If you find yourself traveling south of San Antonio, Texas, on Applewhite Road, beyond the fire station and the sprawling Toyota plant, and stop just before reaching the Medina River, you’ll discover a peculiar and eerie place. A short walk through a peaceful stretch of forest, bathed in patches of sunlight, brings you to a small bridge arching over a bubbling stream, hidden from the nearby highway.
Here, in the stillness of certain evenings, as the day’s final light fades and the wind’s rustle through the treetops quiets, you may sense something you can’t quite explain. Perhaps it’s a sudden movement in the underbrush, a fleeting shadow, or the unmistakable sound of hooves. You might not see her, but many visitors claim that the Donkey Lady is near.
The Haunting of the Donkey Lady Bridge
For decades, this strangely named specter has haunted a bridge in San Antonio, drawing curious locals and tourists alike. Witnesses recount hearing hoofbeats, distant screams, and glimpsing a ghostly figure with a grotesquely disfigured face and body. Some have even discovered hoofprints on their cars. The apparent danger only adds to the allure of this site, which has become a popular destination for thrill-seekers and ghost enthusiasts.
“When I moved to San Antonio in 2002, the first place my friends took me wasn’t to Fiesta, the Riverwalk, or even the Alamo; it was to the Donkey Lady bridge,” recalls Marisela Barrera, a local artist.
According to one version of the legend, the Donkey Lady is the restless spirit of a woman who lived on a farm outside San Antonio over a century ago. She raised donkeys alone and met a gruesome end in a fire that left her body horribly disfigured. Unable to find peace, her ghost lingers near the bridge, embodying a spirit as stubborn as the animals she cared for.
“The Donkey Lady stands her ground,” says Barrera. “She’s so strong-willed that she could survive despite her circumstances.”
Why Are So Many Ghosts Female?
The Donkey Lady is just one example of a recurring pattern in American folklore: many ghosts are women. From the ubiquitous Lady in White to the spectral Mrs. Spencer who haunted Joan Rivers’ New York apartment, female spirits seem to dominate ghost stories.
While there is no definitive database of hauntings, a glance through lists of haunted places and famous ghosts reveals a distinct trend. “It does seem that the numbers are skewed more toward female ghosts,” notes Leanna Renee Hieber, co-author of A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America’s Ghosts.
The reasons behind this trend could range from the supernatural to the mundane. Are women more likely to linger in the afterlife? Are their stories simply more memorable? Or do we imagine a woman in a white dress when we see an indistinct shape in the fog?
Edgar Allan Poe once suggested that the death of a beautiful woman is the most poetic subject in the world. Regardless of the reason, the abundance of female ghosts intrigues us, much like the ghosts themselves, whether we believe in the supernatural or not.
The Connection Between Ghosts and Belief
“There’s a saying that seeing is believing, but it’s equally true that believing is seeing,” says Anna Stone, a psychologist at the University of East London. “Our ghosts reflect our beliefs about what ought to happen, our desires.”
What ties together spirits like Gertrude Tredwell, who haunts the Merchant’s House in New York, the Bell Witch that tormented the Bell family in Tennessee, and the forlorn lover said to scratch at cars on Emily’s Bridge in Vermont? The answer, much like the evolving roles of women in society, is complex.
“There are layers upon layers of how female identity, as constructed in Western society over the past few centuries, overlaps with death,” says Andrea Janes, who co-authored A Haunted History of Invisible Women with Hieber.
Victorian Roots of the Female Ghost Phenomenon
The prominence of female ghosts may also be linked to the Victorian era, a time when ghost stories were highly popular. “It was a period when gender roles were becoming more confined,” explains Hieber, “and this confinement continued even after death.” Before funeral parlors existed, women were typically the ones who prepared the dead for burial, further connecting them to death.
During this era, death was romanticized, much like in Poe’s works, creating memorable tales of women and their lingering spirits. Women also played a significant role in the supernatural as mediums in the spiritualist movement and as authors like Rhoda Broughton and Charlotte Ridell, who penned ghostly stories featuring female spirits.
Hieber notes, “The stage was set for women to be involved in ghost lore because they were directly involved in creating it.”
Shifting Purposes of Ghost Stories
The purpose of a ghost’s return has evolved over time. In the Medieval period, ghosts often served as cautionary tales. A woman might become a ghost if she had violated societal norms or committed some perceived wrong. Later, however, ghosts like the Bell Witch sought to punish those who had wronged them.
“We all have an innate sense of justice,” says Stone. “We like to see bad people punished and good people rewarded, no matter how long it takes.”
For a woman who suffered at the hands of her husband or was cast out by her community, the afterlife may have been her only avenue for justice. Her story, passed down by other women, could serve as a form of healing or vengeance.
“There is some comfort in the idea that you can haunt someone forever if they failed to meet your needs in life,” Janes adds.
Ghost stories also preserve history. For women who lacked legal rights, a ghost story might be the most powerful way to be remembered. “As ghosts, women have staying power; they have a voice,” Hieber explains.
A Modern Twist to a Timeless Tale
In San Antonio, that voice took on a new form in 2018 when Barrera launched a hotline where residents could share their encounters with the Donkey Lady. Some callers even received responses from the ghost herself. “The Donkey Lady received marriage proposals, sweet messages, laughter, and even hate,” Barrera recounts, illustrating the diverse opinions within the community.
The Donkey Lady’s tale, like many female ghost stories, carries certain stereotypes. She is portrayed as a spinster, an independent woman who raised livestock in a male-dominated society, marginalized and misunderstood. Yet, she also symbolizes resilience and independence—traits that might unsettle those who prefer women to fit traditional roles.
“Is it scary when a woman does not conform to societal expectations?” asks Barrera. “Is it frightening when a woman shows strength?”
The story of the Donkey Lady continues to evolve, shifting with each retelling. In some versions, she is ferocious; in others, a tragic victim; in yet others, a steadfast guardian. But one thing remains constant—she is always there.
