Waverly Hills was originally purchased in 1883 by Major Thomas H. Hays as a one-room schoolhouse for his daughters. The Board of Tuberculosis Hospital later purchased the land because it was secluded from the rest of society.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium then became a two-story frame building, built to accommodate 40-50 tuberculosis patients and officially opened on July 26, 1910.
Tuberculosis, known as “white death,” became a widespread epidemic in the 1900’s, and Louisville had one of the highest tuberculosis death rates in America. In 1910, the little clinic grew to house more than 140 patients.
The gigantic sanatorium you see today could accommodate at least 400 patients and was one of the most well-equipped facilities at the time. Doors for this expanded facility opened on Oct. 17, 1926.
Waverly Hills was a city all in its own. Complete with a garden, post office, cattle for meat, etc. Patients, doctors and all employees had to leave society behind and live inside the walls of the sanatorium. Everything was provided for.
Doctors did not know how to control or treat the disease of tuberculosis, so many of the treatments were experimental. They first thought the disease could be cured by lots of fresh air and a balance of fruits and vegetables. “Sun rooms” were created so patients were able to absorb as much sunlight and fresh air as they could, no matter the weather. Other experimental procedures were performed that were more painful and gruesome.
Thousands of people died in Waverly Hills, either by the tuberculosis disease or the treatments. The patients who did not survive were lowered down a tunnel – or the “blood chute” as it became known – so the living patients were not able to see how many people actually died there.
Waverly Hills remained as a tuberculosis hospital until the cure was found in 1961. A year later, the sanatorium opened as WoodHaven Medical Services, a center for the elderly. Again there were rumors of patient mistreatment and the use of electroshock therapy. Budget cuts led to bad conditions and even worse patient mistreatment. The facility was closed by the state in 1982.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium has been dubbed one of the most haunted places on earth and has visited by many television shows: SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters three times, Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures, Travel Channel’s Paranormal Challenge, among others.
To experience the hauntings yourself, Waverly Hills is now running their annual haunted house fundraiser through Nov. 2. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and close at 1:00 a.m. every Friday and Saturday. Halloween night it is open from 7:30 p.m.-midnight. The cost is $20 per person and $5 a car for parking.
