For those of us who live on the East Coast, road trips up and down Interstate 95 were simply a part of growing up. Like most people I know, my family and I spent hours in the car traveling South towards Florida to visit family or North towards Maine … also to visit family.
On those trips southwards from New York, there was always one stop I looked forward to: South of the Border. Part theme park, part restaurant, part casino, and part hotel, the facility is considered the traditional halfway point between New York and Florida, where families could hop off I-95 for a quick bite, some souvenirs, and entertainment before getting back on the road.
While South of the Border isn’t as relevant to the public as it once was, it still holds a place in my heart, and I always make sure to stop there whenever I pass by. That’s why I’m sad to report that the on-site taco restaurant, Burrito Loco, burned to the ground on Sunday night.
Here’s What Happened
According to the Dillon County Fire Station, firefighters first responded to a commercial structure fire at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Crews worked for two hours to extinguish the blaze and left the scene once they thought the flames were subdued. They were called back later that night because the flames reignited, and they worked for another four hours to put out the fire for good. By then, the restaurant, which was not occupied at the time, was nothing more than a skeleton of itself. From Facebook:
For someone who’s personally spent time in this restaurant and all of the facilities around it, this hurts. I made memories with my family here as a kid, and then later with my friends as an adult. To see it ripped to shreds in a fire makes me incredibly sad. Piling onto the sadness is that the building was about to be occupied by a new lessee, but there was no insurance on the building at the time of the fire, according to Dillon County News & Beyond. That means if South of the Border wants to rebuild, it’ll have to do so out of its own pocket.
On the bright side, it seems the rest of the facility was unharmed. The gas station next door seems to be untouched, while photos from the scene published by the fire department show the classic sombrero tower and the colorful neon “South of the Border” sign a safe distance away. So at least there’s that.
Why South of the Border Is So Cool
South of the Border started in 1949 as a simple beer stand, founded by one Alan Schafer. The name was a play on its location, as it was located in Hamer, South Carolina, directly bordering the North Carolina state line. It was more than just a clever joke—the counties north of the border were dry counties, meaning Schafer got lots of business from folks who couldn’t buy alcohol in their local nearby towns.
Business boomed, and soon, Schafer added a 10-seat grill for diners and renamed the spot South of the Border Drive-In. By 1954, he had built 20 motel rooms. In 1962, Schafer started selling fireworks—something that was also illegal just north of the border. Solidifying its iconic status was the announcement in 1964 that I-95 would be built just feet away from the facility’s entrance, opening up business opportunities considerably.
Leaning into the Mexican-themed name, he imported trinkets from Mexico and came up with a 104-foot-tall mascot named Pedro. At its peak, South of the Border had a theme park, a mini-golf course, a barber shop, a drug store, a post office, a convention center, and an outdoor go-kart track. While it marketed itself as a stop along the way to your true destination, for many, the facility itself was the destination.
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In some ways, South of the Border is a shell of what it once was. The only attractions that remain open are the arcade, the reptile house, and the Sombrero Observation Tower. Back in December, the facility listed 30 acres of land for sale, including the defunct theme park, mini golf course, motel building, and convention center, with an asking price of $2.85 million. There are still a few restaurants and souvenir stores on-site, but the main draw is Fort Pedro Fireworks, as most fireworks are still illegal just across the border.
Despite all that, South of the Border remains near and dear to my heart. It’s one of those places that drives nostalgia into my heart when I visit, and forces my brain to consider going on yet another road trip down the East Coast, even if I don’t have a good reason to. So I hope this is the last bad news I ever hear about it.
Top graphic image:Dillon County FD
Even in its heyday… the billboards along 95 were always far more entertaining and enjoyable than the place itself.
The best part, aside from the near-Simpsons-esq presentation of the whole thing, is the motel.
It’s literally an original, 50s style “motor hotel” that has individual car parking spots adjacent to every room. You pull into the portico, get out, and you’re at your door. So cool.
halfway point between New York and Florida, where families could hop off I-95
I’ve driven by the place a couple times a year on my annual migrations to ME and back for a decade. Finally stopped about four years ago. It was rather sad. And now the Buccee’s that opened just a couple miles south has absolutely killed the place. Absolute dead zone when I have driven by ever since, barely a car in the parking lot.
Love the punny signs though.
For some reason I thought it had already burnt down. The last time I stopped probably a decade ago it was in such decline I wondered how it stayed open. Even a decade prior to that I wondered how it was staying open. Fireworks , curiosity and tradition had to be the only thing keeping it around.
I stopped there in the mid ’80s on the way to Florida for my job, and it was looking a bit sad in those days. But all those signs for miles and miles along the highway sure were entertaining!
That place has been having issues for decades, my Spidey senses point to arson and insurance fraud.
This building was apparently uninsured, though
And having eaten there once, I can only imagine the decades long build up of cooking grease in the kitchen. Gordon Ramsay would definitely be pissed.
There’s at least one bad Mexican pun per mile through the Carolinas on their I-95 billboards. Didn’t know the reptile house was still open! Gotta stop next time.