Waverly Hills Sanitarium

Waverly Hills

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Waverly Hills Sanitarium was opened in 1910 as a effort to combat Kentucky's tuberculosis death rate (which was the highest in the country). In 1923, the hospital was expanded into the structure that can be seen today. In its heyday, Waverly housed nearly 500 patients. Waverly Hills Sanatorium closed in 1961. It reopened a year later as Woodhaven Geriatrics Sanitarium. Woodhaven remained open until 1981. The structure was abandoned and fell into disrepair. Today, the sanitarium is undergoing major renovations in an effort to restore it.

A portion of a 1931 government documentary featuring Waverly Hills Sanitarium.

Summary of the Haunting

False Claims

Some people believe that Waverly Hills is so haunted because it had an extremely high number of deaths. In fact, in one episode of Ghost Hunters they promoted the myth that 63,000 people died at the sanitarium. Facts dispute this claim.

Waverly Hills opened in 1926 and had approximately 500 beds. It was opened for 55 years. In order to have a death toll of 63,000 would need a death toll of 3 people a day, every day for this period (1,145 people a year). However, according to Assistant Medical Director Dr. J. Frank W. Stewart autobiography, the highest number of deaths in a single year during the time he worked there was 153. There is also evidence that shows that the death rate at Waverly Hills was approximately 100 people a year, not 1,000. (For more information, check out this page.

Paranormal Investigations

I don't think there is a paranormal investigation team or paranormal investigation show that has NOT been to Waverly Hills. Besides what I've listed below, ABC Family's Scariest Places on Earth, VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project, a French documentary entitled Soirée de l'étrange, the Syfy documentary Spooked, and a portion of the documentary Haunted have filmed at Waverly Hills.



Books and Articles

Video

Syfy's Ghost Hunters


Travel Channel's America's Most Terrifying Places


a paranormal investigative series called Terror Normal


A live broadcast from Waverly Hills where a ball hits an investigator.

For More Information

Waverly Hills Historical Society, Inc.
4400 Paralee Lane
Louisville, KY 40272
(502) 933-2142