Skip to Main Content

Goderich, Ontario, Canada: Lonely Tomb in Never Built Town

Isolated grave of William "Tiger" Dunlop. He had planned to build a town on the spot, but didn't. All that's there is a tiny family graveyard, dominated by Dunlop's tomb.

Address:
81501 River Ridge Crescent, Goderich, ON, Canada
Directions:
Follow Hwy 21 north of Goderich. After crossing the Maitland River, turn west onto Airport Rd (Follow signs for Dunlop's Tomb). After about a quarter-mile, turn south onto River Ridge Crescent and park at the end of the dead-end road. Get on the foot path and head east. After a 3-4 minute walk, the tomb will be ahead on the right.
Admission:
Free
Save to My Sights

Visitor Tips and News About Lonely Tomb in Never Built Town

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Dunlop Tomb.

Ontario's Loneliest Cemetery

There is a small cemetery in the middle of nowhere, just north of Goderich. It is the burial plot of the founder of Goderich, Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop. He was born in 1792 and earned his nickname while living in India. He was an army surgeon during the War of 1812 and was very active in politics after the war. His burial plot is located on a large tract of land on a bluff overlooking the Maitland River just north of Goderich. This was where he had plans to build a new town named Gairbraid, named after a town near Glasgow, Scotland.

The town was never built, and after Tiger's death in 1848 he was buried there. He shares the graveyard with his wife, some of his wife's family, and his brother Robert Graham Dunlop, but only Tiger and Robert are listed on the lone grave marker. Even though he is a local icon, the cemetery is rather isolated and not visited very often.

[signmanjoe, 06/30/2014]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Salt Discovery MonumentSalt Discovery Monument, Goderich, ON, Canada - < 1 mi.
Dutch Liberation Fountain, Big Wooden ShoesDutch Liberation Fountain, Big Wooden Shoes, Goderich, ON, Canada - 1 mi.
Wooden Captain HarryWooden Captain Harry, Bayfield, ON, Canada - 13 mi.
In the region:
Donald Dinnie, Greatest Athlete of the World, Lucknow, ON, Canada - 17 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Save Cool Vacation Destinations! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Ontario Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings