This Hidden Island In Mississippi Has A Haunting Past That’ll Send Chills Down Your Spine
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published August 25, 2017
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Five barrier islands lie just miles from Mississippi’s coastline. Because of their close proximity to the mainland, they’re extremely popular destinations. However, many are completely unaware there’s another island with a haunting past hidden nearby. Lurking beneath the waters of the Gulf, the island was originally known as Dog Island. Even though it vanished long ago, chilling remnants of its past are said to live on to this day. Take a look:
Dog Island is located about 12 miles offshore, between East Ship and Horn islands. It was visible in 1847; however, it disappeared about 10 years later.
Nearly a half century later, the island reappeared. In 1926, several local businessmen took advantage of the newly surfaced island and opened the Isle of Caprice resort.
Offering "dancing, surf bathing, boating, fishing, and gambling," it attracted visitors from near and far. The island soon became known as the "Monte Carlo of the South."
Courtesy of Biloxi Public Library
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Several ferries, including the Non Pareil (pictured) and Pan American, provided transportation to the island. A round trip ticket, which included food and Barq’s root beer, was 50 cents per passenger.
The resort’s success was short lived, however. Its demise began in 1929, with the Great Depression. Not long after, the island was ravaged by a hurricane.
According to legend, the hurricane was headed straight to the island. Despite the impending storm, many people chose to stay at the Isle of Caprice instead of heading back to the mainland.
Two days later, rescuers from Biloxi went out to the island to check on survivors; however, there weren’t any. Instead, they only found bodies and debris floating in the water where the island had been.
According to legend, if you go out into the Gulf where the sunken island is hidden beneath the water’s surface, you can hear "rowdy laughter, abruptly replaced with terrified screams, then total silence."
