An Afternoon in The Coon Dog Cemetery

Looking for a unique summertime trip or day trip in Alabama? Humor writer, outdoorsman and dog lover Jim Mize shares his experience visiting the Coon Dog Cemetery in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

I found myself in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, one afternoon with some free time. I was on a holiday with friends to enjoy good music, fine food and to tour the recording studios.

With a few hours to look around, I flipped through some tourism brochures and saw references to The Coon Dog Cemetery. I had heard of it, but never been there. So I set out to find it.

Coon Dog Cemetary Origins

The Coon Dog Cemetery is located in Colbert County about seven miles west of Tuscumbia.

Its origin is one with a story, one that all of us dog owners can relate to, about a coon hunter who wanted to pay last respects to his fine dog. 

At the time, a group of coon hunters had a club in the area known as Freedom Hills. One of these hunters, a fellow named Key Underwood, is said to have owned one of the finest dogs among the hunters, and its name was Troop.

Dogs and hunters forge a bond perhaps like no other, and it involves not just admiration but also respect. No doubt, that’s what Underwood and Troop had between them. 

When Troop passed away, Underwood decided to do something special for the dog, so he buried it here at what is now The Coon Dog Cemetery.

At the time, it was just one dog resting in a quiet place by the hunting club, whose grave was marked with a chimney stone chiseled with its name. That burial occurred on Labor Day in 1937.

A few years later, a second dog was laid to rest beside Troop and before long this special place evolved to become a cemetery where coon dogs could be brought for burial. 

The afternoon I visited was overcast, and a mood of peace lay across the cemetery. I was the only one there then, and the moment felt solemn and hushed. The only sounds were from birds in the hardwoods.

The grave stones varied in design, often reflecting the time period of the burial. Some were elaborate, carved in stone or cut out of metal, while others were hand-chiseled rocks and boards.

Over three hundred coon hounds have been buried here and The Coon Dog Cemetery website is clear about the requirements for a dog to qualify for burial, though the requirements themselves may be open to interpretation.

Coon Dog Cemetary Requirements

First, the owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog.

Second, a witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog.

Third, a member of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, Inc. must view the dog and declare it as such. Judging by the grave markers, you will find breeds like English coonhounds, black and tans, Walkers, a few other breeds and combinations of these.

The website also shares a quote from an interview with Key Underwood on why other breeds of dogs are not allowed to be buried here.

I also noticed, as I walked the grounds, that the music scene at Muscle Shoals had influenced the coon-hunting community.

The names of hounds resting here included such monikers as “Patches” and “Mustang Sally,” two famous songs recorded just down the road. Probably the dogs’ owners had listened to songs like these on their way to the hunt.

I also noticed that the grave markers were decorated with flowers, flags and even coins. The Quad Cities Daily reported that the coins started showing up in 2012, just prior to the cemetery's seventy-fifth anniversary. Though the explanation of the coins is a bit vague, the best guess is that they are just one more way for folks to share their respects.

Also, a shed is located on the grounds, and under the cover of a pavilion, a guest book allows visitors to sign in as part of the experience.

Flipping through the pages, I was struck by the wide range of hometowns registered in the visitors’ log.

Just the week I had been there, people had visited from as far away as Idaho and Maine. Visitor estimates run as high as seven thousand people annually.

If you’ve watched the movie titled, Sweet Home Alabama, you might have had a glimpse of the cemetery. It’s used in the scene where Reese Witherspoon goes in search of her deceased coon hounds, Bear and Bryant, named after the famous Alabama football coach. 

Coon Dog Cemetary at Present

The cemetery is now overseen by the Tennessee Valley Coon Hunters Association. Each Labor Day, they host a celebration on the grounds that includes music, dancing and, appropriately, a liar’s contest. I had thoughts that I might come back to compete in the latter until I remembered that these fellows were professionals.

Standing on these grounds on an overcast afternoon, I could close my eyes and imagine what that group of coon hunters must have heard at night back in these Alabama hills.

Coon hounds make their own music and a pack can rival a symphony orchestra. Each voice is distinct and their owners take pride in their songs.

I’ve heard coon hounds run at night and their voices gave me chills with their natural beauty. 

Key Underwood must have felt the same way when he buried Troop in these woods. The respect of the coon hunters who followed created what is now known as The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, or more simply, The Coon Dog Cemetery.

You can read more about it at https://www.coondogcemetery.com/