Ruth Haines
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia, USA, is the only airport in the world to have graves embedded in its runway. The airport was built on land that was once a farm owned by Richard and Catherine Dotson, who are buried on the edge of runway 10, alongside two of their relatives. The Dotson family cemetery included around 100 graves, including those of slaves. When the airport was expanded during World War II, all but four of the graves were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery. The Dotsons' descendants refused to allow Richard and Catherine's graves to be moved, believing that they would have wanted to remain on the land they had worked so hard to cultivate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Airport | Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport |
| Location | Georgia, USA |
| Names of the people buried under the runway | Richard and Catherine Dotson |
| Other graves | Daniel Hueston and John Dotson, who are located in the shrub near the runway |
| Reason for the graves at the airport | The land included a burial site belonging to the Dotson family |
| Total number of graves at the airport | Four |
| Year of death of Richard and Catherine Dotson | 1884 and 1877 respectively |
| Year of burial | 1942 |
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What You'll Learn
- Savannah Airport is the only commercial airport with graves under its runway
- Richard and Catherine Dotson are buried under runway 10
- The Dotson family refused to allow Richard and Catherine's graves to be moved
- Two other graves, belonging to John Dotson and Daniel Hueston, are located near runway 10
- The land became an airport during World War II
Savannah Airport is the only commercial airport with graves under its runway
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia, USA, is the only commercial airport with graves under its runway. The airport was built on a former farm that once belonged to Richard and Catherine Dotson, who are buried on their land. The land, known as Cherokee Hills during the Dotson's ownership, was leased to the federal government in 1942 as the US military needed a place to land its planes during World War II.
The family cemetery on the Dotson's farm held around 100 graves, including those of slaves. Almost all of the graves were moved to Bonaventure Cemetery, except for four: Richard and Catherine, and their relatives, Daniel Hueston and John Dotson. The Dotson family insisted on keeping the matriarch and patriarch in their original burial spot, believing their ancestors would have wanted to stay on the land they had worked so hard to cultivate and purchase. As it is illegal in the US to transfer buried remains without the consent of next of kin, the airport paved over the four graves, placing flat headstones to mark the locations.
The two headstones marking the graves of Richard and Catherine Dotson are located on the airport's busiest runway, Runway 10, also known as runway 10/28. The markers are over 150 years old, with Richard's grave reading "At rest" and Catherine's reading "Gone home to rest". The two remaining graves of their relatives are in the shrubbery near the airport's most active runway.
The airport has become known as one of the haunted cities in the US, with ghost stories springing up among those who take off and land on top of the graves. Regional airline captain, Lisa Ruedy, wrote that "it's said that if you are coming in to land just after sundown, two figures will appear just along the north side of the runway". Family members are allowed to visit the graves with an airport escort, but they are not permitted to leave flowers.
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Richard and Catherine Dotson are buried under runway 10
Savannah Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia, USA, is the only airport in the world with graves embedded in an active runway. The airport was built on land that was once a farm owned by Richard and Catherine Dotson, who are now buried under runway 10.
The Dotson family cemetery, which included around 100 graves, was established on their farm, known as Cherokee Hills. The graves unfortunately included those of slaves. When the airport expanded during World War II, the graves were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery, except for those of Richard and Catherine Dotson. The couple's descendants refused to allow their ancestors' graves to be moved, believing that they would have wanted to stay on the land they had cultivated.
As the matriarch and patriarch of the Dotson family, Richard and Catherine were laid to rest on their land, with their names engraved on the tarmac. The couple, born in 1779, were married for 50 years before Catherine died in 1877, and Richard passed away seven years later in 1884. Their gravestones, marked "At rest" and "Gone home to rest", are located on the edge of runway 10, the airport's busiest runway.
Today, the Dotson graves are marked by two flush headstones, laid flat with the runway. While most passengers are unaware of the graves beneath them, pilots and flight crew know of their presence, and ghost stories have even emerged among those who take off and land on top of the graves. Family members are allowed to visit with an airport escort, but they are not permitted to leave flowers due to the active nature of the runway.
