Its residents were just as free to move about the floor as patients on any other floor. 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. It also took care of those who were mentally handicapped. By the other nurse ghost? [17], The plan to construct this religious icon fell through because donations to the project fell well short of expectations. Sometimes GPS guides you to the wrong location. This time those in charge are the one being spooked. Bodies had to be disposed of somehow, and staff didnt want to do it where the patients could see. These dark beings roam the halls of the main building and have been captured in photographs both inside and on the grounds outside. The original building only housed around 40 people, but by 1926 it had expanded to treat over 500. In 1963, the former sanatorium reopened as the Woodhaven Geriatrics Center, a rest home for the elderly. Ghost hunters have been there more than once. Private Tours for groups and events of 30 or more (Call Office). No one under 10 years of age will be permitted. Some 2,000 people a year were dying of tuberculosis in Kentucky alone. Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium Historic Buildings. Enelle Lamb from Canada's 'California' on May 28, 2012: Very interesting hub. [5] Due to Miss Harris' fondness for Walter Scott's Waverley novels, she named the schoolhouse Waverley School. Private Investigations are offered on Sunday through Thursday nights and afford a chance for unlimited investigation and free-roam of Waverly Hills with you and your group. There were many tuberculosis cases in Louisville at the time because of all the wetlands along the Ohio River, which were perfect for the tuberculosis bacteria. It is listed on the National Historic Register and faced the threat of being torn down. There were no schools in the area, so Hays decided to build a one-room schoolhouse for his own children. Shining a flashlight on real places around the world that are really haunted and really spooky. Apart from transporting dead bodies out of the sanatorium, the tunnel also served as a temporary air raid shelter during World War II. In the early 1900s, Jefferson County was severely stricken with an outbreak of tuberculosis. Until we know what ghosts really are, the best we can do is speculate. Thisresultedinpainful, ineffective, and often fatal surgeries. I enjoyed reading it :). 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. It has become a mecca for curiosity seekers who believe it is haunted. But they're only allowed on one side of the fence. I had an experience where it felt as if someone was holding my hand in one of the buildings. Nestled on the top of a placid hill, the old Waverly Hills Sanatorium once tried to heal tuberculosis with peace and good vibes. There are a few theories on why spirits would haunt a place like Waverly Hills, and why it may be attractive to dark spirits. Death Tunnel: Directed by Philip Adrian Booth. Even if you dont believe in the paranormal (which you will by the time you leave), the building is such an awesome piece of history it is so well worth the time and money. By 1961 Waverly Hills Sanatorium was renamed Woodhaven Geriatrics Hospital, though some say it was, in reality, an insane asylum. The first Waverly Hills Sanatorium building opened on July 26, 1910. After touring the building, they headed to the roof to decompress. However, a massive wave of protests from locals quashed this plan, and the backup plan of turning the building into apartments also collapsed due to a lack of funds. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium Contact Number: +1-5029332142. The boys entered the place and began hunting the souls down. There is even talk of a Doppelganger at Wavery Hills. Obviously these treatments weren't going to cure the disease, but the goal was to reduce suffering and, most importantly, help stop the spread of the infection. The WHHS now runs Tours and Investigations, plus special and seasonal events to raise funds to accomplish their goal. Precautionary boil advisory issued for water customers in east Jefferson County, Police: Woman accused of buying nearly $9K in clothes with stolen credit card, LMPD investigating after body found in Valley Station cemetery, Louisville co-workers share $50K after winning Ky. Lottery scratch-off, Elizabethtown high school student crowned Miss Kentucky Teen USA, 15-year-old shot, killed in Smoketown neighborhood identified, JCPS students practice tornado safety during statewide drill, Russell neighborhood replacement park earns funding from Cincinnati Bengals, NFL Foundation, Louisville Bats begin 2023 single game ticket sales, Town of Clarksville finalizes Ashland Park purchase. Darting in & out of the rooms. Nothing there of course, but he shut if off again and the light was all the way back at the bottom again. 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. Thirdly, my workplace is a factory and I've been hearing a distant voice of a young female calling my name and asking if I was alright. The hospital used experimental and then-advanced treatments for tuberculosis, but the . The Mattinglys are leasing the building to the Waverly Hills Historical Society. During the buildings existence, it became known as one of the most haunted places on earth. The Waverly Hills Historical Society, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, was formed to save the building and promote the education of its history, treatment, architectural significance, and impact it and tuberculosis on the local community. When people in a sanatorium die, youd expect it to be the tuberculosis patients, not the healthy staff. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is an example of early 20th century early Tudor Gothic Revival style architecture. A seen the creeper and met timmy, the creeper was this faceless black humanoid with a white mask, it was crawling above the ceiling towards me and nick and timmy snuck our blue ball as we blinked the creeper was gone we played with timmy for a bit and he was a nice spirit I said bye to him as he kicked it to means went I got in my car at the Windows I could see timmy's face. This time those in charge are the one being spooked. There is so much activity. 