​You'll see the billboards for 100 miles in either direction, and honestly, the anticipation is part of the experience. South of the Border is the ultimate "time capsule" of 1950s roadside America. It's unapologetically tacky, neon-drenched, and wonderfully weird. Is it a bit weathered? Yes. But it's a must-stop at least once in your life just to experience the sheer scale of Pedro's world. ​ ​The Sombrero Tower: For $5, you can take a glass elevator up 200 feet. The view of the I-95 corridor and the surrounding Carolina plains is actually really cool, and it's a great way to stretch your legs after hours of driving. ​ This is a photographer's playground. Between the giant Pedro statues, the fiberglass animals, and the vintage neon, your camera roll will be full. ​The Shopping: From fireworks at "Rocket City" to the most random souvenirs you didn't know you needed, the shops are massive. read more

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The whole place seems anachronistic and dated. There's a musty aged smell in all the buildings, and the restrooms were minimally serviced with an ever present "urinal cake" smell. It was fascinating to stop by and see it, but it seems well past its prime. read more

South of the Border has different shops and places to take photos. I saw people taking pictures by the enormous colorful statues. It's seemed like part of the experience. I went to the fireworks shop. The prices were great. They had so many firework options too. The King Kong , the Cajun, ladybugs, jumbo packages etc. The staff were nice . I also went the convenience store. It was clean and organized. The staff were friendly too. It was a fun and friendly quick stop. read more

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Nice nich in life a must see once or twice or more. We stopped in shoped, ate and use their dated but very clean bathrooms. A nice place to stop and rest when on a long trip. They have souvenirs for all my friend bought a poncho Lots of choices and colors. We got a south of the border back scratcher and some great coffee mugs. Definitely will go back. read more

South of the Border - South of the border back scratcher. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

Nostalgic area I haven't been to in a while! Everything looks the same! There were a lot of people out between the stores , motel and restaurants. Good little souvenirs to take home with you. read more

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Holy heck, this was my first time at South of the Border and...holy heck. My husband was so excited to take me here for a quick stop because I've never been to a South of the Border before and he was very pleased with my reaction. Now let me say, we visited at 7pm on a Monday night. The sun had set a while ago, so when I saw bright lights that reminded me of Circus Circus in Las Vegas, my eyes lit up and my mouth gasped. "What is this place??" I exclaimed. I still don't know what this place is. I do know that there is a South of the Border motel here and boy, if you're looking for a questionable journey, spending the night in a South of the Border motel would be your place. We drove through the legs of Pedro, the mascot for this wild place, and stopped for some souvenirs. They have a penny machine which is always a favorite of mine. We found a keychain that looked like our dog and bought two magnets. The employees were definitely over it, so much so that the shop was slightly dim and I don't think all of the lights were on. But I wasn't here for the employees and how they were ready to get away from this tourist trap, I was here for the tourist trap. Though, no doggy sombreros. South of the Border on a Monday night at 7pm is dead. You won't really see anyone here. But, you will see a lot. There's a dinosaur with a sombrero on his head, a statue of wiener dog, reptile lagoon, and a sketchy parking lot advertising "Porkys" with truckers in the back but UPS trucks are not allowed, for whatever reason, I'd like to go down the rabbit hole on this one. I'm almost positive you can find a glory hole here. And with that being said, I wouldn't trust using the restrooms here. The souvenir shop was clean and well organized. There's a ton of bulk branded items to choose from. Shirts, magnets, cups, ceramics, bags, toys, jewelry, you name it, South of the Border has it...and with their name on it, all for a low low price. South of the Border looks like one of those random town fairs that aren't advertised anywhere and no one knows when they're coming to town, they're just there. That's what South of the Border looks like. It's super bright, chaotic, and overwhelming, it's fun in small doses. Like local pop-up fairs, I don't really trust South of the Border, but I can't help but to enjoy it. read more

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I checked in June 14, 2026 about 730. I went to dinner in the next town over came back. The power was out in the hotel. The staff there had no clue what was going on. There was no manager on duty. I told him I cannot stay because of health reasons cause the humidity was so high they told me they could not refund me back my money so we left went to the next town over to get a hotel for the night. read more

Lots to see and do at South of the Border. Great food. Great company and shopping. Lots of unique swag to bring home to friends and family. There is ample parking and lots to choose from for your dining pleasure. Don't pass the exit. Can't miss it. Happy Eating Yeeps!!! read more

