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277:'s Ranch in Tennessee. 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. By insurance regulations, only licensed AMA or FIM professional riders are permitted on the Supercross or Arenacross circuits.
353:, people began calling them Pedro and Pancho, leading to the development of the Pedro mascot. Schafer eventually created Pedro, an exaggerated, cartoon-like representation of a Mexican bandit, to add to the exotic element and theme of the attraction. Pedro wears a sombrero, a poncho and a large mustache.
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items imported from Mexico. The site itself also began to expand to include a cocktail lounge, gas station and souvenir shop and, in 1954, a motel. In 1962, South of the Border expanded into fireworks sales, potentially capitalizing on the fact fireworks were illegal in North
Carolina. In 1964 it was
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review says, "lashing signs ... throw technicolor pink and green and blue onto every surface. 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. The
Peddler Steakhouse, the
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Pedro has likewise been referred to as culturally offensive, politically incorrect or racist. P. Nicole King described Pedro's likeness as a "southern Jewish guy in brown face" that was perhaps made, partially, in
Schafer's image. Schafer himself had previously dismissed criticism that Pedro is an
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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. 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
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shows characters
Eduardo Sanchez Powers and Casper robbing a Mexican store leading the viewers to believe they were still in Mexico. The scene later reveals they were actually robbing the gift shop at South of the Border and are now traveling in the United States.
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Over the years, the billboards with messages some considered racist and offensive changed to become tamer while still retaining the same tongue-in-cheek tone. Schafer continued to deny his attraction was racist, citing the fact that he was known for hiring
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in the early days of motor travel. The area is themed in faux-Mexican style, alluding to Mexico's location south of its border with the United States. The rest area contains restaurants, gas stations, a video arcade, motel, truck stop, a small
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were still popular in Dillon County in the 1940s and 1950s, at about the time Pedro was created and P. Nicole King argues that Pedro embodies the way in which people exoticized Mexico or
Mexicans at the time while working within the themes of
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was once known as "The "Wedding
Capital of the East" because South Carolina allowed people as young as 14 to get married and did not have other requirements. Many couples who got married there went to South of the Border for their
218:. 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)
385:, with a trip to South of the Border. He stops at a fireworks market called Fort Pedro, which leads him into the story of the most memorable Fourth of July during his childhood in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana.
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training facility. South of the Border
Motocross (SOBMX) is used for riders in training and a competitive race course, hosting AMA-sanctioned regional races, featuring in the winter a
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unfair characterization of
Mexicans and argued that Pedro's design is a light-hearted joke. Today, all South of the Border employees, regardless of race, are referred to as "Pedro".
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186:. South of the Border is known for its roadside billboard advertisements, which begin many miles away and incorporate a mileage countdown to the attraction itself.
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nicest of the restaurants, is shaped like a sombrero, while the
Mexican-themed Sombrero restaurant is not, though its décor includes sombreros, cactus and
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South of the Border was developed by Alan
Schafer in 1950. He had founded South of the Border Depot, a beer stand, at the location in 1949 adjacent to
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About 300 people, mostly local employees, work at South of the Border. At one time, with 700 working there, it was the largest employer in
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413:(1999), starring Sandra Bullock and Ben Affleck, the main characters stop at South of the Border as passengers on a tour bus.
404:, the Jokers leave Q at a motel, to have him ride on horseback to South of the Border where the rest of the Jokers await him.
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in advertisements for South of the Border. However, after Schafer hired two men he had met on a business trip to Mexico as
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track complete with other outdoor recreational facilities and the 104 feet (32 m) tall image of the mascot, Pedro.
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Sombreros and Motorcycles in a Newer South: The Politics of Aesthetics in South Carolina's Tourism Industry
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Don't Go There!: The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World
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North Carolina counties. Business was steadily expanded with Mexican trinkets and numerous
683:"'It was like going to Vegas': Why did NC residents once travel to this SC city to elope?"
