Kentucky’s Famous Waverly Hills Just Launched a Haunted Escape Room

I've seen a lot of folks posting that now that the Fourth of July is over, it's time for Summerween. Yep, people are already getting ready for October 31 because who doesn't love spooky season? If you're a spooky boo, there's one Louisville event you won't want to miss this fall.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium Has a Haunted History

The Waverly Hills Sanatorium, perched on a hill in Louisville, Kentucky, is famous for reports of paranormal encounters from former patients and staff of the former tuberculosis hospital.

The hospital first opened in 1910 as a premier facility to combat tuberculosis, known as the White Plague, which was ravaging Jefferson County. The original hospital was a two-story wooden building with an administration building and two open-air pavilions. It could only accommodate 40 to 50 patients.

As the tuberculosis outbreak continued, Louisville began planning a new city hospital in the early 1920s. Because TB was so contagious and deadly, officials decided it would not be treated there. Instead, the Board of Tuberculosis Hospital received $25,000 to expand care for advanced TB patients. Construction began in 1924 on the massive five-story brick hospital people recognize today. It could accommodate around 400 patients and officially opened in 1926.

Waverly Hills closed in 1961 after the antibiotic streptomycin dramatically reduced tuberculosis cases. In the years since, it has become an international destination for paranormal experts and enthusiasts. Although there were plans to turn the property into a hotel, they never came to fruition.

According to Waverly Hills:

"Many volunteers reported unexplained slamming doors and sightings of a mysterious man in white drifting throughout the corridors. Others had run-ins with Timmy, a spectral boy who roams the hallways and likes to play ball. When the facility officially opened to the public for tours, visitors continued to corroborate these experiences."

New Escape Room Opens at Waverly Hills

If walking the haunted halls isn't enough, there's now another way to test your nerves.

The story takes place in Room 502.

When the paranormal television show "Did You Hear That" investigated Waverly Hills Sanatorium, the team made a remarkable discovery. They reportedly made contact with the spirit of a young girl believed to have been a patient at the sanatorium in the early 1950s. Further research suggested she was also the daughter of one of the maintenance workers. Her father had given her a family heirloom, a locket, as a symbol of hope and love. According to the story, a nurse stole the locket just before the child died, leaving her spirit unable to move on.

Now, "Did You Hear That" has returned to continue the investigation. As members of the show's tech crew, your mission is to solve the mystery of Room 502, recover the missing heirloom, and help the child's spirit finally rest in peace.

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Here's What the Escape Room Costs

I called and talked with Ralph, the maintenance manager. He told me they designed and built the entire escape room themselves. Since it's brand new, they're offering "soft opening" tickets on the weekends to see how the public responds.

Right now, you can purchase a group ticket for four people for $120. The ticket includes four guests, and you can add up to four more people for $30 each upon arrival, with an eight-person maximum.

The escape room does not include a tour, but you can purchase one separately. If you want to make your visit to Waverly Hills even more memorable, you can also book paranormal investigations or even overnight experiences. And if ghosts aren't your thing, there's even a car show coming up.

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