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The Ghost Baby’s Cries on the North Shore of Oahu

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Oahu’s North Shore offers more than just stunning landscapes and thrilling waves; it conceals chilling tales that whisper through its lush valleys. Here, ancient spirits and dark legends intertwine, revealing a haunting reality beneath the island’s picturesque facade.

Oahu’s North Shore is famous for sun-drenched beaches, rolling surf, and the kind of scenery that makes you consider ditching your mainland life to become a beach bum. But behind the postcard-perfect views lies something far darker—something the travel brochures definitely don’t mention.

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In the lush, mist-veiled heart of Waimea Valley, where Waimea Falls cascades into a pool that once echoed with the cheers of cliff-diving spectators, there lingers a quiet dread. A centuries-old fear. This slice of paradise is more than just a picturesque backdrop—it’s one of the most haunted stretches of land in Hawaii.

The Dark Heart of Waimea Valley

Waimea Valley, also known as The Valley of the Priests, is a sacred site with deep spiritual and cultural importance in Hawaii. Once the home of Hawaiian high priests and royalty, it was—and still is—believed to be a place where the veil between worlds is dangerously thin. The entire valley is filled with heiau (temples), ancient burial sites, and archaeological remnants from centuries past.

The place is a unique Hawaiian botanical garden within a significant cultural and archaeological site. The area used to be an adventure park where you could see cliff-diving shows, ride ATVs and trams and go kayaking. It was shut down and turned over to the Audubon Society in 2003, and turned it into a botanical garden.

The Crying Child of the North Shore

On the far end of the North Shore on Oahu, it was said that a haunted house stands or at least used to. According to local lore and sources like RealHaunts.com, a woman once lived here with her infant son, and ended up haunting the shore.

Isolated, exhausted, and overwhelmed, the mother eventually snapped—killing the baby during a moment of madness brought on by his incessant crying. She buried him beneath the house and lived with the secret until her death. What happened after the murder with the mother is uncertain and how long before she joined her baby in death is not said. But together, they are said to haunt the north shore of Oahu.

Today, residents and visitors alike report hearing a baby crying in the early hours of the morning. There are no babies living there. No families. Just the relentless wail of a child lost in time.

Some say the spirit of the baby is still looking for its mother. Others whisper that the act awakened something else entirely—something that now haunts the property.

The details of this ghost story is hazy and no one seems to know where the story comes from. What property or what home this is said to have happened in, is uncertain, but even so, people talk about the cries of the mother coming through the waves and breeze. 

A Sacred Place, a Haunted Legacy

The North Shore isn’t just a beach lover’s dream—it’s a spiritual pressure cooker. According to ancient Hawaiian beliefs, certain places are “mana-rich”—full of spiritual energy, both benevolent and dangerous. Waimea Valley, with its deep ties to the past and the supernatural, is one of those places.

It’s why many Hawaiians still observe kapu (taboos) when entering these areas. It’s why you won’t catch Auntie walking through the valley after dark. And it’s why, if you hear a baby cry on the wind or see a shadow leap from a cliff when no one’s there, you don’t question it.

You just walk away—and maybe leave an offering or two. Just in case.

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References:

http://www.kauaianthro.org/GhostStories_files/Ghost_sightings.html 

The Kaimuki House Is Easily Hawaii’s Most Haunted House The Most Haunted Places on Oahu, HI | Haunted Rooms America

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Ghostly Tales and History of Killua Castle

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In the serene landscape of Killua Castle, visitors have reported about seeing something that look like a ghost. It is thought to be the former steward, Jacky Dalton, that drowned himself after betraying his master.

In the scenic landscapes of Ireland lies Killua Castle, a historic estate with a rich past and a few ghostly tales that continue to intrigue visitors. This elegant castle close to Clonmellon in County Westmeath, is now lovingly restored that you can stay in to visit the place as well as hosting different events.

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from Ireland

The castle is not far from The Raleigh Obelisk that were erected in 1810 by Sir Thomas Chapman some 200m to 300m from the house, marking the position where Sir Walter Raleigh planted some of the first potatoes that he imported to Ireland.

The History of Killua Castle

Killua Castle’s story begins in 1667 when Benjamin Chapman, an army captain under Oliver Cromwell, was granted ownership of the castle and its vast surrounding lands. While the castle we see today took shape around 1780, it underwent several expansions as it passed through generations of the Chapman family. 

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This family had intriguing connections to prominent historical figures, such as Sir Walter Raleigh and Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence never lived at the castle but did visit it and was inspired by its splendor.

For many years, Killua Castle lay in ruins, a silent witness to its bygone glory. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that new owners took up the mantle of restoring the castle to its former splendor. 

The Death of Jacky Dalton

One of the most intriguing tales associated with Killua Castle revolves around Benjamin Chapman’s land steward, Jacky Dalton that was working there in the late 18th century. This land steward is described as a short man with a charismatic and jovial personality. With his wild yellow wig and bagpipe skills, he became a beloved presence among Chapman and his guests.

