Coon Dog Cemetery & Rattlesnake Saloon

I bundled these two bucket list items together because they are out in the middle of nowhere, so if you are going to one you might as well check out the other! Rattlesnake Saloon and Coon Dog Cemetery are about forty or so minutes from Florence, but are totally worth the drive.

The day Mom, Dani, and I procrastinated packing we went to the Rosenbaum House, Bunyan's BBQ, and Coon Dog Cemetery. Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard is said to be the only one of it's kind in the world. Only coon dogs are buried at the cemetery. The first dog to be buried there was Troop in 1937 on Labor Day.You may still bury coon hounds there but must meet certain requirements. People come from all over to do so. I saw a headstone from New York. There are more than 185 dogs buried there today.

We noticed that on the graves that people had left pennies and we had no idea what the reasoning was behind it. There are several different superstitions as to why coins are left. There is one based on Greek Mythology that says the coins are payment and one about a murdered family that would grant wishes. With military burials, each coin has a specific meaning that is a message to the family of the deceased that they visited. It seems that it is a symbol of remembrance and respect.

I have always heard about Rattlesnake Saloon but never wanted to make the drive out there, which I regret immensely now. It was seriously the coolest place. You park and take a ride in the back of a truck down this steep trail to the saloon. I think I was expecting less cave and more restaurant, but the cave area was huge. It had a stage for the live music and lots of tables for people to sit and enjoy. They are only open Thursday-Saturday 11-10 (February-November) and Sunday 11-3 (April-September). Thursday nights they have karaoke. Friday and Saturday nights they have a band.

I guess I was just too busy living in the moment and enjoying my experience at Rattlesnake that I failed to take many pictures..so that means I have to go back soon! Take an afternoon and drive out to check out both places. You will not regret it!