Waverly Hills Sanatorium sits on land that was originally purchased by Major Thomas H. Hays in 1883. Major Hays was in need of a school for his daughters to attend, so he started a one room school house that was located on Pages Lane. He hired a woman named Lizzie Lee Harris to teach at the school. Her love for the tiny school in addition to her fondness for Scott’s “Waverley Novels”, prompted her to name the little school house, “Waverley School.” Major Hays liked the name, and chose to name his property “Waverley Hill.” The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital kept the name after purchasing the land and opening the Sanatorium.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Waverly Hills Sanatorium Welcomes TB

Originally, Waverly Hills Sanatorium was a two-story frame building, with a hipped roof and half timbering. Construction on this building began in 1908, and opened for business on July 26, 1910. The building was designed to safely accommodate 40-50 tuberculosis patients. At the time, tuberculosis was a very serious disease. People who were afflicted with tuberculosis were isolated from the general public and placed in an area where they could rest, stay calm, and have plenty of fresh air. Sanatoriums were built on high hills surrounded by peaceful woods to create a serene atmosphere to help the patients recover.

Tuberculosis was becoming an epidemic in Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, and other parts of Jefferson County in Kentucky. The little TB clinic was filled with more than 140 people, and it was obvious that a much larger hospital was needed to treat those afflicted with the condition. Because tuberculosis was so extremely contagious and at epidemic proportions, those living with it could not be allowed to live and exist among the general population. It was not known at the time that tuberculosis was an airborne disease. Waverly Hills was a self-contained community. A city in and of itself, complete with it’s own zip code.

Waverly Hills had it’s own post office, water treatment facility, grew it’s own fruits and vegetables, raised it’s own meat for slaughter and maintained many of the other necessities of everyday life. Everyone at Waverly – patients, nurses, doctors and other employees had to say ‘goodbye’ to everything they knew on the outside world. Once you went to Waverly Hills, you became a permanent resident “on the hill.” Oddly enough, despite that fact, many patients received visits from loved ones on visiting day. When the visit was over, the visitors left Waverly and ventured back out into the community.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

The massive, collegiate, gothic style Sanatorium that you see in the 1926 photo (above), remains standing on Waverly Hill, today. It could accommodate at least 400 + patients and was considered one of the most modern and well equipped facilities at the time. Construction of this Sanatorium began in March 1924 and opened for business on October 17, 1926. The facility served as a tuberculosis hospital until 1961, when the discovery of an antibiotic that successfully treated and cured TB rendered the facility obsolete. It was closed down and quarantined, then renovated. In 1962, the building reopened as WoodHaven Medical Services, a geriatric facility. WoodHaven Medical was closed by the state in 1981.

The Hauntings

While cures were found for tuberculosis, many patients who stayed at the Sanatorium passed away while living there. Their corpses passed down a small tunnel underneath the building known as the “body chute”. It is believed that there were large amounts of corruption and experimentation occurring at the sanatorium that led to to the eventual closing of the building. This was the result of “new” medical treatments such as electroshock therapy and budget cuts that led to a lack of supplies and staff. Many of the spirits that were experimented on still remain.

Apparitions move between the rooms, slamming doors and pushing visitors Click to Tweet

One of the most famous legends involves a man in white, believed to be a chef, who walks around the kitchen and brings with him the smell of fresh baked goods. He also has a habit for moving things around including any equipment sitting on the tables in the cafeteria.

Others are drawn to the body chute tunnel where the remains were carried out. The smell of rotting corpses fills the air and results in a spine tingling and hair raising experience. Multiple people have reporting being touched by an unknown force while walking through.

The paranormal hot-spot is the fifth floor which consists of multiple rooms, including #502. Multiple deaths have occurred in this room. This includes one nurse who hanged herself from the light fixture in 1928. Another nurse was said to have jumped to her death in 1932. Visitors have reporting seeing dark apparitions moving between the rooms, watched doors slam, being pushed by an unknown force, and have recorded EVP’s telling them to “Stay Away”.

Currently the sanatorium is owned by a couple who are paranormal researchers. The property is off limits to trespassers and any who are caught will be arrested. You can however schedule a tour or ghost hunt on their website.

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Unknown Safe

Scare Score

Not scary but interesting. This inspired me to do my roller coaster (6th grade and fake) on the body shoot. Disclaimer only a marble gets to feel the excitement but Kentucky kingdom is coming to watch so hopefully Waverly hills ghosts can give me some good luck and maybe I can win.
#Noe Middle school #Kentucky
3 years ago
Charlee Stewart

Scare Score

Waverly Hills is a VERY scary place. Although I had fun playing with Timmy, I was attacked in Room 502. My hair was pulled, I was tripped, and I had a ball thrown at me. I decided to leave because of the horror filled place.
4 years ago
Waverly Enthsiast

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As far as a haunted house, the only thing that got me was the room with the fake snake. But I’m deathly afraid of snakes. This place truely is scary as hell. Just walking down to the vehicle in the dark with that ominous building looming in the background is creepy enough. They honestly don’t do anything intensionally to make you think it is haunted. Yet, from the third floor (the common floor for this) a shadow figure stared at me with a very sad and lonely expression. One of the actors didn’t even notice a black mist forming right above him. Truely the most haunted place in the world.
4 years ago
Jay

Scare Score

We took the tour here about a year back. We saw everything listed including room #502 where a few guests felt a dark presence. There is something on the fourth floor as well which is typically locked as its a dangerous area. But that floor has all types of activity including footsteps at all hours of the night. Amazing place and great tour. Highly recommend.
7 years ago

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Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

Waverly Hills Sanatorium : Louisville, Kentucky

Waverly Hills Sanatorium : Louisville, Kentucky

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