However, Dalton’s loyalty would ultimately waver and end up betraying his master. Because the man was also described as a small cunning man with weasel eyes. He deceived Chapman and embezzled his wealth for his own gain and drinking habits. Regret and guilt would haunt him in the years to come, particularly after his master’s passing. 

Consumed by remorse, Dalton turned to heavy drinking, and his life spiraled out of control. There was no more of his cheerful disposition and music in the halls of Killua Castle anymore. Tragically, he met his end by drowning himself in the castle’s lake.

The Haunting of Killua Castle

Ever since then, it is believed that he has been haunting the estate. Over the years, witnesses have reported eerie sightings of a spectral figure on the grounds of Killua Castle. 

This apparition is described as a man with yellowish hair, an eerie reminder of Jacky Dalton. Whether he roams the estate seeking redemption or simply to remind us of his tragic tale remains a mystery.

The Haunted Killua Castle

In the serene landscape of Killua Castle, visitors have reported seeing something that looks like a ghost. It is thought to be the former steward, Jacky Dalton, who drowned himself after betraying his master. This haunting tale continues to captivate the imagination of those who visit this beautiful estate in Ireland.

For centuries, Killua Castle stood in ruins, a silent testament to its glorious past. However, in the early 2000s, a dedicated group of individuals took up the mantle of restoring the castle to its former splendor. With great care and attention to detail, they brought the castle back to life, ensuring that its historical significance would not be forgotten.

Today, Killua Castle stands as an enchanting destination for those seeking a blend of history, beauty, and the allure of the supernatural.

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References:

Killua Castle, Co Westmeath brought to you by Biz-ire.com 

Killua Castle | Haunted Westmeath, Ireland | Spirited Isle 

Killua Castle – Wikipedia 

Haunted Castles Ireland – Killua Castle – Westmeath – Southern Ireland

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The Drowned Ghosts Under Howrah Bridge in Kolkata

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The Howrah Bridge is a city icon in Kolkata, but it is also said the area is haunted by those dying from falling from it as well as drowning in the river below. And on the steps of the ghats along the river, people claim to have seen the ghosts.

The Howrah Bridge, an architectural marvel spanning the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India, stands as a timeless symbol of Kolkata’s rich heritage. Commissioned in 1943 to replace a pontoon bridge, it was renamed Rabindra Setu in honor of the renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore in 1965, though it’s still commonly known as the Howrah Bridge. 

Read more: Check out all of the ghost stories from India

This iconic structure in the city of joy, one of four bridges on the Hooghly River, serves as a vital link between the cities of Howrah and Kolkata, bearing witness to the ebb and flow of daily life in the bustling metropolis were people sit under to relax after a day at work at the ghat steps under the bridge

The Kusti Wrestlers Tell about Ghosts

Underneath The Howrah Bridge there are also wrestlers training  in the three thousand year old tradition of Kusti. Their Kusti akhara, where they practice, is found on a clay pit by the bridge. The dedicated wrestler comes to practice at 4:30 with prayers and exercises as it is not only a sport, but a lifestyle.

These wrestlers have stories to tell as well about the haunting allegedly going on, both under The Howrah Bridge as well as by the different ghats along the river like by the Mullick Ghat and the Zanana Ghat. 

Although a place to relax and enjoy the steady stream of the river popularly called Ganga or Kati-Ganga, the area under The Howrah Bridge is also thought to be haunted by the spirits of the people that lost their lives on the river. Some by accidents, some willing, perhaps even some unwillingly? 

The Howrah Bridge of the Drowned

Some people claim to have witnessed phantom arms reaching out from the dark waters under the bridge as if asking for help, still trying to get out from the river they drowned in. 

There are also stories passed around in the area about seeing a crying woman wearing white robes as she sobs by the river bank. It is said that those approaching the woman, trying to help her or the ghostly arm out of the water, become traumatized or perhaps worse, drown themselves.

Those wandering around the bridge and along the river below also claim to have heard the voices of women crying out and calling out their names in a ghostly tone, although no one is there. 

The Haunted Ghats Along the River

As twilight descends and the cityscape fades into darkness, the bridge’s silent sentinel watches over the Hooghly River, its towering silhouette casting long shadows upon the water below.

Where the Kusti Wrestlers have been training for a long time and where the ghosts keep haunting the river banks under The Howrah Bridge, silently raising their hands just above the dark waters. 

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References:

Featured Image: Tubaisam21/Wiki

Kusti by the Hooghly | Traditional Indian Wrestling in Kolkata – Ron Mayhew 

11 Haunted Places In Kolkata That You Should Not Visit Alone 

10 haunted places in Kolkata you MUST visit to see what a horror movie really looks like 

Top 12 Haunted Places in Kolkata That You Can Explore in 2024

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Hauntings and Legends from the Pocomoke State Forest

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Ghosts of locals from the Pocomoke State forest as well as mysterious balls of light and impossible dark legends, the countless tales from this haunted forest in Maryland keep piling on, making this perhaps one of the most busy as well as haunted forests in America. 

