The History
The "White Plague" -- tuberculosis -- was devastating Louisville in the early 1900s. Jefferson County built a two-story hospital in 1910 on a hilltop surrounded by fresh air, which was believed to help TB patients recover. It was a desperate measure against a disease that had no cure.
As the epidemic worsened, the small hospital couldn't keep up. A massive five-story Gothic structure replaced it in 1926, housing up to 400 patients at a time. But there was still no cure. Treatments were brutal: exposing patients to freezing air on open-air porches, surgically collapsing infected lungs, and even removing ribs to allow the lungs to expand. The death rate was staggering -- at its peak, roughly one patient died every hour.
Waverly Hills operated as a tuberculosis sanatorium until 1961, when antibiotics finally conquered the disease. By then, an estimated 63,000 people had died within its walls.
The Death Tunnel
The most infamous feature of Waverly Hills is the 500-foot underground tunnel, officially called the "body chute." As deaths mounted to staggering numbers, staff faced a grim problem: they needed to remove bodies from the building without demoralizing the living patients who could see the main entrance from their rooms.
The solution was a concrete tunnel running from the ground floor straight down through the steep hillside to the base below. It was fitted with a motorized cable system. Bodies were placed on gurneys and lowered down the steep tunnel to waiting hearses at the bottom, completely hidden from the view of patients above.
The tunnel that was built for practical, compassionate reasons has become the most feared location in the entire building. Paranormal investigators consistently report the most intense activity here.
The Hauntings
Waverly Hills Sanatorium is consistently ranked among the most haunted places in the world. The sheer volume of death -- 63,000 over five decades -- has left an imprint that paranormal investigators say is overwhelming. The most commonly reported phenomena include:
Room 502
A nurse reportedly hanged herself here in 1928. Another jumped from the window in 1932. Shadow figures and screaming are reported by investigators. It is the most feared room in the building.
The Death Tunnel
Apparitions, cold blasts of air, and the sound of gurneys rolling through the darkness. Investigators have captured EVP recordings of voices saying "help me."
The Third Floor
Entire shadow figures have been seen walking the corridors. A "creeper" entity reportedly crawls along the walls and ceiling, startling even experienced investigators.
The Roof
A young boy named Timmy reportedly plays with a ball on the roof. Investigators leave balls and they roll on their own, as if pushed by invisible hands.
By The Numbers
~63,000 Deaths
Estimated total number of patients who died during the sanatorium's 51 years of operation treating tuberculosis.
500 Feet
Length of the underground body tunnel used to secretly transport the dead from the building to hearses waiting below.
5 Stories
The massive Gothic building towers over the Louisville hillside, its imposing silhouette visible for miles.
1961
The year the sanatorium finally closed, after antibiotics conquered tuberculosis and the hospital was no longer needed.
What's There Now
Visit Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Address: 4400 Paralee Lane, Louisville, KY
Status: Privately owned, open for historical tours, paranormal investigations, and overnight stays
Highlights: Tours range from 2-hour historical walks to 8-hour overnight paranormal investigations. The building is being gradually restored while preserving its haunting atmosphere. It is consistently ranked among the most haunted places in the world by paranormal researchers.
Tip: The overnight investigation is the ultimate experience -- bring your own equipment and explore all five floors and the Death Tunnel in the dark.
Explore on Interactive Map →