Most people aren’t aware that South Carolina’s BIGGEST and most well-known roadside attraction was started before Interstate 95 was constructed. In fact, in 1949 when creator Alan Schafer opened his beer stand here and called it “South of the Border,” it was during a period when nearby Robeson County, North Carolina was a dry county. Our neighbors to the north could easily pop over the border and back home with plenty of cold beverages for their fridge.
The spot quickly evolved into much more and Schafer added a hotel in 1954. It wasn’t until plans were announced in the 60’s for Interstate 95 to run right by South of the Border that it grew into a destination, a true roadside attraction. Eventually, scores of witty billboards would advertise the new attraction for hundreds of miles along Interstate 95.
South of the Border is a handful of fun. It’s changed or “evolved” over the years but there is so much fun still waiting to be discovered at this roadside attraction in South Carolina. Here are a few thoughts most everyone has when visiting this kitschy cool oasis alongside I-95.
- “Can we stop, can we stop…please, please! Can we stop! We have to stop or I’m gonna dieeeeee….”
Flickr/mwms1916
- “I can’t BELIEVE we stopped! We NEV-ER stop.”
Flickr/ramondclarkimages
- “Stop the car, STOP THE CAR….Now take my picture with Pedro.”
Facebook/Southoftheborder/etrinidad
- “I wonder where the restrooms are…”
Flickr/klonoaxero
- “Girl, what do I have to do to get you to walk over there and take a picture of me with those giant chickens?”
Flickr/Melissa Mahoney
- “Oh that’s funny. I wonder if folks who live South of Broad in Charleston think this means them?”
Flirck/Jim
- “I wonder how many stairs it is to the top?”
Flickr/klonoaxero
- “I’m a weiner, now that I’m finally at South of the Border.”
Flickr/Travis
- “Hey you guys! Let’s climb up there and get our picture taken.”
Flickr/Melissa Mahoney
- (Major bloodcurdling, mind-bending, glass-breaking scream for the whole park to hear…and then when all heads are turned, you calmly say….) “Look. A bear.”
Flickr/Luca Masters
- “I need a t-shirt or something to prove I was here.”
Flickr/Anthony Rue
- “Oh yeah. I won. I won. I WON!”
Yelp/Aaron L
- “Oh no, my friend…I WON!”
Yelp/Mauricio H.
- “Oh, look at Pedro - he’s wearing alligators. What do I have to do to get you to walk over there and take a photo of me and Alligator Pedro?”
Yelp/Desiree D.
- “Hmm…The Reptile Lagoon. Wait. Slow down. Does the sign say there are SNAKES??”
Yelp/Keith B
- “Bet we’re the first people to ever stick our dog in this hippo’s mouth just for a photo.”
Yelp/Shannon A
- “I’m getting a little hangry. We need to eat very soon.”
Yelp/Eric T
- “I wonder how many people spend the night here?”
Yelp/Francis H.
- “Pretty…..”
Yelp/Jim B
So much fun and so little time. Have you ever been to South of the Border? We’d love to see your photos along with your own “thought” captions in our comments on Facebook.
Flickr/mwms1916
Flickr/ramondclarkimages
Facebook/Southoftheborder/etrinidad
Flickr/klonoaxero
Flickr/Melissa Mahoney
Flirck/Jim
Flickr/Travis
Flickr/Luca Masters
Flickr/Anthony Rue
Yelp/Aaron L
Yelp/Mauricio H.
Yelp/Desiree D.
Yelp/Keith B
Yelp/Shannon A
Yelp/Eric T
Yelp/Francis H.
Yelp/Jim B
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