If you live in Kentucky and you love a good ghost story, then surely you’ve heard of the infamous Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville. This former hospital opened in 1910 and its dilapidated state and creepy history make it one of the most haunted places in the country – or so they say. You can spend the night, go on a tour, and see how many ghostly spirits you encounter in this terrifying destination. But you may not know that right next to the Sanatorium is a beautiful park that is the perfect spot to reconnect with nature. Waverly Park is unexpected and you never know what you may experience during your visit.

As you can see by this map, Waverly Park is located adjacent to the property that holds one of the most infamous buildings in Kentucky - the Waverly Sanatorium.

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Flickr/Alex Clinkingbeard Arguably one of the most haunted places in the country, the Sanatorium gets a lot of attention as a tourist destination. But the beautiful park next door should also not be ignored.

Waverly Park has something for everyone and its natural beauty will surprise you.

GoogleMaps/Kim Redmon

This 200-acre wooded park seems to be hidden in this scenic area, but it’s slowly being recognized as a favorite Louisville park.

GoogleMaps/Johnny Laws

GoogleMaps/Christopher DeWitt The pond is a huge draw with family-friendly fishing on the banks of this picturesque pond.

The park is quiet and serene, which gives you plenty of opportunity to ponder its location next to a place that has quite the terrifying history.

GoogleMaps/Doug McClain

GoogleMaps/osama khalef Depending on the day, you can definitely take plenty of time avoiding any human interaction as you wander along the multiple trails that run around the lake, as well as into the woods. You never know what other types of encounters you may have, though.

The park is extremely popular with mountain bikers as the trails are well-maintained and offer a variety of exciting landscape.

GoogleMaps/William Kelley The park also hosts a unique race in October - this year on October 28th. The 6.66 mile run is held in the woods of the park at night, and the only thing lighting your way are the flashlights everyone carries. This particular race is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Waverly Park may just be the place you’re looking for to escape and enjoy nature.

GoogleMaps/Tisa Whitaker Just know that its location is somewhat questionable and there are tales of ghostly encounters and sounds along the trails. But we’re sure visitors are just making that up, so you should probably just go check it out for yourself.

Waverly Park is so lovely that many visitors overlook its location in favor of the beautiful lake and trails. Have you spent time in this park? Have you had any unexpected experiences? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

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Flickr/Alex Clinkingbeard

Arguably one of the most haunted places in the country, the Sanatorium gets a lot of attention as a tourist destination. But the beautiful park next door should also not be ignored.

GoogleMaps/Kim Redmon

GoogleMaps/Johnny Laws

GoogleMaps/Christopher DeWitt

The pond is a huge draw with family-friendly fishing on the banks of this picturesque pond.

GoogleMaps/Doug McClain

GoogleMaps/osama khalef

Depending on the day, you can definitely take plenty of time avoiding any human interaction as you wander along the multiple trails that run around the lake, as well as into the woods. You never know what other types of encounters you may have, though.

GoogleMaps/William Kelley

The park also hosts a unique race in October - this year on October 28th. The 6.66 mile run is held in the woods of the park at night, and the only thing lighting your way are the flashlights everyone carries. This particular race is definitely not for the faint of heart.

GoogleMaps/Tisa Whitaker

Just know that its location is somewhat questionable and there are tales of ghostly encounters and sounds along the trails. But we’re sure visitors are just making that up, so you should probably just go check it out for yourself.

Waverly Park is located at 4800 Waverly Park Rd. Louisville, KY 40214. For a map of the park, visit here.

And for more information on Waverly Sanatorium, check out our previous article here.

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