The Island of the Dolls or, Isla de las Mucenas
There is an origin story to go along with the general creepiness of an island with baby dolls in various forms of disrepair hanging everywhere.
Don Julian Santana Barrera was the "founder" of the island. He moved there alone and probably had some of the mental problems that go along with being in complete isolation for years.
photo by Jen Wilton/Flickr
It stars getting creepy when Barrera supposedly finds the body of a young girl drowned in the river. Shortly afterwords he found a doll in the same river and hung it in a tree in the memory of the girl. Barrera was either haunted by this traumatic event and started hanging up more dolls. Some suggest he did this to appease the spirit of the girl, or to protect the island from evil spirits. I'm going to add that perhaps he needed and enjoyed their company.
Needless to say, Barrera eventually started believing that the dolls themselves were possessed, and that he could hear her tormented screams and footsteps in the darkness.
photo by Cindy Vasko/longlensgypsy.com
The final chill comes when we learn that Barrera himself was ultimately found dead in the same river where he originally found the dead girl.
The island became a tourist destination after the passing of Barrera, and visitors now bring more dolls to hang. It is currently decorated with over 1,500 dolls.
photo by Alejandro De La Cruz/Flickr
Yes, this place is as creepy as the photos promise. I haven't been there, but one day I will go and leave a doll of my very own collection as a tribute.
photo by Eneas De Troya/Flickr
Can't get enough of creepy and cute dolls? Check out these Anomaly Doll themed favorites.