Between Snow Hill and Pocomoke City in Maryland, the Pocomoke State Forest harbors more than just the natural beauty of the landscape on the Eastern Shore. The over 18 000 acre big forest comes with a chilling reputation that locals often share in hushed whispers, this forest is deemed off-limits after sundown, as tales of eerie encounters and ghostly apparitions weave through the trees.

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The forest is often called the true Blair Witch Project forest, as it is perhaps the most well known haunted forest in Maryland where the iconic horror movie also took place. Pocomoke State Forest is shrouded in unsettling stories, with reports of women’s screams and infants’ cries echoing in the night. When people get out of the forest, they find strange marks on their cars, like the mark of a hand and at night, the forest closes. 

Its reputation is further steeped in creepy urban legends, including accounts of mysterious fireballs illuminating the darkened woods. However, it’s the tales of ominous disappearances and untimely deaths that send shivers down the spines of those who dare to explore.

The Drowned Ghosts of Pocomoke State Forest

The very word, Pocomoke comes from the Agonquian language to mean broken ground. Historically though it was thought to mean Black Water and it is said that the water is totally dark thanks to the light not passing through the bald cypress trees. 

Many tales of the ghosts haunting the forest are said to be the souls of those that drowned in the river or the swampy waters. Like the case with Joby Emmons and his son who were getting on their boat, but the son fell into the water and couldn’t get out. The father jumped in after him to rescue him, but they both got trapped under the boat and drowned. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Forests around the world

People claim that they have seen the spirit of Joby Emmons and his son walking along the river of Pocomoke State Forest. 

Source: Flickr

Another group of people haunting the swamp areas are the children between the slaves and slave owners. There are countless of stories where the slave owners raped their slaves and if there was a child born, they took the children out into the swampy forest and drowned them. Many hikers claim to have felt the touch of something small or seen little shadows gliding through the trees. 

The Sea-Captain and his Family Haunting the Forest

Many hikers and campers claim that they leave Pocomoke State Forest with mysterious handprints on their cars. What is strange is that the handprints look like it got six fingers, something a vicious Sea Captain who lived around these parts was said to have. It is believed to be him haunting the forest after his death after he murdered his family.

The place of the haunting is said to be centered around Cellar House Plantation that are still standing. It was built in 1666 and was said to have been built by a French Sea Captain for his wife, or at least bride to be. 

He came back from the sea once though and found her pregnant, or having a child already, one that wasn’t his. It was a local man from Pocomoke City. He threw her out of the house and told her to never return. 

She did though, as she had no place to go, trying to beg him for forgiveness. She had her baby with her and came down on a raft in the water. It tipped close to the house though and her baby drowned. She managed to swim to shore though, but was not saved.

In some versions of the story, the Captain was even the one drowning the child by throwing the baby into the river. Her estranged husband dragged her to the bedroom where he stabbed her to death and fled the scene of the crime into Pocomoke State Forest, never to return and be seen ever again. 

As mentioned, one of the recurring things that people report they hear in the haunted forest is the sound of a woman screaming as well as a baby crying, reliving their final moments. What happened to the Captain after he murdered his family is uncertain, but he is rumored to be haunting the forest still. 

The Heavy and Cursed Bible

Deep in the Pocomoke State Forest there once was an old church called Nazarene Church at the entrance to the Pusey Branch Nature Trail in the forest. It was a Methodist Church at the end of the 19th century. Today there is only an abandoned cemetery left as the building of the church was moved to Furnace Town in 1980. 

According to the legends, there was perhaps a cursed Bible found inside of the old church, or perhaps just a little bit haunted. Many people tried to steal this hidden Bible when they found it and ran through the forest with it, but they never got far. 

Apparently the Bible got heavier and heavier with each step you took until you dropped it and it ended up where it originally was. Whether the Bible even existed is uncertain as well if it came with the building to Furnace Town, or were left someplace at the old site. 

The Haunted Furnace Town

But what is really Furnace Town? This part of the Pocomoke State Forest has many spirits lingering where people come back with tales of seeing ghostly figures, hearing disembodied voices and other paranormal things. 

The ghost town that now is turned into a museum, and was built around the Maryland Iron Companies Nassawango Iron Furnaces in 1832. At its height Furnace Town used to employ hundreds of people. They also used slaves to do the hard labor and most ghosts seen are said to be the spirit of the slaves. 

Most known ghost said to haunt this place is the former slave, Sampson Hat, or Sampson Harmon. It is said that he was one of the slaves that worked in the mines and smelting ore in the big furnaces. By 1847 the furnaces closed down and people started to move away and the town started to be a ghost town. 

The only one who didn’t move was Sampson Hat who lived in the abandoned Furnace Town alone. The civil war came and passed, freeing him, but he still didn’t leave. According to some historical accounts he was born in 1790  at Nassawango Hills and was a free man working at Furnace Town to take care of his wife and children. 

