Greenbrier’s Viral “Barbie-Eating Tree” Gains Thousands of Fans Worldwide
GREENBRIER, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – In one of the more unusual stories that Smokey Barn News has ever covered: a Barbie doll here in Greenbrier is gaining some worldwide attention as she is slowly—ever so slowly—being swallowed by a tree.
This eerie, years-long transformation has spurred an online following of curious fans, with a dedicated Facebook group rapidly spooling up new members eager to track her progress.
According to Chet Thompson of Greenbrier, the story began when his granddaughter Bridgette Thompson (pictured below) wedged the doll in a gap of a tree where two branches had started to merge.
Over time, the tree began to envelop the Barbie, “swallowing” her slowly until only her legs and parts of her head and arms were visible from the bark. As the years passed, Chet and his family began documenting the unusual phenomenon with photographs, capturing the doll’s gradual disappearance. Today, she is almost entirely encased, with only a few visible features left.
Sharing the photos on social media led to a massive response. Thousands of people reacted with a mix of amusement and horror, with comments like “Terrifying,” “Hilarious,” and “Disturbing.” The response inspired Chet to create a Facebook group, “The Barbie Trees,” dedicated to tracking the doll’s transformation. The group has since attracted about 2,500 members from 10 countries, fascinated by Barbie’s slow demise and eager to see how long she’ll last.
Adding to the intrigue, the group counts actor Bill Mumy, known for his role as Will Robinson on Lost in Space and his memorable appearance on The Twilight Zone, among its members. Mumy, who also has a “Barbie Tree” of his own in California, regularly posts photos and interacts with group members, sharing in the spooky fun of watching Barbie dolls being claimed by trees.PS: Did you know that Bill Mumy also co-wrote and performed the hit song Fish Heads?
For the past 12 years, this Barbie has slowly vanished, and Thompson estimates she might be completely enveloped by this time next year. In the meantime, the group continues to post updates on Barbie’s progress along with other eerie stories and photos.
Just in time for Halloween, Smokey Barn News invites you to check out “The Barbie Trees” group and keep up with one of the strangest local attractions around. If you’d like to join the group or view current pictures on Facebook, CLICK HERE.
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