Nearly three years to the day of the death of her infant son, Suzie Reynolds dedicated South Whidbey’s newest phone booth in memory of him.

Callers will not hear a dial tone when they pick up the receiver, however, because there’s something different about this phone booth – it’s completely disconnected.

Known as a wind phone, the new installation at Trustland Trails Park is a way for grievers to speak to the dearly departed. The concept originated in Japan, where its creator, Itaru Sasaki, was grieving his cousin who had died from terminal cancer. Following the deadly Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011, Sasaki opened his wind phone to mourners from the public.

Reynolds’ wind phone, dedicated on Feb. 16 – her son Daniel’s birthday – is the first of its kind on Whidbey Island. She approached the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District about installing the phone booth at Trustland Trails, a network of trails owned by the district. A short trail was created that branches off the ADA loop, making it easily accessible from the parking lot.

Surrounded by friends, family and her husband Gene, Reynolds snipped the red ribbon extending across the entrance of the wooden, three-sided phone booth.

“Itaru Sasaki has inspired the creation of many beautiful spaces all over the world, with the sole purpose of holding space for a griever, one where the wind will carry their words to those they love who have gone ahead,” Reynolds said, adding that it felt appropriate to dedicate the Whidbey wind phone on what would have been her son’s third birthday.

Inside the booth, a vintage rotary phone printed with forget-me-nots is illuminated by a pane of stained glass of the same color, made by artist Natalie Hahn. Those who come to use the phone for a one-way conversation will be treated to the serene view of the forest’s tall trees.

A GoFundMe raised just over $2,000 for the cost of the project. Additional funds will benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital.

The South Whidbey wind phone has been added to a national registry tracking the locations of other such phones around the world.

Photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record A disconnected vintage rotary phone in Trustland Trails Park allows those who are grieving to speak to the loved ones they have lost.

Photo provided Daniel Atlas Reynolds, son of Suzie and Gene Reynolds, was born Feb. 16, 2021.

Photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record Suzie Reynolds demonstrates how to use the new wind phone at Trustland Trails Park.