South of The Border - I Finally Made It After All These Years - South Carolina Roadside Attraction

[@mdsmithcomics]

Great video! I love South of the Border! My grandparents took me on a trip every year to a family reunion in NC, and we’d stop in their RV to stay at South of the Border each time. So many great memories!

[@TimothyFrench]

Thanks for sharing your memories. Buc ee’s ain’t got nothing on South of The Border. Even as it sits today😀

[@Neurodivergent_Nat]

Awww man the reptile lagoon is a really good exhibit! So many cool snakes!

[@TimothyFrench]

Yep, Buc-ee’s can’t hold a candle to what South of The Border had and has. It’s definitely got a lot of character. I wish more people would stop in so they could fix the place up.

[@Neurodivergent_Nat]

@ yeah I agree 100! Especially the mini golf and the amusement park! I like Buccee’s too but I love SOB better

[@tomhutchinson2223]

THOSE SIGHNS SHOWED THE WAY TO SOUTH OF BORDER A GREAT TIME THERE

[@therapyinvinyl]

Definitely stayed more than once in all those hotels as a kid in the late 70’s/early 80’s. It was absolutely hoppin. Would love to see that all modernized. There’s still a place for roadside attractions in 2024.

[@TimothyFrench]

I agree. I don’t know if they already do events like this, but I think they should host some type of atomic age retro conventions there since they already have that 50s 60s look.

[@slickbelge]

That is a long time to wait to see SOB. Glad you got to it!

[@TimothyFrench]

You got that right.🤣 I wish I could have seen it as a kid in the 60’s when it was in full swing.

[@terrybane6206]

South Of The Border has changed a lot since I was a kid. By the time my family got to this point we were all too excited about almost being at the beach to take much time to enjoy South Of The Border. I hope you enjoyed your first visit. Thanks Timothy.

[@91210paige]

So true. My mind was like Come one were so close why we stopping? Yet it's still away to Myrtle beach from Pedro's.

[@TimothyFrench]

It was probably the Buc-ees of its day when it first open. And a lot cooler. Thanks for watching 👍

[@KittenBlackheart]

Before there were tablets and cellphones to mess with in the car...we had the license plate game, and Pedros billboards. Its a shame people lost the spark that makes stops like this magical. Thanks for the video! (And hope you picked up some Blenheims ginger ale for the rest of your trip)

[@TimothyFrench]

Thank you, i miss them too.

[@ruthsills7207]

It would be so great if South Carolina would step in and revitalize this attraction as a historical place. Yes... remember the signs well. My mother's family lived in SC and we passed by here frequently in its hey-day. We stopped a time or two. Wish it could have been more often. Would like to bring my grandchildren one day.

[@TimothyFrench]

I think that would be awesome as well 👍

[@91210paige]

Sir you are a trooper. I did the same drove for over 10 years from New England to Myrtle Beach and saw those signs for 100 miles. I stopped once and it was enough for me. Never again. Hopefully it got better.

[@TimothyFrench]

You can tell it was once a great place to stop in the early days when those motel rooms were new and filled with families. I bet they could have some awesome classic car conventions there. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@jbgearhead]

So nice to see this. It sure brought back some real good memories. Our family would stop here on our trip from Md to Florida. As a young kid I just could not wait to get here ! Been many years. Planning to move to NC in a few years. If all goes well I will definitely come to this place once again. Thank you for a wonderful video !

[@TimothyFrench]

You’re welcome. I hope your move goes well. Pedro misses you I’m sure.😀

[@ShesHereForTheMusic]

This place has been around for as long as I’ve been born. I remember visiting this place back in 98. Still looks the same. All the family would go down there when I was younger and buy all the fireworks they could. I do enjoy visiting Myrtle Beach that also holds memories as well. Thankyou Timothy for the video.

[@TimothyFrench]

You’re welcome. I would have loved to have seen the place in the 60s when the rooms were full and the place was crowded. I can remember stopping at these types of motels and running for the pool before my parents had our suitcases in the room. Thanks for posting👍

[@BassPlayerKeithHallPhotography]

Fantastic place

[@willbygosh4887]

I remember as a kid I would see miles and miles of those signs before Interstate was built.

