one of pedro's shops
dillon county courthouse
Discount snuff
Enterance~ South of the Border, South Carolina ~
Let’s face it. Driving I-95 through South and North Carolina is a monotonous experience. I have been through all or parts of this stretch on multiple occasions. The route passes well east of most inland cities and the mountains while passing well west of the coastal destinations; essentially it’s ribbon of asphalt through the woods. The oddest exception to this generalization is "South of the Border,”a tacky, 1960’s-style roadside motel and attraction run amok.
Located in Dillon, South Carolina, just south of the SC-NC border, the aptly named oddity is actually built around a Mexican theme – as in south of that other more famous border. Landmarks include a Sombrero Tower and Mexican-themed amusement rides. The resort even has a mascot that plays into Mexican stereotypes. “Pedro” is a sombrero-clad hombre whose name and face were seen plastered on billboards for miles throughout the Carolinas back in the 1990s (I don’t know if they still are today). In addition to the amusement rides, South of the Border also has a motel, the original part of this complex, at which I have not stayed. While many lodgings boast their own gift shops, South of the Border goes a bit overboard in this department as well. Their gift shops are the kinds of places that sell cheap, plastic and sophomoric souvenirs (think plastic poo). All things considered, South of the Border is at least an interesting place to stretch your legs and catch a break before proceeding through the miles of woods that still lie ahead.
Visit my SOUTH CAROLINA page.
