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Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville opens new escape room experience, starting Friday
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Kentucky/The Apex Times/Jul 2, 7:17 PM EDT

Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville opens new escape room experience, starting Friday

The attraction, called "Did You Hear That? Mystery in Room 502," launches with evening gameplay designed to run alongside the site’s existing tours and paranormal investigations.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville is set to open a new escape room experience on Friday, giving visitors an additional option beyond the property’s tours and paranormal investigations. The venue’s new game is called "Did You Hear That? Mystery in Room 502," and it is designed to immerse guests in an investigation tied to the historic landmark’s reputation.

The escape room places participants in the role of an investigative film crew moving through the sanatorium’s legendary halls. Guests are tasked with searching for clues, solving puzzles and working together to uncover what is happening in Room 502 before time runs out, according to the attraction’s operator.

Organizers described the experience as a new revenue stream intended to help support renovations across the historic property. Owner Charlie Mattingly said the escape room is also meant to provide another activity for visitors once their tour or investigation ends, noting that while the venue currently has one escape room, it plans to expand within about a month.

The new attraction will operate from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., with recommended group sizes of four to six people. Games are expected to last 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how the group progresses through the puzzles and time-based challenges.

Opening night for the escape room has already sold out, according to WLKY. Reservations remain available for Saturday, and tickets are priced at $20 per person.

The launch comes as Waverly Hills continues to broaden its programming for the public. In 2022, the property announced it would add daytime tours of the building, expanding the availability of its experiences beyond evening hours.

For visitors planning trips, the new escape room adds a separate timed event that can be scheduled alongside the existing offerings. Organizers did not describe any changes to tour operations as part of Friday’s opening, but the escape room is positioned as an add-on for people who want an additional, interactive experience during their visit to the sanatorium.

As the first phase begins, the venue’s stated focus is operational readiness and expansion. Mattingly said the property hopes to have a second escape room ready within a month, in addition to the Friday launch of Room 502.

Why It Matters

  • The Friday launch adds a timed ticketed attraction for Louisville visitors, potentially affecting crowding and scheduling for families and group travelers planning evening outings.
  • By tying the escape room to renovations, the project highlights how historic-site operators are seeking new funding sources beyond traditional tours.
  • Ticket availability and group-size guidance may influence who can participate, especially for visitors traveling in smaller or larger groups.
  • The venue’s plan to prepare a second escape room within a month suggests continued expansion of offerings and added operational demands for staffing and facility management.
  • The program’s growth, alongside earlier moves to expand tours to daytime, indicates a broader effort to increase access to the site throughout the day and evening.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville will open a new escape room called "Did You Hear That? Mystery in Room 502" on Friday.
  • The escape room will run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., with games recommended for groups of four to six and lasting 45 minutes to an hour.
  • Participants play the role of an investigative film crew searching for clues and solving puzzles to uncover the mystery of Room 502 before time runs out.
  • Waverly Hills owner Charlie Mattingly said the escape room is intended to generate revenue to help fund renovations throughout the historic property.
  • Opening night is sold out, but reservations are available for Saturday, and tickets cost $20 per person.
  • In 2022, Waverly Hills announced daytime tours would begin, expanding programming beyond existing evening experiences.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville opens new escape room experience, starting Friday | The Apex Times