79TH ANNUAL COON DOG CEMETERY CELEBRATION

In our last blog Ol' Us were in Ol' Florida and we left Florida in the nick of time before Tropical Storm Hermine became a reality in the area where we were - Carrabelle, St. Marks, and St. Joe Sound area.

We drove to Red Bay, AL  for our motorhome to be serviced at Tiffin Motorhomes.  Some of our recent upgrades are listed in the UPGRADES tab of this blog,  but we decided we wouldn't buy a new 2017 Tiffin Allegro Bus... just upgrade our RV so that it resembles a 2017... sort of.

This Labor Day Weekend was the 79th annual celebration at the iconic Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard (Coon Dog Cemetery), the only cemetery of its kind in the world, located in Cherokee, AL., about 20 miles from Red Bay, in a thick wilderness known as Freedom Hills.   More than 300 coon dogs from all across the United States are buried at this spot in Northwest Alabama.  The first dog laid to rest in this cemetery was a half redbone coonhound and half birdsong known as "Troop", buried on Labor Day in 1937, and owned by Key Underwood.

The all day event includes old time bluegrass music, buck dancing, a liar's contest, arts and crafts, and local barbecue by Bishop's Hawg House, plus several hundred of the most hospitable and friendly people we've met anywhere.

This may be the first time we've seen people dancing in a cemetery.  Hundreds of graves are decorated with flowers, flags and coins, handmade headstones, and many professionally crafted headstones of wood or sheet metal.  Witnessing one of these funerals is interesting, so if you have a few minutes, increase your volume and enjoy:  Coon Dog Cemetery Funeral

Hunter's Famous Amos - a hound named Ralston Purina's Dog of the Year in 1984, is buried here as well as several World Champion coon dogs.  The most popular breed of Coon Dogs include the Black and Tan Coonhound, Bluetick Coonhound, English Coonhound, Plott Coonhound, Redbone Coonhound, and the Treeing Walker Coonhound. All 6 breeds are registered with UKC.

 This is a place where only coonhound royalty resides after their demise, i.e., no lap dogs, no poodles.  If I didn't say it before, we were honored to attend such an interesting celebration and enjoyed another beautiful and memorable day in Sweet Home Alabama.

A STROLL IN RED BAY

Welcome to Red Bay, Alabama!
Established in 1907

We are in Red Bay, AL, for a service appointment at Tiffin Motorhomes (after our 4000 plus miles journey that started last May), for work, repairs (windshield #4), modifications (A/C#3) and upgrades, to our coach and engine (see Coach Upgrades Tab).  With the usual arrival of "snow birds" in motorhomes the town of Red Bay realizes an economic upturn at certain times of the year, and this is one of those times.  People from all over the United States and Canada converge on this community throughout the year.  Many are here just to follow the construction of their new motorhome!

Tiffin Service Center Campground
Red Bay, Alabama

Spending time at the Downtown Red Bay RV Campground has given us an opportunity to see some beautiful areas of town we never knew existed.

Red Bay Downtown RV Park
Red Bay, Alabama

Downtown RV Park 

Red Bay Police Department
Red Bay, Alabama

Old Red Bay Hotel
Presently being renovated and refurbished

Hanging flower baskets on every street corner in
Red Bay, Alabama

 A walk in Red Bay is calming, rewarding and educational, and best done in the early morning or late afternoon. The very active Red Bay Garden Club is responsible for placing a sign near the Mississippi state line on the west side of town that says "Red Bay is a Bird Sanctuary".

A serene walking lane in
Red Bay, Alabama lined with historic homes

A home on a small spring-fed lake surrounded by
beautiful landscaping

This is called the Coca-Cola House
So neat and well kept!

Architectural details in historic
neighborhood - Red Bay, Alabama

Flowers and landscaping are an important
part of every neighborhood downtown.
Red Bay, Alabama

Downtown neighborhood in Red Bay, Alabama

Red Bay, nestled in the northwest part of Alabama, is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and is comprised of hard working people who have made this their home for generations.  Most have strong traditional and Christian values, a sense of community pride, patriotism, and historic preservation.

First Methodist Church
Red Bay, Alabama
(At our campground we hear the church bells several times a day)

Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
The view as you arrive in Red Bay, Alabama

There is an obvious town spirit and pride in Red Bay.  This weekend in Downtown Bay
Tree Park, is Founder's Day, an annual festival that has become a tradition in Red Bay.

Bay Tree Park
Red Bay, Alabama

Franklin County Cattleman's  $8. Steak Sandwich Special at
Founder's Day - Delicious Treat!