He came to think of Furnace Town as his true home and it is said he stayed at the same place, even when his family left. He lived there until his death at 107 or 104, depending on who is telling the story.

Before he died he spent a year at the Alms House in Snow Hill. Before passing he said he had to be buried at Furnace Town, but after his death, his wishes were not heard and his body was buried elsewhere. But according to the local legends, his spirit remains and is still haunting the old town as well as Pocomoke State Forest. 

It is also said he is followed by his cats he collects and brings with him as his companions. You can hear him wandering around, calling out for Stormy which he calls the cats.

Reports about him were told a lot during construction of the former ghost town when they started to restore the town and turned it into a museum from the 1960s.

The Ball of Fire

Another strange thing reported in Pocomoke State Forest is the sighting of different elementals and no human spirits haunting the forest, taking different shapes and forms. One version told is the haunting of a big fiery ball. One version talks about the priest Paul Walker holding a revival in the forest around Pine Ridge in 1921. Some husbands were unhappy about their wives’ conversion and gathered to get the priest. They went to the church to burn it down and beat the priest up, but when the leader of the group opened the door to the church he stopped. 

A ball of fire came from the rood and split in two and went down on each side of the church. This sight scared the men and they ran off. 

The story about a fiery ball is also recounted in a legend about a man driving through Pocomoke State Forest going to Snow Hill. Ahead of him was a bright object that came close until it was around 30-35 yards from him. 

The car stopped suddenly and he was too afraid to say anything or do anything as the object looked like a bright yellow box. He was trapped in this standstill for around 15 minutes before the object drifted into the woods and off the road. As soon as the object was gone, the car started again and he managed to drive away. 

The Goat Man

Any haunted forest needs its monster stories. Like the Bigfoot or The Jersey Devil Pocomoke State Forest has the Goat Man of the Pocomoke River. It is said to be a creature with a mans body, but the head of a goat with horn.

The creature runs through the forest, eating the fishes in the river and the small animals in the forest. Not many sightings have been done of the Goat Man, but it is said you can hear him stepping on twigs and bushes in places that no man can walk. 

The legend about the Goat Man is told throughout Maryland and also thought to live in Pocomoke State Forest around Prince George’s County in Maryland. The story about the Goat Man has been told for decades, perhaps even longer. In the 1970s, a student did a project about the lore behind the creature where they also discussed that the origin of the Goat Man could be traced back to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center.

According to this version of the legend, the Goat Man was once a scientist working there called Dr. Stephen Fletcher.. During an experiment it mutated the scientist into the creature. It is said that he was attacking cars around Beltsville, around two hours drive from Pocomoke State Forest.  

The Classic Urban Legend of the Boyfriend’s Death

Another thing with Pocomoke State Forest is that it is said to be the place of many famous urban legends from modern day America. 

One unsettling narrative involves a couple stranded with an empty gas tank in the heart of the forest at night. As the boyfriend ventured out to fix it, the girlfriend dozed off in the locked car, oblivious to the scratching noises on the car roof that started sometime during the night. 

When she awoke it was the next morning and her boyfriend had still not returned. She finally heard the sound of the scraping on the roof. She got out of the car and a harrowing sight awaited her – her boyfriend hanging by his feet over the car, his feet scraping the roof. His head was placed on the trunk of the car.

This urban legend is a pretty worldwide phenomenon by now, and has been so for decades now. According to Snopes, the earliest documented version of this legend was in 1964 by a student studying at the University of Kansas. It still is an all time favorite to tell in Pocomoke State Forest

Hook Man of the Pocomoke State Forest

This urban legend has also been told with the story of the Hook Man that has been told as far back as the 1950s, possibly being even older. In this legend, they were driving or parked somewhere in the woods as a news bulletin comes on the radio and warns them about a mental asylum patient having escaped and can be recognized with a hook as a hand. In this version it is from the Cambridge State Hospital. 

In this version of the urban legend, he is mad at those who disturb the Pocomoke State Forest. The girlfriend gets scared and makes her boyfriend drive her home. As they are in the forest they hear strange things in the bushes and when they get home, they find a hook wedged into their car door handle.

The Bus Driver

Another urban legend told is coming from Pocomoke State Forest is the haunted bus. A school bus was taking a shortcut through the forest once when they experienced engine troubles and the bus had to stop. The bus driver went outside and tried to fix it, but strange things started to happen to the bus. 

The sound of something walking on the roof of the bus started to scare the children and they saw ghostly and monstrous faces in the windows. The teacher accompanying them told them all to close the windows and went to the front of the bus to find the bus driver and get them out of there. The only thing the teacher found was a skeleton by the front of the bus. 

The teacher slammed the door shut and got into the driver seat and drove them all back to the school when the bus started working again. 

This story is a little bit more difficult to pinpoint where it comes from though.

A Stay at the Haunted Pocomoke State Forest

The trees seem to reclaim the old legends and places, but the spirit and ghosts remain. Pocomoke State Forest becomes a realm where the line between the living and the supernatural blurs, beckoning both the curious and the cautious to delve into its haunted mysteries.

