Real-Life Horror
Without a doubt, La Isla de las Muñecas, or "The Island of the Dolls," is like a horror film come to life.
Dark Tourism At Its Finest
Completely covered in dirty and battered dolls, the island—located south of the center of Mexico City—already has an air of terror. However, its haunting history makes it a must-see destination for paranormal enthusiasts, and today, it's a thriving tourist attraction.
The Origin Story
To understand why and how The Island of the Dolls came to be, one must understand the heart-wrenching story of Don Julian Santana Barrera.
Esparta Palma, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
He Was Unstable
Reportedly, Barrera moved to the island in the 1950s, leaving his wife and family behind. Though his reasons for isolating himself are difficult to pinpoint, some sources say that he was mentally unwell.
KatyaMSL, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Finding Her Body
It wasn't long after moving that Barrera made the most upsetting discovery imaginable: He found a girl's body in the canals.
Wa17gs, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Drowning In The Water Lilies
The young girl is said to have drowned after getting caught in the water lilies. This awful event altered Barrera's life and the island's fate forever.
Wa17gs, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
He Found Her Doll
The next day, Barrera made another discovery. This time, it was a doll floating in the canals. Assuming that this doll likely belonged to the girl he'd found the day before, he made a strange decision.
Eneas De Troya, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Her Spirit Haunted Him
To honor the young girl and keep her spirit happy, Barrera strung her doll up in a tree. However, as the legend goes, the dead girl continued to haunt the island and Barrera himself.
Emmanuel Eslava, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Creepiest Dolls
Barrera claimed that dolls began appearing in the trees over time—and some of them were downright chilling to look at as they were missing crucial body parts. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Px-lga, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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Appeasing Her Spirit
In lieu of some bad luck and his failed crops, Barrera continued to look for dolls to appease the girl's spirit. In a way, the island became his twisted shrine.
Px-lga, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Looking For More
Barrera went to extreme lengths to gather as many dolls as he could, even rummaging through garbage and looking in the canals. He even used the produce he grew in his personal garden, trading the vegetables for more dolls.
The dolls Barrera found came in a variety of states—and many of them were already shabby and terrifying to look at.
Px-lga, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
They Got Scarier Over Time
At the mercy of the elements, these dolls have only grown more unnerving with time—and is one of the reasons it's become a center for dark tourism.
Emmanuel Eslava, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Way To Protect Himself
For five decades, Barrera's doll collection began to overrun the island. And though we may consider them "haunted" today, Barrera probably saw them as necessary measures for his own protection.
Wa17gs, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The End Of Barrera
In 2001, a chilling incident came to pass. When Barrera's nephew came to visit, he took him fishing in the canal.
Px-lga, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
He Spoke Of Mermaids
While fishing, 80-year-old Barrera began exuberantly singing, but also made some unsettling comments. He began saying odd things, talking about how there were mermaids beckoning to him from the water.
However, it wasn't until Barrera's nephew left him alone for a short time that things went wrong.
Emmanuel Eslava, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
His Very Own Tragedy
When the nephew returned to his uncle's side, a tragedy awaited him. He found Barrera's body in the canal—face down. But that wasn't all.
Emmanuel Eslava, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
He Died In The Same Place
Apparently, Barrera lost his life in roughly the same location that the young girl drowned—all those years ago.
Emmanuel Eslava, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
How Did He Die?
Obviously, the public has wildly speculated about the cause of Barrera's death, which range from a heart attack to drowning. True believers of the island's haunting even point fingers at the girl's spirit.
The Dolls Move On Their Own
Those who live locally have made some jaw-dropping claims about the dolls themselves. Some say that the dolls become animated during the night.
They Whisper To Each Other
There have been eerie reports of the dolls moving on their own, turning their heads—even whistling and whispering. Of course, the non-believers would just blame the wind.
Making Offerings
Those who visit the island have been known to offer things to the dolls. Some even change the dolls' clothes, and maintain a sense of reverence for the island and its history.
Wa17gs, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bring Your Own Doll
Since Barrera's passing, tourists have continued to honor his memory by bringing their own dolls to the island and stringing them up alongside all the others.
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