Rural Retreat, Virginia: Grave of Doctor Pepper

As a Dr Pepper fanatic (actively drinking it when I saw this attraction was on my route), I just had to go. The Pepper obelisk was fairly easy to find, right off the back of the second U from Main Street. The scenery and upkeep around the cemetery was beautiful, and it has some other interesting headstones. Also worth stopping by the Amish store just a couple miles away for some great ice cream and bakery items.

A great detour! The cemetery itself is absolutely beautiful, especially at dusk, and Dr. Pepper is sure to impress! And his grave is easy to locate.

I visited the grave of Dr. Pepper. There are several Pepper markers, which makes one think of the theme song "He's a Pepper, she's a Pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?"

Turn into the entrance closest to flagpole. After about 70 feet, the road turns sharply left. Another 70 feet later, the marker will be on your left, about 10 or 15 feet off the road. Another Pepper marker is right beside the road.

We didn't know where the grave was in the cemetery and it took some time to search. If you start at the flag and go around the u-shaped drive you'll see it on your left. Near the big "Pepper" headstone is a four-sided column. The Dr. Charles T. Pepper marker is on that column.

I have been told that the druggist in the town of Rural Retreat, VA was in love with the local doctor's daughter. The Doc did not care much for the young man and he was not allowed to see the young woman. Dejected, so the story goes, he moved to Texas and developed a carbonated drink he named Dr. Pepper for his lost love's father. I have been shown a grave that the locals said was the grave of the doctor in question. Have you any idea if this story has any validity?