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. 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. In 1962, South of the Border expanded into fireworks sales, potentially capitalizing on the fact fireworks were illegal in North Carolina. The site itself also began to expand to include a cocktail lounge, gas station and souvenir shop and, in 1954, a motel. Business was steadily expanded with Mexican trinkets and numerous kitsch items imported from Mexico. He had founded South of the Border Depot, a beer stand, at the location in 1949 adjacent to Robeson County which was, at one time, one of many dry North Carolina counties. South of the Border was developed by Alan Schafer in 1950. By insurance regulations, only licensed AMA or FIM professional riders are permitted on the Supercross or Arenacross circuits. There are four circuits-a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) motocross track, a Supercross training facility, an Arenacross training facility, and a second 1.1-mile (1.8 km) motocross track. The AMA regional championship motocross is held at South of the Border, and in the spring, the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship organises a regional qualifier at South of the Border. The motocross training center, known as South of the Border Motocross (SOBMX), is used for riders in training and a competitive race course. There are areas that bring to mind the photography of William Eggleston, the cinematography of David Lynch, and the gas station art of Ed Ruscha. The Peddler Steakhouse, the nicest of the restaurants, is shaped like a sombrero, while the Mexican-themed Sombrero restaurant is not, though its décor includes sombreros, cactus and terra cotta, with lots of lime green. No destination or sentiment is too small to be blared out in bright orange." Numerous large statues of animals such as dolphins, horses, dogs, gorillas and dinosaurs can be found. throw technicolor pink and green and blue onto every surface. A Washington Post review says, "lashing signs. Pedro's Pleasure Dome is a swimming pool inside "a junkyard version" of a geodesic dome. Īrchitectural features include "a Jetsons-esque starburst chandelier" in the lobby and Mimetic. It is also home to "Reptile Lagoon", the largest indoor reptile exhibit in the U.S. The site is a 350-acre (140 ha) compound that contains a miniature golf course, truck stop, 300-room motel, multiple souvenir shops, a campground, multiple restaurants, amusement rides, and a 200-foot (61 m) observation tower with a sombrero shaped observation deck. South of the Border is located at the intersection of I-95 and US 301/ US 501 just south of the border between North Carolina and South Carolina. The entire motif of South of the Border can be described as intentionally campy. The stop has since fallen on hard times as more modern hotel areas have grown along I-95. South of the Border is known for its roadside billboard advertisements, which begin many miles away from and incorporate a mileage countdown to the attraction itself. Its mascot is Pedro, a caricature of a Mexican bandido. The rest area contains restaurants, gas stations, a video arcade, motel, truck stop, a small amusement park, a mini golf course, shopping, fireworks stores, and a motocross training complex. The area is themed in faux-Mexican style, alluding to Mexico's location south of its border with the United States. It is so named because it is just south of the border between North Carolina and South Carolina, and was the halfway point to Florida from New York in the early days of motor travel. South of the Border is an attraction on Interstate 95 (I-95), US Highway 301 (US 301) and US 501 in Hamer, South Carolina, just south of Rowland, North Carolina.
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