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There are many options to get your heart racing around the Queen City, from running the Flying Pig Marathon to trying out the fastest roller coaster at Kings Island, but if you’re a real adrenaline seeker who also loves a good ghost story, then you’ll want to plan a trip to Louisville and the Waverly Hills Sanatorium. This historic former hospital is known as one of the most haunted places in America and it’s less than a two-hour drive from the Queen City. Here you can go on an overnight ghost hunt near Cincinnati and we’re willing to bet it is the creepiest thing you’ll ever do.

The story of Waverly Hills Sanatorium dates all the way back to 1883 when the property actually housed a small school.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
It was at this time that the name Waverly was adopted and it stuck around as the land eventually held a massive hospital to treat those with tuberculosis.
The hospital as it appears today officially opened in 1926, then treated patients and acted as a geriatric medical center until 1981.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
The hospital and property functioned as its own city due to the extremely contagious nature of tuberculosis. Once an antibiotic cure was discovered in 1961, the hospital was closed sooner after and became a geriatric facility until 1981. You can read an in-depth history of the building here.
Due to its history, it is easy to imagine why this former hospital is considered by many to be haunted.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Since it was basically abandoned for 20 years until it was purchased by the current owners in 2001, it has an overwhelmingly creepy atmosphere. The owners and Waverly Hills Historical Society have worked hard to restore and maintain the building and raise funds through tours and events.

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Waverly Hills Sanatorium is private property and tours are by reservation only. You may not visit without a reservation or for a scheduled event.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
A variety of tours are offered and the overnight, six-hour tour is one of the most popular. From midnight to 6 a.m., you'll be led throughout the building in a small group... and you never know what you might discover.
The stories that originate within the walls of the sanatorium are fascinating and at times, downright terrifying.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Countless ghostly images have been captured (can you see the one above?) and paranormal activity runs rampant, especially in the hot spots of the building. In addition to the public ghost and historic tours, private tours can be arranged and many ghost hunters have taken advantage of the opportunity.
If you do arrange for a private overnight tour, you can even spend the night in the former water pump house on the property.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Here you can choose to continue your investigations or try and get some sleep. This building has been renovated, but it does sit right next to the end of the body chute, making it one of the creepiest spots on the property.
If you enjoy a good ghost story and need an adrenaline rush every now and then, this overnight ghost hunt near Cincinnati belongs on your bucket list.
Facebook/The Waverly Hills Sanatorium
Waverly Hills Sanatorium also hosts a haunted house in September and October, as well as a Christmas lights show around the holidays. There are many ways to experience one of the most haunted places in America, and with just a short drive from Cincinnati.

As you can imagine, tours of Waverly Hills Sanatorium are very popular as they attract visitors from all over the world. The 2019 tour season is sold out, but be sure to plan ahead for 2020 and also consider a visit to their haunted hour and/or Christmas light show! Have you been on this overnight ghost hunt near Cincinnati? Is it on your creepy bucket list? Let us know in the comments!

For more information on Waverly Hills Sanatorium and to keep an eye out for next year’s reservations (tours run March – August), visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here.

Address: 4400 Paralee Drive, Louisville, KY 40272

And until you can get into one of these tours, try out our haunted road trip around Cincinnati, featured in a previous article here.

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