Halloween in Alabama isn’t just about trick-or-treating for the kids. Nope. We adults can have a great time too! If you’re looking for something different to do this Halloween, the unique road trip adventure I took might just fit the bill. Intrigued? You should be because Alabama is serving up a super-interesting menu here!
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Halloween in Alabama
This unique Halloween adventure was actually done both as a road trip and a day trip on Halloween. It’s an easy day trip from Birmingham as well as most of North Alabama.
However, if you are deeper in Central Alabama or in any part of South Alabama, it will be a bit harder for you to do this adventure as a day trip. More realistically, it would be an overnight trip or in combination with other plans as a weekend trip.
The day consisted of three main parts: the restaurant, the cemetery, and the canyon. Curious? Let’s get to it!
Rattlesnake Saloon
The Rattlesnake Saloon is truly one of the most interesting restaurants out there. Located in Tuscumbia, Alabama, it got its name when workers found a nest of rattlers during its construction.
Nestled in a natural cave once inhabited by Native Americans, the Saloon offers a family-friendly environment.
A local family-owned establishment, the restaurant serves good ol’ bar comfort food such as burgers, nachos, salads, skunk rings, snake tails, and more. Beer and wine are served but only after 5pm. .
The whole experience is quite unique from the shuttle ride in and out in the back of a truck to all of the natural scenery. Why not start out Halloween in Alabama with this themed restaurant?
Parking is provided near the restaurant and RV lot. There is a little shelter station called the Saloon Taxi Pickup where you can avoid the weather (both sun and rain) while you wait for your ride.
If you’re worried about the heat, you definitely don’t need to be. I couldn’t believe how cool it was underneath the cave. There is literally a season of a difference in the temps!
- Rattlesnake Saloon
- Cost: $
- Location: 1292 Mount Mills Road, Tuscumbia, AL 35674
- Tip: Check their FB page for hours of operation. They are open February to November. Typically closed Monday through Wednesdays and only open on Sundays in the summer.
Coon Dog Cemetery
Next up, leave the Rattlesnake Saloon and head on over to the Coon Dog Cemetery! It’s only an 18 minute drive and well worth the time to continue your uniquely themed Halloween in Alabama adventure.
So, the tagline to this site is “All Adventures. All Alabama”. There is no greater example of this tagline than that of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard!
The ONLY one of its kind on planet Earth…yes, this cemetery is world-famous. Only coon dogs can be buried at the nearly 100-year-old graveyard.
Key Underwood’s coon dog, Troop, was the first to be buried here. Mr. Underwood said he never meant to start a graveyard. He just wanted to honor his best friend.
Today, over 185 coon dogs have been laid to rest in the historic canine cemetery. I even saw one from Scotland! It has become quite the popular tourist attraction and definitely worth seeing.
There are strict burial guidelines in place. The owner must declare the dog an authentic coon dog. A witness must see and declare the dog an authentic coon dog. Finally, a member of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, Inc. must also view and declare the dog a coon hound!
I enjoyed walking around looking at all of the grave markers and reading the names of the cherished dogs and what their owners wanted us to know about them!
- Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard
- Cost: Free
- Location: 4945 Coondog Cemetery Road, Cherokee, Alabama 35616
- Tip: Every Labor Day (its anniversary), the cemetery hosts a celebration complete with music, dancing, a liar's contest, and of course, coon dog merchandise!
Dismals Canyon
After adequate time at the Coon Dog Cemetery, it’s now time to head to your third and final (major) stop on this Alabama Halloween road trip adventure! Driving to Dismals Canyon is a bit longer but still not bad at 48 minutes.
Located in Phil Campbell, Alabama, Dismals Canyon is a National Natural Landmark. The sandstone gorge is nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians and features gigantic boulders, waterfalls, hiking trails, caves, grottos, and…Dismalites. More on that in a moment.
