There is definitely a feel to Waverly. As I walked the old hallways in the pitch black dark I could almost feel the weight of the building bearing down on me. And as I entered the morgue on the first floor, by myself, it was with some trepidation that I asked if anyone was there. No one answered my query, but I had the feeling of being watched all the same. Yes, Waverly is haunted, even if only by the demons from my own imagination.

You definitely, definitely have the feel that someone is watching you, and more than "one someone", as you walk the halls. It's a great place and I'm happy that they're saving such a terrific historical facility. Last I heard they were turning it into a hotel, and leaving the top two floors "as was originally" so people can go up and see what the hospital was like. They were asking for billions though, and I'm not sure if it went through or not. When the hotel was in talks a couple years ago, they were stating rooms would be $200-$300 a night.

BeckyM, In the articles that I read they called it a "boutique hotel and spa". I don't know what a "boutique" hotel is, but I assume that that word and the word "spa" attached would allow them to ask for an arm and a leg to stay there. I never did hear the resoulution, but the pics of what they have already restored show amazing work.

Matters not to me since I intend to stay up across the Indiana border for about $49 a night! /biggrin.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

Boutique… I think it means it caters to everyone for all their needs, not just a specific group of people. Luxurious but strange with personalized service for everyone, regardless of your need.

I certainly won't be staying there. I've spent the night there a few times and have no intentions of wasting that much money on a hotel! I agree – they are doing great work restoring the place. Anyone who restores a significant historical building is good in my book!!

I concur! /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' /> But, I don't want to wait that long! We've been talking about this since this spring!

If you have the time and the funds, go in spring and then go later in the year. It can only help your investigations to try it out more than once in the long run. Plus, a place as significant as Waverly Hills, I personally can't get enough of it which is why I return/ed to locations like Mansfield, Moundsville, Dixmont, Waverly, etc. I just love the historical aspect and the architecture as well as the ghost hunting! Good luck to you!!!

Would love to come, any offers for the plane tickets across the pond!!

Lee

http://www.eastridingparanormal.com

Well, if we win the giant lotto, we'll fly you and Kaz out here for a nice long visit and a night tour of Waverly Hills! Heck, with that much money I'd just rent the place for the night to have to ourselves!!!

Am I the only one in the paranormal community that feels Waverly is WAY overplayed?

No. All public places like that, Mansfield Reformatory, Lizzie Borden, Moundsville Prison, Alcatraz, Winchester House, etc…. they're all overplayed. It doesn't mean people won't go in there and have a great paranormal experience or document great paranormal activity.

Commercialism always puts a different spin on a place, but it doesn't have to ruin it for people in that sense.

I think it does ruin it. I believe that it gets so pushed, so promoted, that you expect something to happen. I know I get a "high" knowing I'm going, say like to Alcatraz, but when nothing happened it was this huge deflated feeling; same with the Winchester house. Now that they're planning on turning it into a Bed and Breakfast, Waverly that is, I just see it going downhill from there. It's sad.

People can have that expectation regardess if it's a public haunt or they're participating in a private residence investigation. It's more so the idea of what they're going into and knowing something could be there, and it does take a certain control for an investigator to go in with a "blank slate mind". I've had enough practice to be able to do so, so it's not a problem for me. For some people, as in other discussions we've had here, it may be their only chance to experience an alleged, scary looking haunted location, so it is more of a thrill. People have to have some common sense though, and be their biggest skeptic against themselves when they go through their results from the night, or even when they're there, if they experience something don't automatically assume it's a ghost. Do some common sense investigating first and use logic, and based on the outcome of that then it may or may not be considered paranormal.

I have spent dozens of nights, paid and private (I was a volunteer for 13 years) at the Mansfield Reformatory. I helped market it at times. I know what experiences I and others have had, and what was and was not paranormal. We spent straight 15 hours there before, just 3 of us with no one else on the grounds and experienced/documented nothing at all paranormal. Another time, we spent a straight 8 hours there with others on the grounds and captured what we believe to be paranormal activity on film, digital recorder and photos.

It can and cannot happen, but people really need to use good common sense judgement when investigating, regardless of the location and how many stories go along with it. By the way, after Waverly is fully turned into the fancy boutique hotel, it won't be open to paranormal investigations as it is now. They are only leaving the top two floors "as is" so that paying hotel guests can see how it once looked as a hospital back in the day. I'm not sure if they're going to update it and turn those top two floors into a living museum or if they will leave them empty.

Edit – PS, is your name really Regan? If so, I love it…!