This place is quirky and cool and weird. There are lots of statues of animals and mascots lines up along the parking lots and streets. They have a cool sombrero tower and arcade and reptile exhibit. Lots of restaurants too. I stopped and shopped at Pedro's Mexico shop for some cool items. A good pit stop during my road trip. read more

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South of the Border is one of those places you've heard about forever if you've driven I-95 enough times. The billboards start early, go on forever, and make it seem like this massive, can't-miss roadside attraction right at the North Carolina and South Carolina border. We finally stopped, and honestly, it felt like a ghost town. You can tell this place was once a big deal. There's a huge footprint, lots of buildings, signs, and attractions spread out over a large area. The problem is that most of it feels empty, closed, or barely hanging on. Walking around, it felt more abandoned than lively, like a roadside attraction frozen in time that never quite moved forward. There are still a few things open, places to grab snacks, souvenirs, and gas, and the iconic visuals are still there. The tower, the signs, the mascot, it all looks exactly like you'd expect. But once you get past the novelty of seeing it in person, there's really not much to do. A lot of the spaces just feel unused, and the overall atmosphere is quiet in a way that's not charming, just kind of sad. At this point, it's more of a curiosity than a destination. If you're already passing through and want to say you've seen it once, fine. But going out of your way to stop here feels like a waste of time. The hype from the billboards doesn't match the reality anymore. It's an interesting piece of roadside history, but today it feels more like a relic than an attraction. read more

This is a great place that bring back those core memories. The staff is always friendly, the restrooms were clean. Great stop off place for the e tire family. The little shops have the basic souvenirs and souvenir prices. read more

South of the Border - Plenty photo opportunities - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

It been years since ive stopped here. When my kids were younger I used to do lots of road trips to Murtle beach I haven't stopped here in vears, maybe 7 or 8 years. I did notice that the place was deteriorating and it just wasnt the same. Maybe because my kids are now older and they'rejust not as impressed or maybe because economy and time has taken its toll. The places were a bit outdated and restaurant empty. We still managed to take a break, walk around snap some pictures and reminisce. read more

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This was a really strange stop. Think of it as a ghost town. There were some "interesting" statues for photo ops and places to grab food and shop, but everything was super dead for the most part. We can consider a declining to the top of the sombrero, but they want to charge you for that. There was a bathroom attendant in the men's restroom, which was bizarre for multiple reasons. The bathrooms were like what you would find at an outdoor nature area, not nice at all, so to have somebody hand you a towel after you use the restroom was even more strange. We did stop at one of the shops that had a sign outside that said pets were only allowed inside if you carried them, so I did. I have a small dog that I carried through store, but the old woman working there was rude about it and tried giving me side eye despite their own sign. I made sure to go to her register and hold my dog right over the counter as I purchased some sunglasses because people who will find anything to be miserable about deserve to be miserable. It was just a super odd hour or so wandering around this place. If you have nothing else to do, maybe stop here for the nostalgia of it all, but you need to have a very low expectations to be able to enjoy yourself at all. read more

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Horrible this place was once the go to pit stop on the way to florida to eat,relax and recharge but now its becoming an abandoned place with nothing to see or do but get gas in some disgusting bathrooms and run back out read more

South of the Border - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

We were there after most of the place was closed for the night, but that worked in our favor since I didn't feel like cheesy souvenirs...but I'm always down for silly photos....and we took A LOT of them. I won't post the more ridiculous (adult) photos. Lmao. read more

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Here's the text with corrected grammar: I always make a point to stop here and see my man, Pedro. This location is what it is, and I stop here purely for nostalgia and gas. If it's your first time passing through, I think it is a wonderful tourist stop. They offer multiple shops with an array of all sorts of things for sale. There are also a few places to grab food, do an activity, and stretch your legs. The whole place could personally use a good update or maybe just a good coat of paint. That may be in the works, though I'm starting to slowly see things changing--for example, they painted Pedro. I can't wait to see how it progresses and I will definitely be back to see my man. read more

South of the Border - They painted my man - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

It's that one eye-catching place you've driven past several times in your life that you know is bad but you're curious and fascinated because of its scale and personality. Well this is worse than that. One of the most, if not THE most, depressing 40 minutes I've spent anywhere. I don't think I want to know how it manages to stay open. But I did get a cool magnet in a sterile store of thousands of generic items. read more

South of the Border - Bottle opener magnet. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

Not real Mexican food ..very prepared . The value of the food wasn't good , we won't ever come back .