Urban legends coexists with old ghost stories and both human spirit as well as something inhuman are said to roam around the trees. 

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References:

The Haunted Pocomoke Forest and its Urban Legends – Chesapeake Ghost Tours 

https://www.cellarhousefarm.com/

Haunted Delmarva: Pocomoke Forest – 47abc

GHOSTS OF FURNACE TOWN — American Hauntings  

Sampson Harmon: Furnace Town’s Resident Cat-Collecting Ghost | Shorebread 

14 Myths and Legends Surrounding Maryland’s Haunted Pocomoke Forest 

Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center – Wikipedia 

Goatman (urban legend) – Wikipedia 

The Hook | Snopes.com 

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The Island of the Dolls of the Xochimilco Canals in Mexico

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Right outside of Mexico City you will find The Island of the Dolls in the Xochimilco Canals. Thousands of dolls hang in the small forest of the island, and according to the old caretaker of the island, the dolls are all possessed by spirits. 

In 2001 Don Julian Santana Barrera was fishing in the Xochimilco canals, not far from Mexico City with his nephew. The old man farming alone on his small island on the canals was around 80 years old and was well known for being a peculiar man among the locals. Sometimes in the 1950s, Santana Barrera had left his wife and rest of his family to live as a hermit on this island known as The Island of the Dolls without any electricity in a one-roomed hut. 

Santana Barrerawas a religious one, and rarely ventured outside of the island. He sometimes went over to the closest village to have a drink, but had been barred after he started to preach loudly about the bible and spirits many years ago, and had since then, stayed on his tiny island by himself and the spirits he claimed haunted his island.

Px-lga/Wikimedia

While Santana Barrera and his nephew were fishing together he started singing and claimed that mermaids were in the water, waiting for him. 

The nephew was used to the peculiar habits of his uncle and left for a moment, not thinking too much about it. When he returned he found Santana Barrera lifeless with his face down in the water. According to the nephew it was in the very same spot where a little girl had drowned that started the hauntings on The Island of the Dolls and his uncle’s lifelong project.

The Island of the Dolls in Mexico

But what story is behind this haunting on The Island of the Dolls has continued to intrigue people, and turned it into one of the most well known ghost stories in modern time?

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Mexico

As you navigate the labyrinthine waterways of Xochimilco on colorful trajinera boats, the atmosphere begins to change. The air grows heavier, and the sunlight struggles to penetrate the thick canopy of branches on the Laguna de Tequila. 

This place used to be a place of hiding for the Aztecs when the Spanish conquistadors came and rid their way of life. Now, the man made canals and small islands called chinampa, popularly known as floating gardens are one of the few remnants of that time. 

It is here you will find The Island of the Dolls or Isla de las Muñecas in Spanish, and the tiny farming island has by far become the most well known chinampa, and perhaps the most famed ghost story we have from Mexico. 

The Ghost of the Drowned Girl in the Canals

Sometime in the mid 20th century, Don Julian Santana Barrera, the caretaker of the island, started collecting dolls and hanging them up in the trees in the forest on the chinampa island in the lagoon around the same time he had been beaten up for talking about religion in town. The habit of collecting dolls had started in the small, but soon hundreds and then thousands of dolls were hanging in the trees over the next decades. 

Read More: Check of all stories from Haunted Forests

He said he had discovered the drowned body of a young girl in the waters years before surrounding his home. Some say he saw her drifting down the canal dead or he didn’t manage to save a drowning girl he saw tangled up in the water lilies. According to many retellings she had been playing with her sister when they got separated and she was taken by the current. 

The details of how it started is hazy, and any signs of a drowned girl connected to this story has not been found and there are no official reports about this. His family mostly think that Santana Barrera merely imagined the drowned girl. But he still set up a crucifix on the place that he claimed she died and. 

The next day he came across a doll drifting down and he believed it belonged to the girl. The doll was wearing a straw hat with sunflowers. Some also claim he heard the voice of the girl screaming she wanted her doll. He hung it from the tree as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. But seemingly, it seems it started to attract spirits if we are to believe the legends.  

Tormented by the spirit of the deceased, Santana Barrera began hanging dolls from the trees as a means of appeasing the girl’s restless soul. He was a catholic christian that also believed in the local mysticism. 

A Forest of Staring Eyes

The dolls that dangle from the branches on The Island of the Dolls have become grotesque effigies, each one seemingly frozen in a moment of silent terror. Their dismembered limbs, weathered features, and empty stares create an unnerving tableau that chills the bravest of hearts. As the wind whispers through the trees, the dolls sway with an otherworldly energy, as if animated by forces beyond mortal comprehension.

According to those close to him, it was like something possessed Santana Barrera, and it was like something on The Island of the Dolls changed him and drove him to always trying to appease the drowned girl’s spirit as well as the rest of the dolls. 

