TUSCUMBIA-Celebrate Coondogs! Celebrate good times! Celebrate Labor Day! Roll this all up
into one event and you will find yourself at the world’s only Coon Dog Cemetery on Labor Day, Monday, September 2. For more than 75 years coon hunters, dog-lovers, and the curious have been finding their way through the Freedom Hills of Colbert County to enjoy Blue Grass and old-time country music, barbecue, buck dancing and the traditional “Liar’s Contest.” This year will be no exception. With extended hours, beginning at 10 a.m., and lasting until 4:00 p.m., the event will offer the expected and the unexpected.
The Southern Strangers (band) will again provide entertainment. The 
“Voice of the Deshler Tigers” radio personality, Dr. Jimmy Gardiner, who also serves as a Colbert County Commissioner, will keep the show moving with his homespun humor as emcee. L.O. Bishop will be on hand to dish up his famous barbecue plates, which will be sold to benefit the cemetery’s upkeep. Souvenir tee shirts and caps will be available, along with a limited number of 75th Anniversary Commemorative Case Knives. When these are sold, there will be no more.
In 1937, Key Underwood buried his beloved hound, Troop, at this woodsy setting where his friends had gathered with their dogs to hunt raccoons. Happy times were shared here and so when Troop died, Underwood thought this would be the perfect resting place for his canine companion. As others in his circle of friends lost their dogs, these coonhounds, too, were laid to rest here. And thus began the Coon Dog Cemetery.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVEd-CmEtEE]
Today, more than 300 dogs lie beneath the sod at the Key Underwood Memorial Coon Dog Cemetery. Thousands visit the peaceful spot throughout the year, coming from all over the United States, as testified by a glance through the guest book that remains at the site. But Labor Day is the very best time to visit! On this day, hundreds convene to reminisce, enjoy the scenic spot, the music, and to indeed, 
celebrate!
Coon Dog Cemetery is located at 4945 Coon Dog Cemetery Rd., Cherokee, AL 35616. To reach the cemetery, travel west from Tuscumbia on U.S. Hwy. 72 West. Turn left, south, onto AL. Hwy. 247. After 12.8 miles, turn right onto Coon Dog Cemetery Road. Drive 5 miles and the cemetery will be on the left, the entrance clearly marked with a sign. Shuttles will be available from parking. For more information: Colbert County Tourism, 256-383-0783 or colberttourism@comcast.net. You may visit the website: www.coondawgs.com.
Photography by Sheri and Steve Wiggins
Film by Whippoorwill Hollow Films
Special thanks to The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Ricky Skaggs for “Will The Circle Be Unbroken”.