SHOPPING, I bought some souvenirs from this very adorable rest stop . Loo Review, I also stopped at the restroom which is very big and in a separate building. There was an attendant on duty. I love being here. It feels nostalgic and special. Famous SOUTH IF THE BORDER LANDMARK and statues, Of course I had to visit the different statues here! So many photo opportunities!! read more

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Went up in the sombrero-$4 a person cash only?? Ride up to watch sunset. Elevator operator came up twice to see us and then ask how long we were going to be. Pretty upsetting. They were open hours more - why ask? Reptile tour was $20 for four - quick to go through but neat reptiles to watch and see. Lots of shops to explore. We stayed the night and will be back with the kids. read more

South of the Border has been a landmark of the southeast for nearly 70 years, this tourist stop provides a clean, safe & fun environment for travelers of all types who visit this area situated at the border of the two Carolinas. In 1949, Mr. Alan Schafer built a simple 18 x 36 foot beer stand known as South of the Border Beer Depot. As it adjoined the North Carolina counties, which were dry of alcoholic beverages, business boomed. A few years later a 10-seat grill was added and the business was re-named South of the Border Drive-In. In 1954, Mr. Schafer added 20 motel rooms. Business expanded with Mexican trinkets and numerous kitsch items imported from Mexico. The site itself also began to expand to include a cocktail lounge, gas station and souvenir shop. In 1962, South of the Border expanded into fireworks sales, potentially capitalizing on the fact fireworks were illegal in North Carolina. In 1964 it was announced that the route for I-95 would pass right by South of the Border, and the facility would be next to two exits and within view of the highway. By the mid-1960s, South of the Border had expanded to include a barber shop, drug store, a variety store, a post office an outdoor go-kart track complete with other outdoor recreational facilities and the 104 feet (32 m) tall image of the mascot, Pedro. Either if you are driving north or south on I-95 you will see many of their billboards, sometimes an hour before getting to this tourist spot...the selection of things to do is overwhelming...I stopped here to get some air for my tires at their gas station, which had multiple air pumps, all free. Very easy to get on/off the highway..... read more

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Wild that this place still exists lol. Cool little shops and stuff but definitely past its prime. Fun little stop though.

If you want the most American experience ever, don't forget to stop here. It truly doesn't get more American than this. All I did was stop in for a drink (not driving) and my bartender was Michelle B. She was incredibly sweet and the main reason I made this post. Stop here for the American experience, leave knowing that there are sweet southern women like her out there. read more

What do South of the Border in Dillon, South Carolina and the People Republic of China have in common? At first glance, nothing at all. Dig a little deeper and you discover they were both founded in 1949, so they have both been around for 74 years. The historic roadside attraction got its start as a small beer stand just across the border from North Carolina. The adjoining counties to the north were "dry," and the local businessman who established the suds shop did quite well supplying brew to thirsty North Carolinians. So well in fact, that the shack led to a small grill and drive-in, which in turn became a motel. Mexican trinkets were added later as the name intended to demarcate where you crossed the border into South Carolina, became associated with that other border between the USA and Mexico. (Given the political heat now flaming about immigration down there, it is somewhat surprising that some brainiacs haven't demanded a name change to something less controversial.) My family stopped in on every long drive from the northeast to Florida. My sister and I insisted on an hour or two of fun to break up the long ride. We ate their grease burgers, bought their swag and most importantly, loaded up on fireworks for the Fourth of July. More recently, we visited on the way to Myrtle Beach. Even as an adult, I took pleasure in showing my kid what I had enjoyed when his age. Sure, it is gitchy as hell, and it looks every bit a 74 year old attraction that is way behind the times. But, all that corniness is exactly it still works. It has gone from a rustic, backwater beer outlet to a classic slice of Americana. Gotta love it. read more

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Very surprised ! Clean, safe & convenient. Nice restaurants nearby. Nothing more to say.