The artificially made islands called chinampa is a remnant from the Aztec and people grew their crops on the island. When the crops failed on Barreras island, it was supposedly the spirits of the dolls fault and he needed to appease them somehow. Santana Barrera claimed that the dolls themselves were possessed and continued to collect dolls, trading them to him throughout his life. 

Karpinico/Wikimedia

Santana Barrera traded them for his vegetables, he scoured the canals and found old, discarded dolls and hung them up as they were, even if they were missing a limb or was just a single head. If they were covered in moss or dirt didn’t matter, they all ended up in his collection on The Island of the Dolls. In the end there are about 4000 dolls on the island. When people came to visit he welcomed them and showed them around, looked at the dolls as his protectors and charged a fee for taking their photos. 

The family of Santana Barrera opened the island to the public after his death in 2001 when his nephew, Anastasio Santana Velasco took over as the caretaker of the island. It ended in the Guinness World Records Book as the biggest collection of haunted dolls. In the one-room hut that Barrera lived alone in they displayed the first doll that Barrera found all those years ago. 

They also have put his favorite doll, Agustina there with her glasses and turquoise. She is the only doll with a name on The Island of the Dolls. She is said to have powers of healing, and people tend to leave little offerings for her. It is also said she used to walk around at night. 

Today it is his great nephew, Rogelio Sanchez Santana that is a caretaker of The Island of the Dolls and a guardian to the dolls. 

The Hauntings in the Forest on the Island

Local lore suggests that the Island of the Dolls is a nexus of paranormal activity, with the dolls serving as vessels for the spirits that inhabit the island. His nephews claim that the same screams that his uncle had heard can sometimes be heard on the island among the trees.

Visitors have reported disembodied whispers, eerie laughter, and the feeling of unseen eyes watching their every move. Some claim to have witnessed the dolls moving on their own or heard the anguished cries of the girl whose tragic fate led to the creation of this haunted forest on the haunted island.

Most trajinera boat rowers are willing to take tourists over to The Island of the Dolls, and there have even become a stop on the tours on the canals, but to this day there are still those that refuse because of the superstitions and legends hanging over the island. People leave offerings by the dolls for blessings and some even come to change clothes of the dolls as a sort of worship. 

As the water laps against the shores of Xochimilco, the island’s ominous presence beckons the curious, daring them to step into a world where the boundary between reality and nightmare is forever blurred—an experience that, once embraced, may leave an indelible mark on the soul.

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Real story behind ‘haunted’ Island of the Dolls in Mexico 

The haunting story of the man who built the Island of Dolls | Guinness World Records 

The Island of the Dolls – Wikipedia 

Isla de las Muñecas 

The spooky story behind the Mexican Island of Dolls bring chills to those who visit – ABC News 

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The Story of the Lost Children on Rue Des Chantres

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The Lost Children on Rue Des Chantres is still remembered, and sometimes even heard and seen on what is known as the most haunted street in Paris. 

Step onto the mysterious Rue des Chantres, just a couple of meters from the Seine in Paris and you will find yourself surrounded by spine-tingling tales of forgotten tragedies, haunted houses, and long-lost children.

This narrow and small street so close to Notre Dame has a long history and there are whispered rumors about lost souls to true accounts of agony and death. Learn about the sinister side of Rue des Chantres.

The Île de la Cité District in Paris

As one of the oldest parts of Paris, Île de la Cité is a place of legends about spooky happenings. This part of the city was once home to a convent, a castle, and hundreds of haunted houses that are said to be brimming with ghosts from the past. 

Tales have been passed down for centuries about the mysterious happenings between Rue des Chantres and Île de la Cité and people like Heloise from the Romeo and Juliet tale of Heloise and Abelard used to live in this area.

Uncover the History of The Lost Children

The terrifying legend of the Lost Children on Rue des Chantres is based on a true story. In 1910, the water level in Paris rose to an all time high level and flooded the city. Apparently it rose over one and a half meters. 

The city was at the time riddled with sickness, poverty and many suffered from tuberculosis. The hospitals had to rent extra rooms, and it is said they rented them at a hotel called Hotel-Dieu where the children stayed on the first floor. 

The children were allowed to be outside and play during the day and locked up for their safety during the night in their rooms. At the night of the flood they were trapped, helpless and drowned without a chance of escaping. 

The hospital tried to remove the body of the dead children in the night so no one could see, but they were discovered and to this day, many people believe that these poor souls still haunt the street as lost spirits – never having found peace in death.

The Ghost Children on Rue Des Chantres

Ever since that tragic night of the flood, visitors and locals alike have heard the sound of children’s screams coming out of the street as well as laughter from them playing. Some also report strange lights and shadowy figures walking in and out of doorways. Many attribute these sightings to the Lost Children on Rue des Chantres – but whatever their origin, they have certainly left a lasting impression on those brave enough to witness them.

