There’s nothing like a cemetery jaunt to check out dead strangers. Morbid? Nah. Cemeteries offer peaceful surroundings and history, plus you’ll leave feeling good about your life—being that you still have one. These five cemeteries offer an odd, almost “lively” twist on things.
Sonny Bono’s Grave
31705 Da Vall Dr., Section B35 Grave 294, Cathedral City, CA
It’s time to pay tribute to Salvatore Philip Bono, the bowl-cut sporting, fur-vest wearing icon who sang opposite Cher. Rumored to have been killed when he mistook a tree for Cher while skiing at Tahoe, Bono is buried in the aptly named Palm Springs town of Cathedral City. Just look for flowers, phony mustaches and varied keepsakes left by his still-faithful fans. You may even see a “God's Got You Now, Babe'” placard. Despite what his epitaph says, for Sonny, unfortunately “The Beat doesn’t Go On.”
Coon Dog Cemetery (aka Coondawg Cemetery)
SR-247 @ Coon Dog Rd., Tuscumbia, AL
Since 1937, this spot has been a popular final resting spot for hunting dogs. The qualifications for burial here are tougher than for humans at Forest Lawn: the owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog; a witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog; and, in a macabre open-casket ritual, a member of the local coonhunters' organization must be allowed to view the coonhound and declare it as such. Bring along this handy age calculator to figure out how long Fido and Buster really lived (it’s less depressing):
Human Years Dog Years
10 years 8 months
13 years 10 months (adolescent alert)
24 years 3 years
32 years 5 years
40 years 7 years
48 years 9 years
56 years 11 years
64 years 13 years (senior alert)
72 years 15 years
Doc Holliday's Grave
Palmer Ave. @ Cemetery Rd., Glenwood Springs, CO
Truth be told, I never learned much about of Doc Holliday; when I think of the Old West, it's always Wyatt Earp who comes to mind. Wow, does that change at the gunfighter's grave. Earp himself said Holliday "was the most skillful gambler, and the nerviest, fastest, deadliest man with a six-gun I ever saw." Oh, and Holliday was a dentist, too. Color me impressed! Time to pay your respects.
Buffalo Bill's Grave
987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Rd., Golden, CO
Keeping with the Old West theme, here’s another interesting “venue.” While Buffalo Bill's Grave and Museum does have a bit of a Disney feel, the grave itself, perched atop Lookout Mountain, offers an instant trip back to the time of gunfights and brothels. Bill garnered his moniker as he was an adept buffalo hunter, no easy feat being that this creature can reach 2,000 pounds.
Wooldridge Monuments at Maplewood Cemetery
N. Sixth St. @ E. Cemetery, Mayfield, KY
Check out this monument of eighteen figures of sandstone and Italian marble with the interesting name of "The Strange Procession That Never Moves." Horse trader Henry G. Wooldridge moved to these parts around 1840 and later chose to commemorate his family, pets and himself with life-sized statues grouped around his tomb. Beware: it’s kinda like The Stepford Wives meets Chinese warrior statues.
Christopher Gil is Vice President—Editorial & Production for MAD Maps, the premier publisher of scenic road trip content. Check out www.madmaps.com to see all of their print and digital offerings.
