All over the US, there are plenty of scary myths and urban legends that are deeply rooted in the folklore of specific locations. Texas has a rich history of urban legends and has always been a place rife with tales and lore that would please any horror enthusiast. One such legend is the story of the Donkey Lady, who is known to still haunt the area of San Antonio in Texas.
The legend of the Donkey Lady San Antonio, Texas has been around for a very long time, so much so that its origins are blurred and there exist multiple versions of the story. No matter which version you choose to believe, the Donkey Lady legend has become an inexorable part of the life and culture of San Antonio.
Let us delve into the past and learn how the story of Donkey Lady came to pass.
The Story of Donkey Lady Bridge
All versions of the story regarding the Donkey Lady are associated with an area in San Antonio that people now know fondly as the Donkey Lady bridge. While one origin story is set in the 1950s, there are others that go as far back as the 1800s. All of them have to do with the terrible fate of a local married woman.
It all started with a nice, settled, local farming family. The farmer seemingly turned insane one day and carried out unspeakable deeds against his own family. He burned down their house and killed his children. His wife was badly burnt by the fire and was left horribly disfigured.
Her hands melted and her fingers got stunted and fused together, creating the appearance of hooves. Similarly, her face, on account of being burned and melted, created an elongated appearance that is somewhat reminiscent of a donkey, especially when viewed from a distance in a dimly lit place.
The Donkey Lady, after this horrific incident, came back to haunt the Elm Creek area of San Antonio, staking her claim to a particular bridge in the area where passing cars would bear the brunt of her anguish. Honking the horn at the bridge would surely earn drivers a horrifying face-to-face with the Donkey Lady.
Other Versions
Another version of the story deals with the same family but different circumstances. In this story, the family owned a donkey. One day, a stranger visiting the area came across the family home and took an immediate dislike to the donkey. He started beating it up, but he got caught and ran away from the property. After this, he returns during the night to finish the job and exact revenge on the family.
He comes and sets fire to the house, killing the farmer and his children. The farmer’s wife, although badly burnt, nevertheless chases him away, with her hideous appearance already on full view. She then drops into the river but her body is never recovered later. The ghost of the Donkey Lady, therefore, stakes her claim on the river and the surrounding areas. This is the very river that the Donkey Lady bridge is situated on. It is understandable, therefore, that those crossing the river via the bridge would invite her ire.
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In one other popular version of the story, the family donkey had bitten the son of an important man in the area. The father vowed revenge and killed the donkey, but he did not stop there. He then went on to punish the family by setting fire to their home.
Is the Donkey Lady Real?
The Donkey Lady San Antonio has endured through the years and is well-known to people in and around the area. Over the years, a lot of people have travelled to the famous Donkey Lady bridge to catch a small glimpse of the lady herself. For many, the experience has been somewhat unsettling, where they have experienced nerves and jitters, owing to an intense feeling of being watched by some entity from a distance.
Some people who have driven to the bridge actually report seeing a gruesome face resembling a donkey screaming at them through their car windows. Many of these people have also later found indentations on their car bodies that looked like they were stamp marks made by a donkey’s hooves. Many who have visited the bridge have heard the steady clapping of hooves but not seen the lady herself. Anecdotal stories abound regarding the Donkey Lady and her famous bridge.
At present, it is no longer possible to drive over the actual Donkey Lady bridge as the authorities have placed a gate over it to discourage visitors. Based on this, the place still attracts curious visitors all year round. The legend of the Donkey Lady has firmly cemented its place into Texan folklore. There is even a Donkey Lady hotline, where you can experience the voice of the Donkey Lady over the phone. (While you’re at it, check out our list of scary numbers you can call for a bit of a fun fright.)
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#Monster horror | #Folk horror
Last Updated on June 15, 2022.