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Rue des Chantres: A Little-Known Lane on Île de la Cité | solosophie

City of Fright | Peacock Plume

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The Child Coffin in the Venetian Lagoon

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The bright blue water in the Venetian Lagoon turns gray in the night. In the fog you can hardly see anything. But beware, look out for a small child coffin with four little candles lit on it. It is the hauntings of the young girl who drowned and trying to warn people that she is still there. 

Fog crept over the lagoon in Venice. Just off St. Michele Island on the 29th of November in 1904, nighttime and the fog made it dark to be on the water. 

All of the transportation in Venice happened and still happens to be on the water and a water bus known as a vaporetto and a gondola was passing. Francesco Quintavalle was the captain on the vaporetto, or water bus called ‘Pellestrina’, and knew he couldn’t see much. Still, he had his passengers from the Fondamenta Nove he had to transport to the island of Burano, known for its colorful houses across the lagoon. The colorful houses were all gray tonight. 

When passing the cemetery of St. Michele, the captain gave orders to change course. But a gondola was right behind them and had no chance of stopping in time before crashing with the vaporetto. The gondola was wrecked, but some of the passengers managed to cling onto the gondola. However,  five passengers ended up in the dark water and never came up alive. 

All night they searched for the rest of the passengers that disappeared into the lagoon. They were all women. Thosa Mary Bull was the first to be found, dead of hypothermia and it wasn’t looking good for the rest.. In the morning hours the bodies of Lei, Thoso of Borelli and Amalia Padovan Vistosi were found as well. But two of the girls, Teresa Sandon and Giuseppina Gabriel Carmelo were not found for a while. 

It wasn’t until the sister of Teresa Sandon had a dream of her sister in September 1905 another of the bodies were uncovered. The ghost of the drowned woman asked her to pray for her and free her soul. Ten days later two fishermen found the body of Sandon. 

But Giuseppina Gabriel Carmelo, just a little girl, wasn’t as lucky, and she was never found.

Now to this day, just off St Michele, which is one of the big cemeteries in Venice, you can sometimes see a small floating coffin with four burning candles lit on the lid on foggy nights. This is the spirit of Giuseppina, signaling that she is there and to stop other ferrymen and people on boats to never collide with her again. 

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Venice Legends and Ghosts 

Mysterious Venice | FernFlower Group

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The Viking Ghost at Stokksnes Beach

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On Stokksnes Beach in Iceland you can sometimes see the ghost of a drowned viking coming up from the ocean to haunt the black beach. 

Iceland, a land of breathtaking natural beauty and stark contrasts, has seeped into its ghost stories and folklore. From ancient sagas to modern-day tales, the whispers of the past echo through the rugged terrain and hauntingly beautiful vistas.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Iceland

As daylight fades and the auroras dance in the night sky, the veil between the living and the dead grows thin, inviting seekers of the unknown to explore the eerie narratives woven into the very fabric of this enchanting island. Join us as we delve into the ghostly stories that haunt the land of fire and ice.

The Black Sand of Stokksnes Beach

In the southeast parts of Iceland you can find one of the most beautiful and mysterious  beaches there is. Black sand on Stokksnes Beach stretches from the cold and wild ocean water to the dark and snow covered mountains rising up from the ocean. 

The area around Stokksnes Beach was the place for the first settlers on Iceland dating back to the 9th century when the viking came from Scandinavia to find new land. Although today there is nothing more than an abandoned film set for a viking village left nearby. 

Although Stokksnes Beach is breathtakingly beautiful, the beach has also seen its fair share of horrible sights and several strange and paranormal rumors travel up and down the black beaches. Perhaps not so strange in this magical looking landscape perfect to behold the Northern Lights.  

Haunted Legends at Stokksnes Beach

According to local legend, Stokksnes Beach is the place where most shipwrecks have happened in Iceland and many dead and drowned have washed ashore on these beaches. 

For this reason the locals think Stokksnes Beach is haunted. People that have visited the beach tell of seeing stuff like wet footprints leading from the sea when there has not been a single soul to have made them. 

Voices that are carried by the wind and an ever presence of someone watching are also some of the haunted rumors that come from this beach. 

According to some there is a giant and hairy viking man that walks out of the ocean at night, dripping wet rising from his watery grave to haunt the beach.  

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Sea of Ghosts: Is This Beach in Iceland Haunted?

https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/stokksnes

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Lady of the Lake at Gotts Point in Lake Lowell

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Sometimes the sound of someone gasping for air is heard over the deep waters in Lake Lowell, Idaho. Some claim it is the ghost of a girl who drowned at Gotts Point a long time ago that is still trying to get to the shore. 

The deep waters can be a treacherous place. One wrong move and you will never reach the shores of safe land ever again. Stories about ghosts of drowned are some of the oldest ghost stories we have and they come from all. From the deep blue sea, fierce rivers and the dark waters of lakes. 

Read More: Check out all of the ghost stories from USA

Gotts Point is a place between Nampa and Caldwell in Idaho and bears such a haunting legend. The beautiful Lake Lowell is home to much wonderful wildlife as well as haunting stories of the people that drowned there. 

