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened as a tuberculosis hospital in 1910 and had a capacity of 40 to 50 patients. 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 Waverly Sanatorium has been investigated by numerous paranormal groups, including the LOUISVILLE Ghost HUNTERS SOCIETY. Abandoned Online records that the number of patients dropped from 373 in 1950 to 293 in 1960. 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. Private investigations are for private paranormal groups ONLY, not events. The historical pays for all expenses. 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). Select the Private Investigation with Accommodations ticket, and You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, and blanket. The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital kept the name when they bought the land and opened the sanatorium. 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