Frequently Asked Questions
These are a list of the most common Questions and their answers.
The Waverly Hills Historical Society is the nonprofit organization started in 2003
to maintain and preserve the property, under the terms of a 99-year lease with the
property owner. The board of directors of the Historical Society and the salaried
and volunteer staff manage the day-to-day operations, maintenance and tour
operations at Waverly Hills. Significant changes were made in 2015 as a result of
an IRS investigation, including changes to the structure of the board and the
implementation of processes to ensure the nonprofit is run in accordance with state
and federal requirements for nonprofit organizations.
The building and 28 acres of land are privately owned by an entity that in 2015
signed a 99-year lease granting control of the property, its tour operations, and
maintenance to the nonprofit Waverly Hills Historical Society. In addition to the
leased property, the Historical Society owns at least 172 of the surrounding acres.
The Waverly Hills Historical Society is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization
dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Waverly Hills Sanatorium.
The goal of the Waverly Hills Historical Society is to educate the public about its
history and restore and preserve the building so that it remains one of the best
historic and paranormal destinations in the United States and a staple of the
Louisville, Ky. community. Additionally, we plan to add to the usable space
around the building, including a park, tour center, and a museum with a multi-use
facility to house historical Waverly Hills Sanatorium and WoodHaven Medical
Center items. These additions will enable Waverly Hills to give back to the local
community through economic and historical means and help us continue to
educate the public on the impact Waverly Hills and its tuberculosis history had on
the local community.
Like other nonprofit organizations, we rely on our visitors and fundraising efforts
to help us continue to restore and preserve Waverly Hills. We are very thankful for
the community’s continued support. The funds from Waverly Hills Sanatorium
tours and our special events throughout the year help us maintain the building and
surrounding property for our guests. If you ever have any questions about how
much money Waverly Hills receives in donations and tour sales, our IRS Form 990
is public information and can be reviewed with the link at the bottom of the
webpage.
The Historical Society’s mission is to preserve both the Waverly property and any
artifacts, which are used to help educate the public about the rich history of
Waverly. The Historical Society does not sell or raffle any historical items, and no
one is permitted to take any items from Waverly. If you would like a souvenir from Waverly, items such as shirts, hoodies, and hats are available for purchase at the gift shop or website.
Yes! Since the current board was established in 2015, the Waverly Hills Historical
Society has prided itself on financial transparency. Our IRS Form 990 containing
our recent year’s expenses can be viewed with the link at the bottom of the
webpage.
Yes, the Waverly Hills Historical Society believes it is crucial to preserve this
historic property as it was 100 years ago to the best of its ability and only make
necessary repairs and updates. The Waverly Hills Historical Society has developed
a proposed one-year plan, three-year plan, five-year plan, 10-year plan, and 20-
year plan to help accomplish this. Each proposed plan includes different levels of
restoration. These restoration plans will in no way affect current and ongoing
tours.
The Waverly Hills Historical Society’s vision for Waverly Hills Sanatorium is to
restore the property and grounds to help the facility once again become a staple of
the local community. Our plans include the following additions: a park, tour
center, and a museum with a multi-use building that will house historical Waverly
Hills Sanatorium and WoodHaven Medical Center items. These additions will
enable Waverly Hills to contribute back to the local community through economic
and historical means and help us continue to educate the public on the impact
Waverly Hills and its tuberculosis history had on our local community before the
building became a paranormal destination.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium is well-known and respected as both a cultural and a
paranormal treasure. The Waverly Hills Historical Society respects and appreciates
the paranormal community and the spirits inhabiting the historic property. While
we must update the building to bring it up to code, the long-term plan is to keep
several areas untouched from full development and maintain the historic look. In
the future, we aim to allow tours throughout the entire building. The restoration
and preservation plans for the property will not affect the paranormal experience
and tours for our guests.
Board members are appointed by the Waverly Hills Historical Society board of
directors. The board looks for active community volunteers with knowledge and
experience in accounting, business, event planning, the paranormal industry,
customer service, hospitality, and a strong understanding and passion for Waverly
Hills Sanatorium and our local community. Many of our board members reside in
or are originally from south Louisville, just minutes away from Waverly Hills
Sanatorium. They have held a fascination and respect for the property for most of
their lives.
The Waverly Hills Historical Society typically relies on volunteers and board
members to run its activities. In addition, employees are needed for areas such as
management, restoration work support, and office work.
Since 2015, the Waverly Hills Historical Society Board of Directors has consisted of professionals who have served the community and have strong expertise and knowledge in their respective fields. The board includes knowledgeable
individuals from the hospitality, customer service, accounting, business, event
planning, and the paranormal industries who understand our community’s current
needs and desires.
No, Waverly Hills Historical Society board members volunteer their time as board
members and are not paid. A few board members are also involved in the
administration side of Waverly Hills Sanatorium for accounting, human resources
and touring positions, where they receive payment for fulfilling those
administrative duties. All payments made to any person associated with Waverly
Hills Historical Society are accounted for in our IRS Form 990, which is public
information and available for review at the link at the bottom of the webpage.
Waverly Hills employs the following team members:
Executive director
Tour director
Director of operations
Receptionist
Some Waverly Hills tour guides are paid, and some are volunteers. In addition,
Waverly Hills Historical Society manages contracts with outside service providers
for services like security and construction projects. These are contractors, not
employees.
Yes, it is! Waverly Hills Sanatorium is on the National Register of Historic Places
because of its architectural and historical significance.
Yes! The Waverly Hills Historical Society relies on volunteers to run our activities
outside our employed positions. To apply to be a volunteer, visit www.therealwaverlyhills.com
To view our official 501(c)(3) documentation, see the section below the FAQ’s.
990's / Tax Filings
To view prior filings, visit the IRS’s website here.