LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Plans to turn Waverly Hills Sanatorium into a hotel, restaurant, and convention center are moving forward after the Louisville Metro Council approved a zoning change request by the owner on Feb. 27.
The request passed with a 21 to zero vote.
The property's owner, Charlie Mattingly, said it's been a project he's been working on for seven years. The plan is to transform the 200 plus patient rooms into 134 guest rooms. Waverly Hills has been in the spotlight for its paranormal activity for years. The hospital treated tuberculosis patients from 1910 until 1962. Mattingly said the intense interest would draw visitors from across the country.
'We found out that we already have a list of people waiting to be the first to be here. We have a feeling that we are going to be 100 percent booked our first few years,' Mattingly said.
Work is being done on the heating and air-conditioning system to make the new hotel eco-friendly.
'We'll be able to heat and cool pulling the heat or the air-conditioning right out of the ground,' Mattingly said.
The first phase of the project involves creating the restaurant and convention area. Mattingly said he will then focus on creating the hotel. There are plans to keep the fourth floor of Waverly Hills intact to allow field trips and for people to check out paranormal activity. Mattingly said he also plans to create a museum on the fourth floor.
Mattingly said there are still several hurdles he has to get through to be able to even have an idea of when the hotel would be finished, but he believes this hotel concept would benefit the entire area.
