I have always wanted to go to Waverly Hills Sanatorium. I mean, I have spent my whole life interested in the paranormal. I was supposed to attend on the weekend of July 30, but plans changed and other things came up. However, I was lucky enough to get this past weekend off of work, so naturally I jumped right on the opportunity to attend the eight-hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation. Thanks to working night shift, I'm (obviously) extremely used to being up all night, so driving the two hours to Louisville and attending the investigation at WHS from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. was no issue at all for me. Whether you’re a believer or not, these are my top five reasons why you should, without a doubt, visit Waverly at some point in your life.
1. It is simply beautiful.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium originally opened in 1910 as a two story building for Tuberculosis patients, but a new, larger building was opened in 1926. This building has five floors, and has room for over 400 patients. The architecture and the views are breathtaking.
2. It is rich in history.
This Sanatorium was home to countless TB patients from 1924 to 1961. It is actually unknown how many people have actually died there, but the numbers are running somewhere around 6,000 to 10,000. Electroshock therapy and sun therapy were two of the many types of “treatment” they used on their patients.
3. You never know what you’ll find.
On my investigation at Waverly, I not only met some really cool people, but I also caught some incredible evidence. My boyfriend, who is still a skeptic, was even amazed at some points during our time there. Many of the ghosts are capable of “flashlight manipulation,” and we got to see this first hand. We sat in a semi-circle on the floor with another couple, and tried to make contact. The flashlight was nowhere near any of us, yet it would turn off and on in response to our questions. I actually have video footage of this phenomena.
4. It is considered one of the most haunted places in the world.
This kind of correlates with number 3, but was interesting enough to be its own point. Waverly Hills Sanatorium has been featured on countless “ghost hunting” television shows including Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters. Much of the hoopla surrounding the Sanatorium is thanks to room 502. This room is the location of two suicides committed by nurses… That is, if they actually were suicides. One of the nurses hung herself just outside of room 502. She had been pregnant. Rumor has it that she was actually impregnated by one of the doctors, who was married at the time. She either terminated the pregnancy or miscarried, and in a heartbreaking turn of events, the baby was later found in the Sanatorium’s well system.
5. It is an experience you will never forget.
Even though we didn’t find much evidence (although what little we did find was fantastic), we still had an incredible time. I think we’re becoming addicted to investigating the paranormal now. The beauty and the rich history surrounding the Waverly Hills Sanatorium definitely makes the entire trip worthwhile. Add to that the sadness and the entire “spook factor,” you’ve easily got me sold. I will never forget my time spent at the Sanatorium.
If you are interested in visiting Waverly Hills Sanatorium or would just like to learn more about its history, you can visit its website. Even a simple Google search can give you everything you could ever want to know, but you will never truly understand the sadness and history surrounding the building until you actually visit for yourself. It is genuinely worth the visit.
