South of the Border NOT being demolished

[vraiblonde]

A friend posted it on his FB page with a pic and I about burst into tears. Fortunately:

https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article255389056.html

“We are currently making room for some new projects,” general manager Timmy Townsend said in an email. “A lot of people are wondering if South of the Border is closing down, the answer is no, we are still open for business.”

So far, part of South of the Border’s motel as well as the entire T-shirt shop and the Ice Cream Fiesta have been torn down. Townsend said they are also upgrading the elevator at the Tower Arcade, and they just finished putting in charging stations for electric vehicles. At the arcade, the iconic sombrero resting on the head of mascot Pedro’s iconic sombrero is refurbished, too.

I'm sure glad I got a chance to stay at the SOB motel before they demolished it. What a fun experience!

 

[PrchJrkr]

Stayed there during the ice storm of '93(?). We had reservations at a time-share in Orlando and I was determined to get out of Dodge. After crossing the Nice bridge, traffic on 301 came to a standstill. We all got out of our cars and chatted while VDOT crews cleared the trees littering the highway between Horne's and I95. We made it to SOB that evening and stayed the night. To my 2 year old daughter, SOB was almost as exciting as WDW. That's where she learned to say "pink flamingo" flawlessly.

 

[herb749]

I got a kick out of the signs leading to there. Funniest was turn around you missed it. Most have been there for decades without complaints. I wondered if they were black sayings how long they'd last.

 

[LightRoasted]

If I may ...

Sure am glad the Ice Cream Fiesta is being torn down and replaced. Last time I was in the about two years ago, the place was a dump, and dirty, and smelled of funk. And the bathrooms were worse than a 1950's rural gas station that never saw the better end of a mop.

 

[vraiblonde]

If I were in charge I'd build back in that same tacky retro style, only clean and structurally sound. Like they do at Disney World.

 

[itsbob]

A friend posted it on his FB page with a pic and I about burst into tears. Fortunately:

https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article255389056.html

I'm sure glad I got a chance to stay at the SOB motel before they demolished it. What a fun experience!

On their FACEBOOK site.. just found out they have a campground that is VERY reasonable.. like $35 a night full 50 amp hook ups, and pull through..

We always stop near Florence SC as our halfway point, last time we stayed at TAWCAW fishcamp (that was an experience) next trip I'll be stopping at SOB

 

[PrchJrkr]

My daughter loved hotdogs. Y'all should have her face when we set a foot long hotdog down in front of her. Priceless...

 

[itsbob]

Have to say, they were a couple decades past needing a renovation. ALl the times we passed it, we never stopped just because of the look of it. Drove through once to stop at the truck stop behind it, and it was just sad looking.

Are a few good stories online about it and it's owners, I especially like the $2 bill story.

 

[itsbob]

If I were in charge I'd build back in that same tacky retro style, only clean and structurally sound. Like they do at Disney World.

Their original builing upgrade plans from the 70s.. not sure it would work today, but much better than where they ended up.

 

[Sneakers]

I was never there, but seems everyone I knew made a visit. We did have one of those triangular wall pennants from there tho, not sure where that wound up.

 

[RoseRed]

Stopped there in 1997 on the way to Myrtle Beach.

 

[Hijinx]

It's a tourist trap. It is always a good trail marker but that's about it for me.

 

[Grumpy]

It's a tourist trap. It is always a good trail marker but that's about it for me.

Pedro sez "Don't be hating"

 

[Hijinx]

I don't hate it. I like it because I know there is a free rest area coming up on both sides of the border.

 

[vraiblonde]

I hope the sombrero steak house will stay. That was a super cool restaurant. Monello and I went just because, you know, sombrero.....and were pleasantly surprised by how good the food was.

 

[itsbob]

It's a tourist trap. It is always a good trail marker but that's about it for me.

A tourist trap that's halfway to other tourist traps travelers are going to.. Person that thought of it, planned it's location and built it was genius.. just needs a little help in execution.

 

[jrt_ms1995]

Grew up 30 miles north of there, and have never been. We always thought of it as just a place for y'all Yankees to leave some of your money.

 

[vraiblonde]

We always thought of it as just a place for y'all Yankees to leave some of your money.

It is

I am an ardent supporter of tourist traps - the kitschier and more unique the better. Right outside of Williams, AZ was Bedrock City, an homage to the Flintstones and amazingly cool. Too bad nobody else thought so and it closed up to become a bird sanctuary or some dumb thing.

If you build it, I will come.

 

[RoseRed]

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