Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

The story begins in 1937 with a man named Key Underwood and his coon dog Troop, said to have been an outstanding hunter and a faithful companion. When Troop died, Underwood buried him at a wooded spot the local hunters used as a gathering place, wrapped in a cotton sack, and marked the grave with a simple stone bearing the dog's name and dates.

Underwood never intended to start anything grand. But other hunters, who understood exactly what a great coon dog meant to a man, began asking to bury their own dogs beside Troop. One grave became many, and over the decades the clearing filled with markers, until it became recognized as a genuine cemetery, unique in all the world for honoring only these hunting dogs.

What makes a walk through the graveyard so affecting is the character of the markers. Some are simple field stones with a name scratched on by hand, others are professionally cut headstones, and still others are homemade creations of concrete, wood, or metal. Many carry epitaphs full of plain affection and country humor, praising a dog's nose, its courage, or its loyalty, and telling in a few words the story of a partnership.

By long-standing tradition, only true coon dogs may be buried here. A dog has to be recognized as the real thing, a working coon hound, to earn a place, which is part of what keeps the cemetery so distinctive. The result is a folk-art landscape of grief and gratitude, entirely devoted to a single kind of animal.

To understand the graveyard, it helps to understand coon hunting, a nighttime pursuit deeply woven into the culture of the rural South. Hunters follow their dogs through the dark woods as the hounds trail and tree raccoons, prizing dogs with keen noses, stamina, and voice. A good coon dog was both a working partner and, often, a genuinely loved member of the family.

This corner of northwest Alabama, in the wooded Freedom Hills near Cherokee, was and is coon-hunting country, and the cemetery grew directly out of that world. It sits in the same broader region as the Muscle Shoals music towns and the Tennessee River, a landscape shaped by hunting, farming, and the tight-knit small communities of the Alabama hills.

The graveyard is a quiet outdoor site open to respectful visitors, set in a peaceful woodland clearing that rewards a slow, contemplative walk among the markers. There is a rustic pavilion and grounds for the annual Labor Day gathering that celebrates the cemetery, but on most days it is simply a still, green place far from any crowd.

Getting there is part of the experience, since the cemetery lies down back roads well off the main highways in the far corner of the state. It is wise to bring directions and a full tank of gas, since services are sparse nearby. Treat the graves gently, and you will find one of the most genuinely singular small places in the American South.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, near Cherokee in northwestern Alabama, is a unique and beloved cemetery believed to be the only one in the world dedicated exclusively to coon dogs, the hunting hounds prized for treeing raccoons. Set in a quiet wooded spot, the graveyard holds the graves of hundreds of coon dogs, each with a marker, some simple and some elaborate, honoring these cherished hunting companions and reflecting the deep bond between the dogs and their owners. A one-of-a-kind, touching, and offbeat landmark, it draws curious visitors from far and wide. With its heartfelt tribute to hunting hounds, the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard offers a unique destination in Alabama.

The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard began when a hunter buried his beloved coon dog at a favorite hunting camp spot in the twentieth century, and over the years other hunters chose to lay their own cherished coon dogs to rest there, creating a cemetery dedicated solely to these prized hunting hounds. To be buried there, a dog must be a genuine coon dog, keeping the graveyard true to its purpose. The site reflects the deep bond between coon hunters and their dogs in the region's hunting culture. This heartfelt tradition makes the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard a one-of-a-kind landmark in Alabama.

You can walk the peaceful wooded cemetery and read the many gravestones and markers honoring beloved coon dogs, some simple and others elaborate and touching, reflecting on the unique tradition and the bond between the hounds and their owners. The one-of-a-kind concept, the heartfelt markers, and the quiet, reflective setting are the draws, offering an unusual and surprisingly moving stop. It is a beloved offbeat landmark. As it is a cemetery, treating it with respect is appreciated. With its unique graves and setting, the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard offers a memorable experience in Alabama.

As an outdoor site in a quiet wooded setting, the graveyard is best enjoyed in the mild months of spring through fall, with pleasant weather for strolling among the markers, and fall bringing lovely color to the surrounding woods. The site holds an annual gathering, and it is peaceful and reflective in any mild season. It is a bit off the beaten path, so allowing travel time is wise. For the most pleasant weather to visit, aim for spring through fall at the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard near Cherokee, Alabama.

The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is near Cherokee in northwestern Alabama, within reach of the Muscle Shoals music-history sites including FAME Recording Studios and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum House in Florence, and the Tennessee River country. That makes the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard a unique stop to combine with the Muscle Shoals music studios and the other attractions of northwestern Alabama on a visit to the state.