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The Dotson family refused to allow Richard and Catherine's graves to be moved
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia is the only airport in the world with graves embedded in its runway. The airport was built on a former farm that once belonged to Richard and Catherine Dotson, who are buried on the edge of runway 10, the airport's busiest runway.
As the next of kin, the Dotson family had the legal right to refuse the transfer of the remains. As a result, the airport paved over the graves, placing two flat headstones to mark the location. Richard's headstone reads "At rest," while Catherine's reads "Gone home to rest." The headstones are barely noticeable, appearing as patches of concrete repair work on the runway.
The graves have sparked curiosity among passengers and crew, with many unaware that they are landing on and departing from a runway that houses the final resting place of Richard and Catherine Dotson. The Dotson graves have even inspired ghost stories, with some claiming that two figures appear along the north side of the runway at sunset. Family members are allowed to visit the graves with an airport escort, but they are not permitted to leave flowers due to safety concerns.
The Dotson family's decision to keep Richard and Catherine's graves on the airport runway ensures that their ancestors remain a part of the land's history, even as the area transforms to accommodate modern travel needs. The story of the Dotson graves highlights the intersection of the past and present, serving as a reminder of the lives and contributions of those who came before us.
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Two other graves, belonging to John Dotson and Daniel Hueston, are located near runway 10
Savannah Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is the only airport in the world with graves embedded in an active runway. The airport was built on land that included a burial site belonging to the Dotson family. The site was estimated to contain about 100 graves, including those of slaves.
When the airport was expanded during World War II, all but four of the graves were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery. The four graves that remained include those of Richard and Catherine Dotson, the landowners, whose descendants refused to allow their graves to be moved.
As it is illegal in the US to transfer buried remains without the consent of the next of kin, the airport paved over the graves and placed two headstones over them. The headstones are flush with the runway and are marked with the names of the deceased.
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The land became an airport during World War II
The Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia, USA, has a unique feature that sets it apart from other airports. Underneath its primary runway lie the graves of Richard and Catherine Dotson, the original owners of the land. The airport's runway 10/28, which is 9,350 feet long, is also the final resting place of this couple, with their names engraved on the tarmac.
The story of how the land became an airport during World War II is intriguing. In 1942, as the United States prepared for World War II, the US Department of War recognised the need for additional facilities to support military operations. This led to the federal government negotiating a lease with the city of Savannah for 1,100 acres of land. The land, once a farm owned by the Dotson family, became the site of the airport.
The Dotson family cemetery, which included around 100 graves, was located on the land. Most of the graves were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery, with the exception of four graves, including those of Richard and Catherine Dotson. The Dotson family descendants refused to allow the remains of Richard and Catherine to be disturbed, believing that their ancestors would have wanted to remain on the land they had cultivated and loved.
As a result, the airport authorities had no choice but to respect the family's wishes and pave over the graves, incorporating them into the runway. Flat headstones were placed over the graves, marking their final resting place. This unusual situation, where a busy airport runway coexists with the final resting place of two individuals, is a testament to the family's connection to the land and the respect shown by the authorities.
Today, the graves of Richard and Catherine Dotson are a unique part of the airport's history. Pilots and crew are aware of the graves, and ghost stories have even emerged among those who use the runway. The story of the Dotson graves highlights the impact of World War II on the landscape and the sometimes unexpected consequences of historical events.
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Frequently asked questions
Richard and Catherine Dotson, the original owners of the land.
When the airport was being built during World War II, the land was acquired from the Dotson family. It included a burial site belonging to the family, with around 100 graves, including those of slaves. All but four of the graves were relocated to Bonaventure Cemetery. The Dotson family insisted on keeping the matriarch and patriarch in their original burial spot, believing that their ancestors would have wanted to stay on the land they had worked so hard to cultivate.
Yes, two more graves of Dotson relatives, Daniel Hueston and John Dotson, are located nearby in the brush near the airport's busiest runway.
