On a road trip to Florida circa 2005 my two friend's and I happened to stumble upon a glorious…read moremagazine in McDonald's that showed us various cheap motels in the throughout the South. This became our bible. And at about $25 a night for two beds, the Swamp Fox Inn was our promised land. But only after we managed to get off the Strom Thurmond Freeway. Frightening name. Grinning behind the front desk was George W. Bush's official White House portrait. My friend thought the inn was named after a mythical southern creature and became quite disappointed when I told him that it's actually named after Francis Marion, the late Revolutionary War general of South Carolina. Once checked in, we were greeted with a room straight from the 70's: faux wood paneling, strange smell, worn shag carpet, and a half broken shower head. But for two beds, a decent sized room, and soap not made with hydrochloric acid (the memory of a hotel in New Mexico brings this to mind), I just can't complain. I mean, it was $25 split between three people! And it's named after a mythical creature, revolutionary war generals be damned!

Here is my Swamp Fox Inn story. Early 1980s. It was late at night and I was driving my Mom through…read moreSouth Carolina on I95 on our way to Florida. I was dead tired. I would ask as we passed billboards for various hotels and motels, "what about there?" "No." she said. Miles and miles and miles. We would pull up to a hotel and she or I would go in to check the rates. "$90.00, Mom, pleeeeease?" "$75.00" "No." "Oh.My.God." Back on the interstate. That is, until we saw a dilapidated wooden sign that appeared out of the foggy night for "The Swamp Fox Inn" and an advertised rate of something in the ballpark of $19.99. "Mom, not that place." Vroom, off the highway we go. I will say my memory of the fog over "The Swamp Fox" sign and motel may be an invention of a mind corrupted by fear and trauma. Here is what I remember, after years of trying to block it out. A dozen young hooligans sitting on cars, drinking, smoking and drunkenly yelling. Guests of the parking lot, not the motel. Absolutely nothing in the room worked, not the phone, the T.V. or the shower. Everything bolted down or chained to prevent the theft of things I could not imagine anyone ever wanting to steal. I remember being afraid. We were supposed to call my Dad to tell him where we were (pre-cell phone days). "No one knows where we are" and "we can't call the police" were my panicky thoughts. This.Is.It. This is the part if in a movie where you scream, "GET OUT NOW!!!!!" I could hear gunshots and yelling and bottles breaking. I eventually feel asleep on the creepiest bed linen in the Southern United States and dreamt of chalk outlines. In the morning (again, I recall fog) everything looked downtrodden, but the people of the parking lot were gone. I have never forgotten that night. Here is where it gets really funny. When I googled the hotel, there was a review from "C.W." dated 1/2/14 on YELP that read, "When I was a kid in the late 90's, my father drove my sister and I from Connecticut to Florida to see Disney World. I'll never forget Swamp Fox Inn. We stopped here so my dad could get some rest after a long drive and checked us in for only 20 dollars a night for two twin beds. What I remember about the room. an old analog television chained to the table. The table bolted to the floor. Multiple holes in the wall. Water backing up into the bathtub when you flushed the toilet. Gunshots in the parking lot in the middle of the night. I was too young to fear for my life back then but old enough to have the memories of that room seared into my mind forever. Thanks South Carolina!" I read the review to my Mom, Dad and son. My son looked afraid, like it could happen to him. My father shook his head. My Mom cracked up. Thank you CW for the laugh.

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I recently was in Florence and needed a taxi for several different rides. The Hyatt suggested TJ,…read moreowner /manager of Easy Riding Taxi. He was by far the most professional and prompt driver I have ever used. He even went so far as to wait a bit with me at the Greyhound bus station until a few people showed up as I was there a bit early. TJ picked me up again a week later on my return and was there as soon as I got off the bus. And picked me up the next morning at my hotel to drive me to the Amtrak station. His professsional attitude was appreciated especially when a missed connection can result in you having to stay another day! TJ also said he could drive me the next time right from Amtrak to Mrtyle Beach for less than half what others were going to charge me. Do yourself a favor and call Easy Riding Taxi service if you are ever in Florence SC. You will not regret it. Karen C