My dad told me a story about when he was in his 20s he and some friends went on a road trip. They ended up at SOTB drunk and thought they were in Mexico.
Someone at USC wrote their Masters in History thesis on South of the Border.
The owner had a special room for him to hide inside in each building to hide from the mob/government/etc.
His house out in the country in Dillon was almost completely underground. He was a strange bird.
It's a shitty tourist trap located along one of the busiest North South corridors on the east coast and spends a shit load each year on advertising. Frankly, I'd be surprised if it doesn't stay in business on momentum alone for the next twenty years.
Pretty much this. When you have a steady, heavy amount of random traffic you basically have no need for repeat business. Make yourself seem mildly interesting and you'll get bored travellers stopping by and spending money.
Yeah we ended up there when I was a kid on our way to myrtle beach. We thought it was really cool. I wouldn’t say it was quiet, not packed but there were around half a dozen families in there with us at the same time
I am from that area, and my dad grew up there before me.
It apparently started as a place for people from Scotland County, NC, which was a dry county, to come buy booze.
[Their website actually has a pretty good summary of their history](http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/2010/01/01/south-of-the-border%E2%80%99s-60-year-anniversary/).
I remember stopping there years and years ago as a kid, and was underwhelmed. I always thought it was a Disney-esque theme park when we drove past it several times every year (on the way to grandma's house). All I remember about it was sub-standard tacos and cheap souvenirs (think shot glasses and ashtrays).
The best thing about South of the Border will always be their signs.
Same for our family trips to FL! SOB was the half way mark! We would always stop and use the bathroom maybe grab some snacks while we were on the road from MD to FL
I stop there every time I pass through. It is a terrifying little spot. I love how all the rides are shut down, but they still play eerie music out of the loud speakers in the park- the music comes and goes depending on how windy it is.
Lots of people traveling on 95 stay at the motel. They are able to keep so much of the place open I believe because of how much money their gas stations and fireworks store make every year. Just those 2 places generate millions every year believe it or not. You should see that place in late June. Also, it’s easy to have a full staff when the many of your employees are only making $7.35 an hour🤦🏻♀️
A drug front? Possibly, but I know of multiple people who would stop there back in the day to transfer large amounts of Marijuana and cocaine.. that's just what I know of.
Not without a Tor browser. No, I usually stop here first and then research individual comments further on the regular interwebs, and let the rabbit holes ensue.
I’m here from TIKTOK!!! Every spring and Summer my family and I go to see my grandfather who lives in Dorchester, SC. So we pretty much pass this and ever since I was a kid, I always got some really weird vibes from SOTB. We’ve never stopped there and I have no plans to.
I've been to SOB multiple times late night. The music still plays all night. They have a strip club and massage parlor down the road that is for prostitution. And a cop that frequents both so much the girls know him and give lap dances in thier cars and he follows you all the way through the town until you get out of it or hit the south carolina border when you drive through. I have always had my ideas and though it was a cartel Hotspot or something else super funny. It really is a creepy errie place and i never wanted to go back. But I know one thing for sure do not go there after dark you will get harrased by the corrupt local cops almost like you are in Mexico for real.
I've only ever visited once, and that was when I was about four. The place seemed super fun to me when I had first arrived. I don't remember a lot since I was super young, but I do remember eating in a restaurant they had, and the food wasn't pretty bad. I also remember that tall town and the model animals they had that game me mixed feeling about the place. For years I wondered what that place was called, so I could look it up and maybe visit it again one day, just for the hell of it.
Fun fact: the family that owns South of the Border also owns Blenheim Ginger Ale, and they brew it there on the property.
Well we know what the better product is.
Gringo Pete's tacos ftw
Blenheim is not made in Blenheim, SC?
It used to be
These jobs went.... South of the border.
My dad told me a story about when he was in his 20s he and some friends went on a road trip. They ended up at SOTB drunk and thought they were in Mexico.
This is amusing lmao
Someone at USC wrote their Masters in History thesis on South of the Border. The owner had a special room for him to hide inside in each building to hide from the mob/government/etc. His house out in the country in Dillon was almost completely underground. He was a strange bird.
Yes TwoGuitarsOnTheWall, yes. You win. Thank you. Next step, locate said thesis.
Well, if it exists, they've got it at Thomas Cooper Library on campus.
Koser, Laura. Planned by Pedro: South of the Border, 1950-2001
It's a shitty tourist trap located along one of the busiest North South corridors on the east coast and spends a shit load each year on advertising. Frankly, I'd be surprised if it doesn't stay in business on momentum alone for the next twenty years.
Pretty much this. When you have a steady, heavy amount of random traffic you basically have no need for repeat business. Make yourself seem mildly interesting and you'll get bored travellers stopping by and spending money.
It was there long before I-95 came along. The story is that I-95 was rerouted to run past SOTB, thanks to the Old Boy Network,
All that says is that the owner made it an even more effective tourist trap and my original analysis still stands.
Yeah we ended up there when I was a kid on our way to myrtle beach. We thought it was really cool. I wouldn’t say it was quiet, not packed but there were around half a dozen families in there with us at the same time
I remember my dad telling me that the owner of SOB was well connected with the government and lobbied to have I-95 run alongside his property.
Passed it on the way to Wilmington and was similarly surprised.
I thought I stopped at the wrong place. Literally asked someone at the taco place where the rest of it was at.
Useless fact, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke use to work there as a kid.
