Jim Freeman
The Halloween season is approaching! And as part of Halloween celebration, Butterbin decided to feature different stories of different places or events that have haunted the world for years! For our first story we are going to feature the story behind one of the creepiest place in the world, The Island of Dolls.
Isla de las Munecas (The Island of Dolls) is located at the south region of Mexico City, between the canals of Xochimico. The island serves as a home for hundreds of old battered dolls.
The Legend
The local people claim that many years ago there was a girl found drowned for unknown reason on the island. They believe that the dolls are possessed by girl’s spirit.
Although there was no proof for these claims, some of the locals said that they have witness the dolls move their heads and arms and even opened their eyes. While those who were on the boat near the island said that the dolls enticed them to come down to the island.
But how do all these creepy dolls get on the island?
The truth behind the legend
According to legend, an old man named Don Julian Santana Barrera, the caretaker of the island, discovered the remains of a young girl who had drowned -for unknown reason- off shore. Alongside the girl’s body was her doll floating in the water. Julian picked up the doll and hung it to a tree, as a way of showing respect to the girl’s spirit.
He continued hanging more dolls because he believed it was appeasing the dead girl’s spirit.
After 50 years of collecting dolls and hanging them on the island, Julian was found dead, drowned in the same spot where the girl did. Some says Julian committed suicide after being driven insane.
After Julian’s death in 2001, The Island becomes a tourist attraction and has been featured in many articles and TV shows. Visitors who visit bring more dolls to add to the island’s collection.