Hiking Dismals Canyon
When you first arrive, hike down to the canyon’s floor while you still have good lighting. The fourth most biologically diverse state in the country, Alabama features so much of that diversity here in Dismals Canyon.
Among highlights to look out for, Rainbow Falls, Pulpit Rock, Weeping Bluff, and Fat Man’s Misery really stood out. It truly is mind blowing to know this exists in Sweet Home Alabama!
There is even a country store featuring plenty of Christmas if you want to get a jump-start on the upcoming season!
- Dismals Canyon
- Cost: $
- Location: 901 Highway 8, Phil Campbell, Alabama 35581
- Tip: There is an entrance fee as well as an operating schedule. See the website to plan your visit.
Dinner at Backwoods Grill & Fish Camp
After you wrap up your exploration of Dismals Canyon, take a short drive to nearby Backwoods Grill & Fish Camp for a dinner break. It’s the perfect place to grab good grub in a small, locally-owned restaurant. Let’s face it, you aren’t close to much anyway so this down home place did a great job in terms of the location of their establishment!
Tasty menu items include shrimp plates, whole catfish, Polish sausage, cheese sticks, grizzly burgers, and tater tots. In other words, you can’t go wrong!
- Backwoods Grill & Fish Camp
- Cost: $
- Location: 2937 US Highway 43, Phil Campbell, Alabama 35581
- Tip: Try to time dinner so you can adequately enjoy your meal and return to Dismals Canyon (exact same parking lot) after dark but in time for your Dismalites Tour.
Dismal Canyon Glow Worms
So, back to those dismalites I mentioned earlier. In my opinion, they fit right in with this Halloween in Alabama theme!
Dismalites or “glowworms” are extremely rare. Close cousins to the glowworms found in Australia and New Zealand, these bioluminescent beauties need a very specific humid environment in which to survive.
While Alabama isn’t the only place they can exist in the United States, it’s more-or-less the only place they do exist.
iPhone Photo: Truly need a tripod which isn’t allowed on tours.
People come from all over to see these incredible creatures. Personally, I have been dying to see the ones in Australia. So, of course, I wanted to see the cousins right here in my home state!
Unfortunately, you can’t just waltz in on your date of choice and expect to see the Dismalites. Visitors must book a tour and these tours typically sell out rather quickly. Also, they are not year-round. Normally, they are March through the end of October with highest viewing ability in May to September.
iPhone photo blown up
While they only last 45 minutes, the tour is very worth it to get a glimpse of the larvae that light up the canyon like stars in the night sky!
With the conclusion of our Dismalites tour came the conclusion of our Alabama Halloween road trip adventure. But oh, what a fun adventure day it was!
- Dismalites Tour
- Cost: $
- Location: 901 Highway 8, Phil Campbell, Alabama 35581
- Tip: You must call to make a reservation. They also tell you to bring a flashlight; however, I found that was not very welcome on my tour. If you do bring one, it needs to have a red filter. I would specifically ask about this when you call.
MAP IT!
So, how’s that for a Halloween in Alabama plan? Unique, right? These are three places and activities you can’t find anywhere else in the United States! I thoroughly enjoyed the day I put together and I hope you do too!
Have you been to any of these places? If so, what were your thoughts? What was your favorite? If not, which one would be at the top of your Halloween in Alabama bucket list? Let me know below!
Wow, some truly unique things to experience here! I haven’t even heard of glow worms before, and now I see there’s even a snake tail in the cave restaurant menu, or a burial ground for dogs with strict breed checks. Speaking of Halloween, could this graveyard be haunted too? 🙂
Hi Ivan-Not sure on the haunted graveyard, haven’t heard of those details but with graveyards you can never say never right? 😜 There are so many unique things in Alabama to experience! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I have not been to Alabama yet. It sounds to be an excellent list for Halloween activities. I would love to hike a Dismal Canyon. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Anita-It’s a really cool state with so much to offer from beaches to caves, canyons, caverns, and so much more. Hopefully, you get to visit soon. Thanks so much for reading! 🙂