There is a lot going on here at this spot that owes its fame to being just about half way between New York City and South Florida along the busiest road corridor in the USA. The bumper stickers are everywhere and the billboards point out that it's coming. Part gas station, part steakhouse, part motel, part amusement park, part fireworks stores, it all comes down to Pedro, the mascot of the attraction. And yes, everyone working here, regardless of their actual name, is "Pedro." The place tries for kitschy camp and hits it right on the nose. All sorts of stuff you might need for your trip to Florida from beachwear to towels. All kinds of "I went South of the Border" merchandise including pottery, novelties and such. And enough other souvenirs to float a small ship. Is it offensive? Only if you're really thin-skinned. It's a joke, folks! Enjoy it. You have to stop here. [Review 18873 overall - round number 900 in South Carolina - 2396 of 2022.] read more

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Bottom line - don't do it. Stopped in just out of curiosity, after passing this a million times during various trips. You always see the signs and wonder what all the hype is about with the 350 billboards that line the interstate. There is certainly a lot on site - gas station, general store, souvenir shop, hotels, and apparently other attractions, which I did not see. There are a lot of photo opportunities with different large "statues" of Pedro, alligators, elephants, etc. So I guess there's that. To be fair, I didn't explore all that South of the Border has to offer, but what I did see, didn't impress me. It looked old, dirty, smelled weird, the staff wasn't that friendly, and it looks like the items in the souvenir shop have been there for at least a decade - but there are certainly a lot of options in the warehouse sized store. I try to be nice, but this place was just sad. I have no idea how they have remained in business for this long, but more power to them, I suppose. read more

Outdated unique place to stop for the day but we will never stay overnight again. Dead roach in vent , weird stain on curtains and can't forget the giant very much alive roach in the tub. Checked in at 3pm and we were gone by 1am after seeing the amount of bugs in the room after coming back from dinner. We did tell the front desk but they claimed they are just "water bugs". They only offered a partial refund which we are still waiting on... Kid rides and mini golf were closed. No idea how long they have been closed for but it doesn't look like any one has used them in forever. read more

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Found nice tiles but 50% more than retail. Daughter put $ in claw machine and it did not work. Employee just smiled and said "I guess it doesn't work". Money gone, not fun. read more

South of the Border - Sign outside store - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

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You see the first signs a hundred miles away.....big, fiesta-colored billboards advertising food, fun and shopping. If only. We stopped on four different trips, thinking perhaps we'd arrived at the wrong business hours, etc. Nope. It was the same - or worse - every time we road-tripped through South Carolina. The first time, it was in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, and we STILL couldn't find an unlocked bathroom or even an open eatery. Some were open, most closed, and everything was over-priced. I've paid less for a soda at a movie theater, and it had almost no fizz. The bathrooms were dirty on trips 2 and 3. I was disappointed at the shops, which didn't have anything unique or that wasn't available for less at a Wal-Mart or Target. Those are easy to find thanks to modern GPS. South Of The Border seems to trade on its name and lean on its billboards to attract customers. They'd do better to pull some of those billboards and pour that money into refurbishing, remodeling and restocking their site. As travel stops go, this is the interstate's armpit. Don't waste your time. read more

I've been stopping at SOB for yearssssss and today I had the best experience I have ever had here. I went up in the sombrero, I went to the reptile park, I got a drink at the bar, and ate at the New Mexican street food place. It is the nicest I've ever seen it, everyone seems to be happy to work here, everything is super clean (which honestly has been an issue in the past), and I had a wonderful time. Can't wait to stop back on my way home! read more

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Iconic stop heading south! Ya gotta stop just for the nostalgia of it! You can't miss the huge sombrero tower as you head near South Carolina! Souvenir heaven! The billboards heading South are hilarious and numerous! Every trinket and Knick-knack you can think of is here at the souvenir Mecca. Key chains, snow globes, bumper stickers, shot glasses, t-shirts, pens, mugs, towels, jewelry, and personalized pens, coasters, etc. My kids never find their names on any of the personalized items which was by design. There are mediocre eateries, petrol, and other services available, clean restrooms. Tons of spots for fun insta pics, be sure to get one of Pedro. The whole place is like something out of a Chevy Chase Vacation movie, it's kind of antiquated, has a traveling carnival feel and a tad sketchy, but it's def worth a visit so you can claim: been there, done that, got the t-shirt. read more

South of the Border - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

This place is HUGE! With 2 or more gas stations , stores and restaurants. Now Im not saying this place is racist , but there's nothing resembling Mexican culture. Just a bunch of stereotypical "Mexican" decor. The Mexican restaurant has no Mexican food and not one Hispanic employee on site. With that said the bathroom smelled nice and were super clean. They have a bathroom attendant at the door constantly cleaning. Overall this place is great if you need to put gas and need a quick bathroom break. But is just cringy and can be kinda offensive for some people. read more

