The infamous Donkey Lady phone number is a hotline that sends a 45-second long message to callers who phone the number. The hotline first surfaced during the 1970s as part of a Halloween prank by the local community. The sound from the other end of the phone line was said to be the disembodied screams of a woman followed by the trotting sounds of a hoofed animal.
In 2018, the Donkey Lady phone number re-emerged when it was set up for the Halloween week from 31st October to 6th November. Anyone who calls the hotline would receive a recorded message of a creepy sounding woman who claims to be Donkey Lady. In some of the “unfortunate” calls, callers claimed to have struck a conversation with the Donkey Lady, who recounted her tragic incident and why she now haunts the bridge.
The bone-chilling hotline was later revealed by San Antonio Reports to be the work of performance artist Marisela Barrera. The project, titled “The Donkey Lady Live”, was part of Barrera’s efforts to share her thoughts about the city’s development as well as local folklore.
For anyone who is interested in contacting the Donkey Lady, the hotline is 210-960-3826.
History of Donkey Lady Bridge
Located in San Antonio, Texas, the haunted Donkey Lady bridge have been scaring travelers for decades with its reputed sightings of the infamous donkey-looking humanoid, the Donkey Lady.
There are several versions regarding the origins of Donkey Lady. The most popular account speaks of a tragedy that happened to a farming family living just outside of San Antonio. The story dates back to the 1950s when the father, who was claimed to be possessed, murdered his children and set his home alive. The wife had survived the initial attacks and escaped the crumbling home before it collapsed. However, the fire had melted the skins on her finger, causing her to leave hooves-like stumps on the ground as she crawled away from the scene.
She had also suffered from a large percentage of third degree burns on her face, causing it to be disfigured in a way such that her healed face resembled that of a donkey. Distraught by the incident and her deformed face, she committed suicide a year after the incident. Since then, rumors of a donkey-looking creature began surfacing along the woods at Medina River where the tragic incident supposedly happened.
An alternate version of the story says that the attack was done by a group of men led by a wealthy merchant. As the mob gathered around the cabin, a torch was lit and thrown into the house, instantly setting the living room ablaze. The husband attempted to make a run for the woods to distract the attackers but was instantly shot by the ruthless gang. As screams filled the air from the inside of the house, the wife emerged from a window in the cabin. Badly burnt and disfigured, she let out a chilling scream and drove the men away. With her fingers and toes fused shut by the fire, she squirmed her way into the waters of Elm Creek and was never seen again.
The Donkey Lady creature is said to the wife of the farmer who now haunts the woods along Medina River, hoping to exact revenge on her husband.
A more unlikely version of the legend speaks of a woman who was walking her donkey back home from the city when she was pushed off the bridge together with her beloved animal. Angered, the restless spirit of the woman took the form of her dearest donkey and now terrorizes anyone near the bridge.
Sightings of Donkey Lady
Multiple reports have talked about the appearance of a half human, half donkey creature stomping the grounds of Jett Road with its hooves. A loud shriek can also be heard in the middle of the night by visitors looking for a chance encounter with the mythical legend. Visitors to the Donkey Lady Bridge have experienced the feeling of being watched by something in the woods. She is known to be particularly annoyed by the sounds of a car horn and would chase off anyone who angers her.
Many have also reported returning to their car after a hike in the area, only to see the sides of their vehicle dented and windshield smashed. Many thrill seekers who have ventured into the underside of the bridge have also claimed to have seen hoofprints leading into the woods.
In one incident, a father and his two sons were camping in the area when they spotted a weird-looking animal approaching the trio. Instinctively, the father hurried the boys back into the truck. All of a sudden, the creature crashed onto the vehicle and pounded on the windscreen with its two hands. The father floored the gas pedal and ran over the donkey-looking humanoid before escaping the scene.
While there are no concrete evidence to proof the existence of Donkey Lady or the incident of the father who killed his family, the numerous accounts of encounters with the donkey-looking creature have definitely lent some truth to the terrifying legend.
Directions to Donkey Lady Bridge
The infamous Donkey Lady Bridge is located on the southern end of San Antonio, right by Old Applewhite Road. There are multiple ways to get to Donkey Lady Bridge, with S Jett Road being the most popular due to its proximity to Loop 1604 and Route 16. To get there, travel east from the intersection of Loop 1604 (also known as the Charles W. Anderson Loop) and Route 16 and turn left into S Jett Road. From there, drive 2 miles along S Jett Road and W Jett Rd till you reach a sharp right bend with Old Applewhite Road. Donkey Lady Bridge can be found on the left of the bend.
The address of Donkey Lady Bridge is Applewhite Rd, San Antonio, TX 78264, United States.
Visitors looking for a short hike in the area may park at Medina River Greenway Applewhite Trailhead and hike 0.7 miles along Medina River Greenway trail to Donkey Lady Bridge.