[@TimothyFrench]

They definitely had a lot of signs. 👍

[@furmanmackey5479]

Back around 1967 or 1968 my Dad took a notion we would visit South of The Border before heading on down to Myrtle Beach from Rock Hill. Maybe Dad picked the wrong day in June, but the place was packed!!! We spent the better part of the day wandering around, riding the various rides and buying souvenirs. We even met the Founder/Owner! I recall standing in line, around 6PM, to get a chance to eat at the restaurant with the sombrero. We finally got back on the road and made it to Myrtle Beach about 10PM, if memory serves, where we checked into one of the now long gone "Splinter Village" motels where we basically crashed and burned until late the next morning when it was already about 100 degrees! I think, in the end, we actually enjoyed South of The Border more than we did the beach. Sadly, it was only after we moved back home to our beloved home state of South Carolina in 2019, that The Lovely Bride and I got the chance to visit South of The Border again only to discover that darn near everything was closed down and/or run down. Seeing your video gave me hope that things are looking up based on the fresh paint and such. Anyway, The Lovely Bride and I are planning on driving down that way from Bennettsville this summer and refreshing our respective childhood memories of a simpler time.

[@TimothyFrench]

It was definitely the place to stop in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It was very crowded then, which was the reason for all the restaurants, campgrounds, and motels. Sadly, we only have a beaver called Buc-ee these days.

[@furmanmackey5479]

@@TimothyFrench Ain't that a sad fact! If it tells you anything, we have passed the Buc-ee numerous times since it opened and still can't come up with a good reason to visit the place. To us it's just an oversized gas station/convenience store. We just don't see the fascination.

[@TimothyFrench]

I have never been to one myself

[@brianeyawn]

loved finding the all of the billboards as a kid.. we would always stop for ice cream..

[@TimothyFrench]

Thanks for sharing your South of The Border memories with us. Their billboards are definitely part of Americana.

[@bcdeaton777]

South of the Border is Awesome. I Love That place. You did a great review of it.

[@TimothyFrench]

Thank you. I hope they can get more customers and freshen things up a bit. Those Buc-ees stops are popping up all over the place like a bunch of wet gremlins and they stay packed.

[@bcdeaton777]

@@TimothyFrench I know I stopped by there three years ago on my way back from Florida and it's a shame that it's not busier. I remember me and my best childhood friends and their families stopped there back around 1976 and that place was rockin. It really is a shame because it is such a cool little place. I told my wife I really don't know how they stay in business but I sure am glad that they are hanging in there.

[@Webb63]

I spent my 3rd honeymoon here. Been goin back ever since. Probably 30 times, and I never seen the splash pad thing. You did a good job on the video man. Thank you

[@TimothyFrench]

It is definitely a unique piece of Americana. 👍

[@curiousgeorge8438]

Blenheim ginger ale owns it now. They produced ginger ale over in Blenheim SC , just a few miles west

[@TimothyFrench]

Thanks for the information. I have never heard of them before 👍

[@bobby-ov9qn]

As a kid in the 50's, I can't tell you the number of times we would drive down to SOB from Northern VA to buy (loud) fireworks. Never ate there, never bought anything there other than the Fireworks. Wasn't the easiest trip back then, but always worth it. After I married a NC girl, we would go down to see her Aunt who lived in Dillon. She and her husband owned the Chevrolet dealership until the husband passed. Places like this don't do much anymore, and are generally drive by areas. A shame really, that people today missed out on a different time. Their loss. Thanks for the memories Timothy.

[@TimothyFrench]

I agree. I love Quirky roadside attractions like SOB. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@deeplace1571]

I've never been here. I need to go check it out. Doesn't look as busy as I'd thought it would be.😢

[@TimothyFrench]

People just pass it by these days. But it was the place to be at one time or there would not have been a hotel, campground, and amusement park. I think they should to some type of retro convention there. That would bring in a bunch large crowd and they have plenty of lodging.

[@douglasaburto6063]

A LOT OF MEMORIES!❤

[@rovvt1284]

awesome place. actually looks very clean ya think they got the funds to make it perfect. probably not.

[@TimothyFrench]

They definitely need more people to stop in.

[@davidhibbs6989]

I was like you I guess I remember always wanting to stop here so many times back in the 70's on our trips to Myrtle Beach and my father always said absolutely no way Boy. It's a tourist trap. Took me to about 50 years old to see it and was Disappointed. I remember telling my wife I Do believe Daddy was right. Looks like a tourist trap 😂

[@TimothyFrench]

🤣🤣🤣 A good ole tourist trap for sure

[@nlpnt]

Cheap airfare did a lot of places like this in. Killed off the NY/New England-to-Florida traffic and the people going from the Research Triangle area to Myrtle Beach'll only stop for a few minutes and grab lunch at most.

[@TimothyFrench]

I think you’re right. 👍

[@joesbarandgrill5393]

It looked deserted when I went by there in September 2024.