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. Anyone under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by a responsible adult at least 21 years of age. No one else was in the building, let alone using the ruined kitchen to bake bread. We started the tour at about 8:10 and we walked out of the building at 9:50. [16] The first phase of the development, coming in at a cost of $4 million, would have been a statue of 150 feet (46m) tall and 150 feet (46m) wide, situated on the roof of the sanatorium. This was believed to be a suicide, triggered by depression over an unwanted pregnancy. The location of the hospital itself was meant to contribute to the atmosphere of peace and rest, with Waverly being placed on a tall hill surrounded by charming little woods with lots of access to sun and fresh air. [12] The children's pavilion was not only for sick children but also for the children of tuberculosis patients who could not be cared for properly otherwise. 2 hours and are available at 8, 9, and 10:00 pm eastern time on Friday and Saturday nights, unless otherwise noted. Waverly Hills wasn't originally a hospital; it was a home with its own little schoolhouse. The question that we need to ask ourselves is: Why do they haunt Waverly Hills? In this case, the activity is more like a recording of the environment. While the legal battle continues, Waverly Hills is still holding its usual tours. 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. 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. To try to contain the disease, a two-story wooden sanatorium was opened which consisted of an administrative/main building and two open air pavilions, each housing 20 patients, for the treatment of "early cases". Other Special Events as announced See the reservations page for calendar. However, it was soon overcrowded, without enough staff to treat residents. To clarify what was said in a WAVE report, the Waverly Hills Historical Society never initiated any eviction proceedings against the Mattinglys or kicked anyone out of their home. Charlie and Tina Mattingly own all of the property and the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I guess we gravitate toward that idea because it makes us feel closer to our loved ones who have passed. Legends about the haunting of the sanatorium tend to center around the 51 years that the site was used to house tuberculosis patients. How Waverly Hills Sanatorium Failed . This new hospital was designed to hold up to 400 patients. Some paranormal researchers believe they are simply another manifestation of the human spirit. True Ghost Tales featured a story by Joey, a visitor to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. 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. Charlie Mattingly and his wife Tina have owned Waverly since 2001. Waverly Hills Sanatorium are haunted ruins of an old tuberculosis sanatorium near Louisville, Kentucky. Waverly Hills Sanatorium cannot be accessed via through the golf course. 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. Please plan accordingly! 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. However, as Kentucky Historic Institutions explains, this treatment wasn't made available to the patients at Waverly until 1949. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium is a former hospital for tuberculosis patients. While spooky stories like these cant truly be proven, there are plenty of people who will swear on their lives that theyre true. We stood in a group & stared to the end of the hall & shadow people everywhere. Then, they heard a door swing shut, and they noticed the smell of freshly baked bread. 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. This being is different from the other shadow people said to stalk the premises, and theories abound on its origins and intentions. According to local legend,the head nurse of Room 502 was found hanging from a light fixture. The Old Waverly Hills Water Treatment House has been converted into the Waverly Hills Bunk House. There are many stairs to walk. The project was canceled in December 1997.[17]. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium Body Chute in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the most haunted places in the United States. Administrators decided to remove the bodies via an inconspicuous tunnel originally meant for personnel access. This hospital was built because a tremendous amount of the area residents were becoming extremely ill with the very contagious disease known as tuberculosis. Hence, the tunnel was also known as the "Body Chute" or "Death Tunnel" by the locals and paranormal investigators visiting the sanatorium. Waverly Hills Sanatorium's History. 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. Is the Creeper such a monster? Several individuals have attempted projects on the site, but none have come to fruition. Windows, tables, and chairs were broken. All told, by some estimates, over 63,000 people have tragically lost their lives on the grounds over the years. The 2 Hour Historical tour is a Sunday afternoon daytime tour. 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. 4th floor was the best. Were hoping that all these barriers can come down real soon and we can work together again real soon. Contact the spirits and ask why they are still here. Who can say? The Waverly Hills Historical Society runs tours by reservation only each year, March through August. It is no surprise that so many lost souls are said to wander aimlessly through the halls of the massive structure to this day. Friday and Saturday Nights, March August. The swampland of Kentucky had created a large amount of TB . However, the cost of the statue was estimated to be $4 million while the interior renovations turning the hospital into an arts and worship center would have been between $8 million and $10 million. Our Guided Tours & Paranormal Investigation season runs March August of each calendar year. There was a huge epidemic during this era for TB, so they figured the hospital was mandatory for treatments. You have to make a reservation to view the property, building or visit. Waverly Hills Sanatorium Louisville, KY / 0 Reviews