Cries and screams are frequently heard in the halls and some claim to have heard children on the rooftop chanting verses from “Ring around the Rosy.” Spirits of children are believed to linger because young patients were taken to the rooftop for heliotherapy, where they were exposed to the supposed healing rays of the sun as part of TB treatment.

In 1928, the head nurse hanged herself from the light fixture in Room 502. In 1932, another nurse also working in Room 502 supposedly committed suicide by jumping from the roof.

When patients died, they were sent down the body chute to an awaiting hearse. The body chute, or death tunnel, is actually a 500 foot-long tunnel that leads from the hospital to the railroad tracks located at the bottom of the hill. This was done to keep moral high, so patients wouldn’t see the hearses or bodies leave the building.

Today, owners Tina and Charlie Mattingly, hold tours of the sanitarium year round. Every Halloween, they convert the building into a haunted house attraction for the Halloween season. Proceeds go toward restoring the property. Considered one of the most haunted (and scariest) places in the US, Waverly Hills Sanitarium has been a hot spot for ghost hunters, both amateur and professional. Because of its popularity, all tours are completely booked for the rest of the year. If you’re going to be in the area or plan to visit Waverly, you’ll need to make reservations starting January 2, 2008.

For more information about the tours, visit waverlyhilltbsanitorium.com