Craft Show - Founder's Day
Red Bay, Alabama

 On Founder's Day there is entertainment, a barbeque cookoff, Franklin County Cattleman's Association's delicious ribeye steak sandwich. an always awesome antique car, truck and motorcycle show, and a spectacular craft fair.    

CHARMED BY A RATTLESNAKE

We have a suggestion for an adventurous evening of entertainment if you are visiting in the Red Bay, AL area and want to get away from the busy city.  Recently, a group of eight of us made our way to Colbert County, AL, in the Tuscumbia area on Highway 247 (turn left at Swamp John's), and continue past the sign directing you to the Coon Dog Cemetery.

Highway 247 North - Alabama

Highway 247 North - Alabama

Turn here to go to the Coon Dog Cemetery

  In a few miles you will see an arrow that directs you to the Rattlesnake Saloon and Seven Springs Lodge.  Just when you think "How in the world am I ever going to find my way back home?".... you arrive.  Are you ready for a unique evening?

Is that a snake on that sign?

Lots of old scenery to enjoy!

Entrance to Rattlesnake Saloon/Seven Springs Lodge

Upon arriving in their large grassy parking lot, we were ushered aboard the "Saloon Taxi", a 2.5 ton Ford diesel 4x4 pickup truck equipped with benches.  While I doubt the front tires were touching the ground after we boarded, we were on our way in a genuine redneck taxi to have dinner at the Rattlesnake Saloon.

Seven Springs/Rattlesnake Saloon Taxi

Ford 2.5 ton, 4x4, diesel redneck taxi to Rattlesnake Saloon

On the way to the entrance to the Saloon, before we started our descent down in a valley in the taxi,  we passed the Seven Springs Lodge.  The Seven Springs Lodge is an actual lodge where visitors can spend the night in renovated grain silos.  Yes sir, renovated grain silos.  

There are very specific instructions as we enter the road that carries us to our destination:

Entrance road to Rattlesnake Saloon

In case you need a reminder!

  As we wind down a dark and narrow trail the air becomes noticeably cooler and shortly we arrive at a genuine North American Indian bluff where the Rattlesnake Saloon sits under a very large natural opening in a mountain.  Now we've seen it all.

Did we really go down this road in a truck filled with people?

Final destination - Rattlesnake Saloon

  As you disembark the truck (er taxi), and try to take it all in (with your jaw dropping somewhere around your feet), the vastness of the area and what you are seeing for the first time is quite a surprise.  A cave, a building under the cave (restaurant) and the natural beauty of it all.  There are 3 places you may sit - under the rock (please don't let there be an earthquake while we're here), inside the restaurant, or on the very large sun deck.

Outside view - Rattlesnake Saloon

Restaurant seating inside 

Sun Deck Seating

Sun Deck Seating

Wood carving at entrance to restaurant

Interior of Rattlesnake Saloon Restaurant

Rattlesnake skins are everywhere!

Rattlesnake about to catch up with a rabbit!

  A country band begins to play and the big decision is whether you can take the sound ricocheting off the sides of the cave at a loud volume, or do we go inside where it may be quieter.  We opt to sit outside - we don't want to miss a thing!  A waitress in cowgirl boots takes our order off a menu - appetizers, sandwiches, or salads. You don't come here for the food but for the experience. 

Country band entertainment in the cave

Dance floor of Rattlesnake Saloon

 The fellow on the right in this picture danced the entire time we were at the Rattlesnake Saloon, which may be the reason he stays so thin.  His dancing style was somewhere between a mountain clog and a cotton-eyed joe, in fast motion - most unusual dancing style we've seen in a long time! You won't see these moves on Dancing With The Stars.

It was dark when we left the restaurant and because of all the tree coverage we couldn't see a thing, and maybe we didn't want to.  If it were during the day we may have walked back to our cars, but not in the darkness.  Returning in the opposite direction there were even more people on the back of our truck.  Now we know the back tires are the only ones touching the ground, and then we notice the cab of the truck is filled with people as well, so maybe we're o.k.  We stop one more time where the driver allows several people to disembark at the gift shop and the Seven Springs Lodge, and then we continue on to our cars in the parking lot.

In case you're interested, this is on the back of the taxi window

  This was a fun evening with friends and we would definitely do it all over again.  Maybe next time our surprised looks won't  be as evident.   If any of you are interested, they also have a campground with about 12 full hookup sites adjacent to the parking lot.  A little tight, but they are most reasonable.