The Ghost of the Lady in the Lake at Gotts Point

One of the ghosts that are said to sit under the surface of the water is that of a girl that drowned in the lake in the 1970s when she was water skiing at Gotts Point. She has later been dubbed Lady of the Lake of Lake Lowell to some when telling the legend of her ghost that are sometimes spotted by swimmers or those that walk along the shores.  

The Lady of the Lake: at Gotts Point in Lake Lowell there are tales that a woman is haunting the lake after drowning. Her ghost have been dubbed the Lady of the Lake.

The reports include sounds of her gasping for air out in the lake late at night as well as seeing her sitting on a rock along the shore, but disappearing when you get close. 

Her name as well as hard evidence of a girl actually having drowned at that time and place has not surfaced, but considering that many people drown in these parts every year when the summer comes and people are drawn to the water, a ghost of a drowned one doesn’t sound as far fetched at all. 

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The Possession of Letta the Doll

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Described as the ‘doll from hell’, Letta the Doll in Australia is the cause of strange things. But although a scary one, the owner will never part with the possessed doll and has today a very strong social media profile and is travelling the country. 

Haunted dolls have long been the subject of fascination and fear throughout time across the globe. These eerie objects made in our image are believed to be inhabited by restless spirits or possess supernatural powers. What is it with dolls, originally made for children to play with that taps into something so scary? With their lifeless eyes and unsettling presence, haunted dolls have captured the imagination of many and have become the stuff of nightmares.

Read also: Check our stories about other haunted dolls like Okiku — The Haunted Doll of Hokkaido, The Haunted Barbie Doll in The Shrine on Pulau Ubin Island or Mandy the Haunted Doll.

Stories of dolls moving on their own, whispering, or causing inexplicable occurrences have been passed down through generations, fueling the belief in their paranormal existence. Whether these accounts are true or merely urban legends, one thing is certain: haunted dolls continue to both terrify and intrigue those who dare to encounter them.

This is the case with the curious Letta the Doll in Australia that have captivated the country on the account of being creepy and allegedly haunted.

The Haunted Story of Letta the Doll

The owner of Letta the Doll, Kerry Walton claims he found the doll under the floor of the porch in an abandoned house in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Australia. He was going there for his grandmother’s funeral, and decided to go exploring the neighboring house that always had haunted him when he visited.

The doll is of wood and is child sized with a peculiar face, dressed in green with a long braid. When Walton first saw the doll, he was as terrified as we are when seeing the doll. 

Read also: Check out all of our ghost stories from Australia

That was back in 1972 and Letta the Doll came back to live with Walton and his family in Brisbane were the doll has lived ever since.

The origin of the name Letta the Doll came about when he was transporting it to its new home. When he put the doll in the trunk of his car to drive home, he heard movement and a scream:

“Letta me out,” he heard from the back of his trunk where only the doll was. And ever since then, the doll was called Letta the Doll. And since then, the doll has apparently been the cause of many strange things happening in the home in Queensland. 

Letta The Doll: The doll is a peculiar one, with a grin that will stay with you for a long time. According to the person that found her and so called carer, the doll is haunted by the spirit of a drowned boy. //Photo: Facebook.

Together, Letta the Doll and Kerry Walton have appeared on numerous television shows where he claims there is something paranormal over the doll. He says more than one person has seen the doll move right in front of them. There are also signs of the dolls moving on its own as it left visible marks around the house as well as under the shoes of the doll. 

The children living with the doll were also understandably terrified of the strange new addition to the household, and said they could hear the doll move around. 

The Doll With a Strong Media Profile

You can get the opportunity to meet with the doll, however, there are reports of having nightmares as well as feeling nauseous after an encounter with Letta the Doll. The owner of the doll is traveling around with it when not in their home in Warwick and charges money to get a picture taken. The doll is so famous now, it even has its own facebook account. 

Walton himself has vowed to never get rid of the doll, although he has tried. Once, to get his family out of a financial situation, he tried to sell the doll for 400$. But when it got to him taking the doll out of the car, he physically couldn’t do it, as if a force of some sort was stopping him. 

As well as the Facebook account as a true influencer, Letta the Doll also has gotten an Instagram profile where they post family like pictures like this:

Letta the Doll Possessed by the Restless Spirit of a Drowned Boy

Another claim that Walton has is about the origin of the doll and why this particular object is haunted. He apparently had the doll examined by a professional and found that the doll itself was around 200 years old. And the hair of the doll was made with real human hair allegedly, specifically from Eastern European gypsies. 

On further examination in some way or another, he found that the doll was haunted by a restless spirit of a drowned boy. The doll is supposedly possessed with the spirit of this boy, and in some variation of the origin of the doll, it was the gypsies that placed the soul of the boy inside the doll. And according to Walton, he thinks the drowning is the reason why it always rains when they go traveling for their shows. 

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https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/annabelle-real-life-haunted-dolls/

World’s most haunted doll lives in Warwick | The Courier Mail