So, for the 4th of July this year, my friends David and Eleanor took a trip up to South of the Border! What is South of the Border? Well, that's what we wanted to know!
Last year, on our way up to SPX, we couldn't help but notice the advertisements a long the way. Practically the entire way up I-95, through Georgia and South Carolina, the highway is lined with billboards promising everything from "Pedro's Africa Shop" to "Dinosaur Crossing" and some billboards even have actual demolished cars and rotating cut-out sheep that actually jump a fence! We were instantly curious about what this "South of the Border" was, but didn't have time to stop. What we did see while passing by looked like a practically abandoned theme park with giant tower topped with a gigantic sombrero. On our way back home, it was the evening and it was lit up like Las Vegas! Even the sombrero!
Since then, we've always had a plan to return and check this theme park out more thoroughly. So, on the 4th, when David had a day off work, and Eleanor's classes had been cancelled, it was the perfect opportunity for us to make the 3 hour trip! Unfortunately, Adam, who had was with us up to SPX had recently moved to Detroit, and Michele had too much homework to go.
So, David, Eleanor, and I made the trip. As we approached we saw the familiar hat tower, and we got very excited!
But as we turned off the exit, and into "SOB" (as it is apparently called in some parts), we found out that it isn't so much of a theme park, as a collective of stores and businesses all on a street, who share the SOB theme. Here's a view from in the sombrero (yes, "sombrero vision").
However, South of the Border did not disappoint. It was an amazing place, and I'll tell you why! First of all was all of the giant Pedros lining the street.
There were also all sorts of animals, including dinosaurs and jackalopes!
And, of course, a staple of popular Mexican culture, the Gorilla (with and without t-shirt).
There was a giant burger as well. David almost got crushed!
The fascinating thing about South of the Border, and what gave it most of it's charm, was how much of it was abandoned and/or in disrepair. When we first arrived, we parked outside the "Golf of Mexico" indoor mini-golf place that had been converted into "Pedro's Concrete Bazaar," a shop selling concrete garden sculptures.
However, one look inside proved that the Concrete Bazaar had closed, and was currently not much of anything but an eerie, sorta post-apocolyptic sight.
We also passed our first ride. "'The Sombrero!' Wow! With a little Speedy Gonzales knock-off! Amaz-...oh."
After that we went into a store filled with nothing but crazy hats!
After going up in the Sombrero tower, we were hot, so we stopped at Pedro's Ice Cream Fiesta!
The ice cream was fine and good, but the best find there was a crazy pig with boar tusks that you could ride. Here's Eleanor sitting on it. Move your mouse over the picture to see what happened after David snuck a quarter into it!
As we approached the actual section that could be considered more "Amusement Park"-esque (with a mini ferris wheel, and outdoor mini-golf area, and things like that), we noticed a few strange creatures. First was the three headed giraffe, I assume guarding the miniature tunnel straight to hell.
Second there was QUADZILLA! Who would win in a fight between Quadzilla and the 3-headed Giraffe? I'd root for the Giraffe, personally, although Quadzilla does look a bit more menacing.
Amongst the shady looking park rides, there was an out-of-order roller coaster. Notice the killer airbrushed eagle.
Although the Golf of Mexico was no more, we did get to play a little golf. Here's one of the lakes within the course. Please note that there wasn't anything stopping balls from going into the water on several greens.
After golf, we decided to take a ride on the train that went through the park. There, we got to see a creepy clown, a whale fountain, and a better view of the roller coaster.
We also ate at a little diner, ran through the rain, bought fireworks, and had a great time in general. It's too bad some of our friends couldn't be there with us, but I'm definitely glad we went. Goodbye South of the Border!
