The Legend of Donkey Lady Bridge

Throughout the world, bridges have been an integral part of numerous civilizations, serving as important landmarks and symbols of progress. Texas has plenty of folklore, but the Donkey Lady Bridge of San Antonio, a popular, fascinating, and mysterious local urban legend, is easily one of the most well-known. A paranormal entity known as the “Donkey Lady” is rumored to lurk near the bridge at Applewhite Road and Elm Creek, seeking vengeance for the horrible tragedy she endured as a young woman.

Located in Central Texas near the town of San Antonio, this bridge has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike due to its unique story. San Antonio is a city full of history and culture, but many locations throughout the city have stories of ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural phenomena. One hidden gem in the town is the Donkey Lady Bridge and its surrounding area. The Bridge itself is just a short drive from San Antonio, easy to reach and to find, located on the west side of San Antonio, and has been a storied part of local folklore for decades. The true origins of the Donkey Lady Bridge Legend are unknown.

This unassuming San Antonio bridge looks harmless enough during the day but come nighttime, it’s an entirely different story. The charming, lush vegetation seems to press in around you, and there is little light to see your surroundings. Many people claim that the area has a heavy feel to the air and that it always feels like someone is watching you. This, of course, could be the Donkey Lady watching and waiting to terrorize those who venture into her territory. The tale has been around long enough that there are multiple colorful versions of it, some dating back all the way to the 1800s.

This bridge has a varied, historic past, but all origins and accounts lead to the same conclusion: that the bridge is haunted by a spectral being resembling a woman disfigured and resembling a donkey. All iterations of the story come to the same conclusion, however, that the Donkey Lady haunts the area out of pain, grief, and restlessness.

Stories say she was disfigured in a horrible fire started by her husband, others speculate her soul merged with that of her domesticated donkey when they were drowned together. Though many of the details about the Donkey Lady are not agreed upon, they all hold that the Donkey Lady haunts the area around Elm Creek, going after anyone who dares to cross. Some visitors to the bridge claim to have spotted a person with a donkey’s face, others report finding hoof-like indentations on their car. Many claim to hear the sound of rushing hooves. The folklore is worth reading about and the trailheads around the bridge are a lovely visit. Just beware, if the Donkey Lady doesn’t get you the ivy, snakes, or feral hogs might.

One legend dates back to the 1920s and tells of a woman who lived near it throughout her lifetime. Legend has it that she kept donkeys as pets and thus was known as the “Donkey Lady” in these parts. She would sometimes be seen walking along the bridge with her donkeys late at night or early in the morning, which added to her mysterious presence in this area. Although there have been several reports of sightings of this woman over many years, today, no one knows if she still resides nearby or not.

This bridge has become notorious for its supposed paranormal activity. It is said that she was once an ordinary woman living on the outskirts of San Antonio. But one day, something strange happened to her, and she grew donkey-like features and began living in the nearby woods like an animal.

According to local folklore, the woman who was transformed into a half-woman, half-donkey hybrid haunts the area around the bridge at night. It’s said that she can be heard screaming and braying like a donkey while looking for food as she roams nearby woods and creeks. Some say she can even stand on her hind legs and walk upright like a human. Those brave enough to approach her to say that she looks almost human but has long ears, large eyes, and coarse fur covering her body. The legend claims that anyone who sees her will be cursed with bad luck unless they manage to run away quickly enough. Another version of the story claims that the bridge is haunted by a woman whose lower half takes the form of a donkey.

One of the most well-known and worst versions of the story started when a farming family living outside San Antonio met a horrific end. The farmer set fire to his home, murdered his children, and left his wife horribly disfigured. Her fingers were melted down to stumps, creating hoof-like appendages, and the skin on her face was charred and gave her face an elongated, donkey-like appearance. Grieving the loss of her children and the betrayal of her husband, she haunts Elm Creek and torments those who try to cross.

According to another variation of that particular story, it wasn’t the farmer who caused the fire, but a stranger who came across the family in his travels. In this version, the family keeps a donkey, and the stranger begins to beat it mercilessly until they chase him away. Later that night, he returns and sets their home on fire, killing the farmer and the children. The mother forces her way out of the house, screaming in agony, her body already disfigured to resemble a donkey. She chases the cruel arsonists away and falls into the river, but her body is never found.

Local lore suggests that during the late 1800s, a Chinese immigrant woman who was rumored to be a witch was denied entry into San Antonio as her skin color made her an easy target for discrimination. In retaliation for this rejection, she cursed anyone who crossed her path with disaster and misfortune. Eventually, she took refuge near a creek on what is now known as Donkey Lady Bridge and disappeared from public view—but not local memory.

For years, countless tales have been about the mysterious “Donkey Lady” living on or near the bridge. Some say she is an older woman who rides around on her donkey at night, while others claim she was cursed by a witch and still haunts this place today.

If you’re brave enough to seek out the Donkey Lady for yourself, visit the bridge after dark. Some people experience nothing but jitters and the feeling of being watched, but others claim to have seen something out there. Some folks claim to have witnessed a creature with a donkey’s face screaming at them from the window and later found hoof-like indentations on their car. Many people hear rushing hoof-claps when they visit. Simply call out her name, and she just might appear right before your eyes — whether you’re ready for it or not. The best way to get her attention is by honking your horn.

Just like the origins of Donkey Lady, there are also many reports of area locals experiencing odd happenings and even terrifying encounters with the lady herself. One local’s account, found on Weird US, tells the story of how he and his friends went to the bridge at night to see if they could find anything, and then were chased through the woods by the Donkey Lady, who was enraged at their presence. Many others have similar stories, and many also have car dents shaped like hooves and even broken windshields as proof of their ordeals. Residents also believe that if you cross the bridge during a full moon, you will be blessed with good luck for months to come.

A nearby paved trail allows for further exploration as several people have reported that cars are no longer allowed on the bridge. Trailheads close at sunset, you may find others there at night too though. There is limited parking at the entrance of Old Applewhite Trailhead (closest to Donkey Lady Bride), but you may find a spot on the side of the road. The bridge is blocked off to where you can only drive so close. You’ll find the bridge at the intersection of Elm Creek and Applewhite Road, about four miles north of Loop 1604 on the South side of San Antonio. Be aware of your surroundings, wild animals, and locals. Bring water if you plan on walking the entire 14 miles of trail.

2440 W Jett Rd
San Antonio, Texas, 78264
United States

San Antonians up for a good Halloween scare no longer have to drive to an old, dilapidated bridge at night, in a dark corner of the Southside, to hear the legendary Donkey Lady. From midnight Oct. 31 through Nov. 6, they only have to call a local phone number. Each night, a new 45-second message awaits callers to the Donkey Lady Hotline. Her story will unfold in a series of segments as she reflects on present-day San Antonio, according to Marisela Barrera, a performance artist who claims to have had personal contact with the legendary lady.

The Donkey Lady hotline: 210-960-3826.

The hotline itself retains the air of legend, Barrera said. Back in the 1970s and 1980s she’d heard the stories, each with its own neighborhood-specific variations. Friends tell her they used to call the hotline and hear creepy sounds, or sometimes even talk to her if she surprised them by picking up. Other times, callers will hear a prerecorded message, updated daily through Election Day, then every Saturday through Dec. 31. There is no charge for the call.

Whether or not the Donkey Lady is real, she’s a lingering presence in the folklore of central Texas. There’s even a beer named after her.