Address: 4400 Paralee Drive, Louisville, KY 40272, USA Visit Website Phone: 502-933-2142 Claim Ownership Add to favorites Print Overview Map The Haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium Waverly Hills Sanatorium is chronicled on many of the "scariest places" lists by paranormal historians. Finding nothing useful, the team tried to leave, but before they could, they heard footsteps. Live! The historical society is trying to recover its alleged losses from the Mattinglys. After Joey and a few of his friends learned about the spooky history of the place, they had their own haunted experience. The Disturbing True Story Of The Waverly Hills Sanatorium, As Kentucky Historic Institutions explains, As the official Waverly Hills site explains, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium Memorial records, as Kentucky Historic Institutions explains, According to Kentucky Historical Institutions. Spiritual energy may also remain as what researchers refer to as a residual haunting. The group went back inside, still pursued by shadows. But there is something else at Waverly Hills, something much darker. This original building was meant to hold 40-50 patients at one time, roughly half male and half female. The show featured prominent acts in the extreme metal and metalcore scene, including Job for a Cowboy, The Acacia Strain, Hatebreed, Shadows Fall, Chimaira, GWAR, Cameo, Lamb of God and The Number Twelve Looks Like You. Discover events and more from Waverly Hills Historical Society Though she cries for help, when outsiders approach her, she runs away screaming in terror. Just you and your group for a Private. If this is true, there has certainly been enough angst and heartache in this facility to explain why ghosts really haunt the halls. Waverly Hills Sanatorium is known as one of the most haunted places in America. 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. The Waverly Sanatorium has been investigated by numerous paranormal groups, including the LOUISVILLE Ghost HUNTERS SOCIETY. Apparently this ghost howls for help only to run away screaming when anyone approaches her. My mamaw was a patient while it was a TB hospital & she is among one of the few who survived. Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a responsible adult at least 21 years of age. We Thank You for your support in Helping Us Save Waverly Hills! Private Investigation spots do book quickly, so please have a date ready when scheduling goes live in January of each year. Visitors to Waverly Hills report encounters with many unexplained paranormal entities, most notably the shadow people. Where these ghostly beings are usually reported to exhibit human characteristics, the shadow people are different creatures altogether. It was restored to its former glory as a tudor gothic style revival, and a nonprofit organization has dedicated their efforts to ensure the building is properly maintained. The property is currently owned by a couple who hold events each Halloween to raise money for restoration. Waverly Hills has a dark past, one riddled with anguish and suffering. 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. But until then, the legal fees keep coming. According to the stories, Timmy moves around the hospital, either playing with his own leather ball, or seeking something else to play with. October is the time of the year when thrill-chasers and horror-lovers can get their fill. In 1910, the Waverly Hills Sanitorium was built, and became known to many as the Waverly Hills TB hospital. Once . This unauthorized history does not seek to tell the story of the infamous 'haunted' Waverly Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky. 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. The 180,000 square-foot facility provided treatment for over four hundred patients, each having access to their own telephone, radio, and solarium porch space. Public Investigations are semi-guided, so a guide will be available as needed after an initial walkthrough. Select the Private Investigation with Accommodations ticket, and You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, and blanket. By the late 1930s, tuberculosis was the leading cause of death in Kentucky, and in fact, Kentucky led the nation in tuberculosis deaths, due to a lack of state funding, long-term treatment options, and more permanent facilities like Waverly. Friday and Saturday Nights (12AM 6AM) in March August. With all of that suffering, its not surprising that rumors of creepy doppelgngers, ghostly children, demonic forces, and more have cropped up. However, Woodhaven failed greatly because it was severely understaffed and overcrowded. Visitors will learn more about Waverly Hills' past. Woodhaven remained in operation until 1981 when it was shut down amid allegations of patient abuse. 1977. (Although for some reason, a "visitors' day" was allowed, in which visitors could come, hang out with people with an infectious disease, and then go back to their lives.). The Mattinglys were only permitted to stay in an apartment on the property as needed as a fringe benefit to Tina Mattinglys Executive Director position. We are already planning our return to both the others. The community at Waverly Hills became essentially its own city, complete with its own ZIP code and post office. The first tuberculosis sanatorium for blacks in the segregated South was the Piedmont Sanatorium in Burkeville, Virginia. Click the Button Below to Purchase for the Strange Escapes event. "World tallest Christ statue planned for Waverly Hills". Him and Tina have put their heart and soul into it. No one under the age of 10 years old will be permitted. Death visited daily in those days. 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. Since antibiotics did not exist in the time that the sanatorium was active, other forms of aid were used to treat TB patients. The doctors and workers of this time also believed that this would help to lower the disease's spreading rate.[14]. 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. They had their own haunted experience leasing the building at 9:50 the grounds outside to accomplish their goal it... 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