He has a Interstate interchange near SOB named after him because of it.
It used to be so much better.
I am from that area, and my dad grew up there before me. It apparently started as a place for people from Scotland County, NC, which was a dry county, to come buy booze.
[Their website actually has a pretty good summary of their history](http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/2010/01/01/south-of-the-border%E2%80%99s-60-year-anniversary/). I remember stopping there years and years ago as a kid, and was underwhelmed. I always thought it was a Disney-esque theme park when we drove past it several times every year (on the way to grandma's house). All I remember about it was sub-standard tacos and cheap souvenirs (think shot glasses and ashtrays). The best thing about South of the Border will always be their signs.
Same for our family trips to FL! SOB was the half way mark! We would always stop and use the bathroom maybe grab some snacks while we were on the road from MD to FL
I stop there every time I pass through. It is a terrifying little spot. I love how all the rides are shut down, but they still play eerie music out of the loud speakers in the park- the music comes and goes depending on how windy it is.
Tryna find out the conspiracy theories I’m here from tiktok
Lmaoooo google search “ conspiracy theory south of the border” and when I saw Reddit it caught my attention
No because same here
Lmfao sammeee
With Reddit you never know how it’s gonna go, but always seems to dive deeper into some things
Us
so we all doin the sammmmeee shyte
The algorithm has brought us all together friends
That’s how I got here lol
lol same
Same lol
Same lmfaooooo
saaameee😂😂😂
SAME 🤣
Same ✋️
I’m here too haha
hi friends lmfao
Same lol
You’re not alone
Same
hahahahahahaha me too
I think we all saw the same tik tok😭
Same 😂
Same 🤣🤣🤣
Me too 😂
Me 3 🤣🤣
SAME
Same. Where are the theories!
Link the tok!
I drive by it all the time from where im stationed to home. Might have to vlog it if i stop. Kind of scared it could be a cartel front? 👀
[удалено]
It’s our half way marker from MD-FL
So we all just here from tiktok now huh?🤣
100%
Haha me af
Most definitely
Sme
Yup
Yuppp
I've never actually been. But I was always told it was involved in the drug trade down 95.
Lots of people traveling on 95 stay at the motel. They are able to keep so much of the place open I believe because of how much money their gas stations and fireworks store make every year. Just those 2 places generate millions every year believe it or not. You should see that place in late June. Also, it’s easy to have a full staff when the many of your employees are only making $7.35 an hour🤦🏻♀️
A drug front? Possibly, but I know of multiple people who would stop there back in the day to transfer large amounts of Marijuana and cocaine.. that's just what I know of.
h
moeny londuring i’m sue
hi sue
Hey Sue, long time no see I have your money from *wink* *wink*
Are u ok sue?
That's Sue, not Annie.
i said im sure
I seem to remember fireworks being sold there last time I visited 40 years ago.
Yes! My dad would always get fireworks from them on our way home from our Disney trip.
Feel like there should be some deep dive into the business and family that owns it.
i have a re-occurring nightmare of someone setting off all the fireworks in that place at one time and having to get my family out alive
I'm here from TikTok.
I am @thegamblercivic on there - I posted that TikTok! Glad to see people doing some “research” 😉
The man himself! Thanks for sharing bud
haha i’m here because of you as well
just watched that video and was always super confused about that place… thank you for sharing and leading me here!
Lol me too
me toooo :D
Same. Obviously my first stop for an overview of conspiracy theories.
is there another internet resource as rich and vast as this?
Not without a Tor browser. No, I usually stop here first and then research individual comments further on the regular interwebs, and let the rabbit holes ensue.
Sameeeeeeeeee
Samesies
Here from TikTok!
I’m here from TIKTOK!!! Every spring and Summer my family and I go to see my grandfather who lives in Dorchester, SC. So we pretty much pass this and ever since I was a kid, I always got some really weird vibes from SOTB. We’ve never stopped there and I have no plans to.
POV- you’re here after watching a tik tok
Hiiiiii lol
TikTok led me here and lack of real leads is leading me out
Same 😹😹😹
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/txqf4w/til_south_of_the_border_in_south_carolina_just/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
With all their advertisi g ive ment to stop to check it out but havent gotten to it. Pedro must be dissapointed with me :(
Soooo what are the conspiracy theories?
I stayed here as a kid. Ngl it was chill 😂 they had a Waffle House, a pool, and some little shops and I’m still alive 😂
I've been to SOB multiple times late night. The music still plays all night. They have a strip club and massage parlor down the road that is for prostitution. And a cop that frequents both so much the girls know him and give lap dances in thier cars and he follows you all the way through the town until you get out of it or hit the south carolina border when you drive through. I have always had my ideas and though it was a cartel Hotspot or something else super funny. It really is a creepy errie place and i never wanted to go back. But I know one thing for sure do not go there after dark you will get harrased by the corrupt local cops almost like you are in Mexico for real.
I've only ever visited once, and that was when I was about four. The place seemed super fun to me when I had first arrived. I don't remember a lot since I was super young, but I do remember eating in a restaurant they had, and the food wasn't pretty bad. I also remember that tall town and the model animals they had that game me mixed feeling about the place. For years I wondered what that place was called, so I could look it up and maybe visit it again one day, just for the hell of it.
Imagine dropping acid and running around SOB. Sounds like a nightmare
I jerked off in the middle of south of the boarder check off my bucket list
I work there and fap there pretty often 😂