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Just about as tacky as it gets. But in the best possible way. Everything from fireworks to alligators to mini-golf. We stayed in the Camp Pedro campground (twice!) and it's terrific. Great hookups; clean, quiet, and very secure. Dined at The Peddler steakhouse and my Kansas City Strip was about the most flavorful piece of beef I've had this year. We run up and down I-95 frequently (having family at both ends) and South of the Border is always a great place to spend the night, or just a quick pit stop. read more

South of the Border - View from the sombrero - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

I have driven down 95 and seen this place so many times. When I was younger, I always tried to make a point to visit but as I visited, the luster quickly died. As you head towards the border you start seeing and smiling with all the SOTB signs. They start miles before you see the sombrero but once you drive by, it is just not what they built it up to be. Recently I drove by at night and some of the sombrero tower lights were not working (a lot were not working). When I stopped in to go to the bathroom, there was a bathroom attendant but it was kinda creepy. Dude sitting in the bathroom handing out paper towels for tips. Just a weird place to hire a person to sit there. I do love a clean bathroom but it is just weird having someone hand you paper towels after you wash your hands. I refuse to eat at SOTB because of the way the exterior of the park/stop looks. They used to have some state fair type little rides over the years and most are gone or non-operational. This place needs a lot of work. It could be a good stop but there is nothing that you can't get or do at Bucees which isn't that far away...except Bucees is way cleaner. I wish someone would buy the place and just demolish it and start again. It has potential but has been allowed to deteriorate to a point that it is not a place anyone really wants to stop at during their travels. read more

South of the Border - SOTB sombrero tower is missing half the lights. The SOTH sign right below it is missing lights as well. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

the lemonade is soooooo gooodddddddddd the lemonade is soooooo gooodddddddddd the lemonade is soooooo gooodddddddddd read more

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If you have not been here , stop by for the novelty of it . It's a great concept but it has been beaten by times. It's dirty, run down,unfriendly and just a massive let down. With buc-ees just 33 miles away, for this place to survive they need to update everything and make it look more fun, less tashy. read more

This roadside attraction has been around for a long time, well before I was born. I have vague memories of passing by it as a kid and young adult and always wanting to stop. This place must spend a lot in billboard marketing and I have to say it's pretty effective since the frequent billboards advertising the place along the interstate did hype up my interest. On a recent road trip from Orlando to Virginia Beach, my boyfriend and I decided we needed to finally experience South of the Border. We both wanted to stretch our legs and get out of the car for a bit so it was perfect. They have an ice cream shop so we popped in for a cone. Average ice cream, but the person taking care of us was friendly. Then we popped over to the souvenir shop to grab a magnet since we like to collect them from places we visit. The souvenir shop had plenty of items to remember your stop. They have a few restaurants on site and some other stuff to do, but some things were closed due to COVID-19. Overall, this is a tourist trap and it's just average stuff, but something about the level of corniness and kitsch made it a fun road trip stop for me! It's nothing worth going out of your way for, but if you have the time stop in, take some goofy pictures, and enjoy the roadside attraction nostalgia! read more

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As someone not familiar with this roadside attraction until yesterday when driving by, the most positive thing I have to say is that I'm happy to have had the chance to visit a "roadside attraction" as I'm pretty sure there aren't many left. I had heard about roadside attractions in college psychology when we talked about how hard it was to train raccoons to drop a nickel in a jar without washing it in water first (a once popular attraction at rest areas). It definitely served as a rest area, with a large public bathroom and small dog area with fresh water for the pups. This place is definitely a mind-fuck. I get how kids will lose their minds with all the big bright colorful sculptures everywhere, which don't get made anymore. On my visit, the people I did see were taking pictures in front of all these statues, and this is really the only reason kids love this place-- I can't imagine kids getting that excited about a gift store. Any rides and attractions were long closed when I was there. No mini golf, no elevator ride anywhere-- it was just the bathrooms, gift shops, and a few spots to grab food. I think the arcade and firework place were open as well. After visiting and being a little confused, I read King's book, "Sombreros and Motorcycles in the South" for context and a critical analysis. It seems that in 1997 the billboards were revamped to correct Pedro's broken English (which the owner complained meant people had no sense of humor). The original owner also claimed that he hired black people when it first opened in the 50's, which no one else would do, and he bought stuff from Mexico for the gift store, so he thought people should get off his back. read more

South of the Border - Amusement Parks Near Me - Dillon, South Carolina

There was a lot to see. The staff wasn't the friendliest. The gift shop was cool though. read more

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