[@TimothyFrench]

Yep, people seem more interested in going to that oversized gas station called Buc-ee’s than they do poor old South of The Border. It’s a shame because Pedro offers so much more and could good look a lot nicer if people would stop more often. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@91210paige]

Good job! It would be nice if the state put some real money into the place and made it a place everyone wanted to stop at.

[@TimothyFrench]

I agree. Those rooms probably fill up during their motorcross event so they should probably try adding other types of rallies like retro cars and classic camper rallies. Or any others that would like the retro feel of the place. This would make it more of a destination than a stop.

[@rachelbey7008]

Not very lively. What time of day is this? Thanks Timothy for the walk

[@TimothyFrench]

It was almost 11:00 a.m. I don’t think many people stop anymore, which is a shame. It is so much cooler than those Buc-ees that are popping up everywhere.

[@91210paige]

They need a large security or Police presence there to make families feel safer.

[@TimothyFrench]

I Agree.

[@91210paige]

Yes with people being able to Fly into MB it's probably lost 90% of it's customer base.

[@TimothyFrench]

I agree. And people driving in are not as worn out from travel as they use to be with air conditioning in their cars and the big chains located at every exit these days. But it must of been a fun oasis for those early travelers.

[@richardnone5644]

wow this dump is still there i stopped there in 1967

[@rreyes7159]

Whats your accent?

[@rreyes7159]

Question is for Timothy

[@TimothyFrench]

Southern United States

[@91210paige]

In all honesty it was probably tainted since I had been traveling for many hours and it just didn't seem very safe when I was there.

[@TimothyFrench]

I think they do need to keep more security on the property to keep people with bad intentions away.

[@kennethstuckey7823]

"REV at the Border," you finally made it, Timothy! South of the Border! 🤣🤣 That place has been a true hot mess for decades, beginning in the early to mid 1990s! 😩😩 It now certainly is the land that time forgot! They start advertising it on large, colorful Mexico-driven, corney billboards with "Pedro" hundreds of times beginning around Richmond, VA area on I-95 and ending upon your flabbergasted arrival at South of the Border in Hamer SC. Many a person's mouth has dropped wide open in disappointment, amusement, and shock when they've finally arrived there and began to see/experience the place's "unique" offerings and tackyness. Talk about false advertisement. However, the place seems to be a popular place for some, as many newly married couples still honeymoon there and couples have been doing so since the 1960s. Go figure, right? In the 1960s, South of the Border was a much larger place that was very nice, well-kept, and extremely popular and busy all the time. Back then, it was the largest employer in Dillion County, SC, employing well over 700++ people. But, I digress.....

[@TimothyFrench]

I wish it could go back to its glory days. Hate I missed it as a kid of the 60s

[@bestinupstate]

I agree. We went in 1981...saw the signs all the way down the highway...all excited to go - finally got there - and everyone was super disappointed. If they would live up to their advertising, they would a worldwide destination. I'm sorry Timothy...I love your videos...but this place is lame and has been for decades. They should either get a bulldozer or get a huge loan, redo the entire place adding lots of family attractions such as a home made ice cream shop, batting cages, bumper boats, climbing walls, miniature golf, bouncy houses, go-carts, water slides, a skating rink...things for a family to do - and enjoy themselves - more than sitting on a dinosaur and taking a selfie. Lame. It's no wonder no one ever stops anymore. Everyone in America is onto their false advertising. They need to check out places like Sonny's Place in Somers Connecticut. He's got it going on.

[@TimothyFrench]

@bestinupstate I agree. It’s nothing like it used to to be. Hopefully they will open the rides and use some of your ideas. Thanks for posting 👍

[@jackg9092]

Great video. The founder of South of the border, Alan Schafer, had enough political pull to have the planned route of I95 changed to pass by his land. Good documentary on S.O.B here kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaalo3Wbf9V0fq8

[@TimothyFrench]

Thanks for the info. I love learning about the history if these places.👍

[@z95m]

I bet the woke crowd would love this place!

[@ShesHereForTheMusic]

Have you actually ever been there ? It’s the opposite who mostly goes there to buy the fireworks. When your neighbors out in the boondocks are firing them off at 3 am on July 7 for no reason remember that’s where they got their fireworks from. 😂

[@frankgrabasse4642]

Living in constant fear of woke? Too much fox news?

[@toddalford3155]

Jack rabbit

[@chiefwarrant9719]

Wow you made it to nowhere

[@TimothyFrench]

Not many people there for sure.