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174:, a mini golf course, shopping, fireworks stores, and a motocross training complex. Its
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Architectural features include "a Jetsons-esque starburst chandelier" in the lobby and
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shaped observation deck. It is also home to "Reptile Lagoon", the largest indoor
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525:"This S.C. roadside attraction is garish, tacky and un-PC—but I stopped anyway"
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Dixie Emporium: Tourism, Foodways, and Consumer Culture in the American South
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237:. Pedro's Pleasure Dome is a swimming pool inside "a junkyard version" of a
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The entire motif of South of the Border can be described as intentionally
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559:"Tracks | South of the Border MX Motocross Training Facility"
806:"7 Controversial & Offensive Tourist Attractions In The U.S."
153:. It is so named because it is just south of the border between
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756:
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707:"South Carolina's South of the Border survives modern times"
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regional qualifier where winners earn bids to the races at
860:"Eastbound & Down Review: 'Chapter 18' (Episode 3.05)"
625:"In College: Bernanke once had job at South of the Border"
497:"Reptile Lagoon ~ South Of The Border's Newest Attraction"
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Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
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Buildings and structures in Dillon County, South Carolina
322:, and even helping them to vote, and standing up to the
198:. South of the Border is located at the intersection of
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Photo Gallery and Fun Facts about South of the Border
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The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters
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Tourist attractions in Dillon County, South Carolina
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477:. Athens: University of Georgia Press. p. 148.
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63:
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737:. Univiversity Press of Mississippi. p. 90.
888:"Movie Review — "Impractical Jokers: The Movie""
926:—SCIway.net, South Carolina Information Highway
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545:"South of the Border MX - General Information"
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388:The opening scene of Season 3, Episode 5 of
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587:. New York: Norton and Company. p. 47.
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585:The Road to Somewhere: An American Memoir
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970:Roadside attractions in South Carolina
473:Stanonis, Anthony Joseph, ed. (2008).
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499:. South of the Border. Archived from
27:Roadside attraction in South Carolina
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289:which was, at one time, one of many
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1000:Novelty buildings in South Carolina
858:Martin, Garrett (March 22, 2012).
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950:Amusement parks in South Carolina
705:Wiersema, Libby (July 18, 2017).
210:just south of the border between
631:. March 18, 2009. Archived from
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18:South Of The Border (attraction)
886:Moore, Roger (March 13, 2020).
523:Judkis, Maura (July 14, 2016).
161:, and was the halfway point to
995:Amusement parks opened in 1950
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919:South of the Border Motocross
401:Impractical Jokers: The Movie
341:Initially, Schafer only used
258:, and the gas station art of
377:, radio and TV personality,
265:The venue is also home to a
965:Landmarks in South Carolina
935:Article in RoadTrip America
930:Article in Roadside America
681:Moore, Evan (May 9, 2024).
435:, a similar attraction off
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778:Greenberg, Peter (2008).
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733:King, P. Nicole (2012).
423:Breezewood, Pennsylvania
254:, the cinematography of
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151:Rowland, North Carolina
782:. Rodale. p. 255.
601:. South of the Border.
583:Reeves, James (2011).
629:Fayetteville Observer
143:Hamer, South Carolina
87:34.49778°N 79.30972°W
54:Hamer, South Carolina
811:. November 10, 2015.
561:. December 16, 2011.
391:Eastbound & Down
381:began his TV movie,
230:exhibit in the U.S.
671:, pp. 155–156.
635:on January 31, 2010
530:The Washington Post
503:on January 4, 2011.
135:US Highway 301
123:South of the Border
92:34.49778; -79.30972
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33:South of the Border
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137:(US 301) and
131:Interstate 95
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428:Ethnic stereotype
320:African Americans
252:William Eggleston
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375:storyteller
369:Pop culture
256:David Lynch
248:terra cotta
208:US 501
204:US 301
139:US 501
90: /
65:Coordinates
944:Categories
457:References
312:honeymoons
180:caricature
127:attraction
78:79°18′35″W
75:34°29′52″N
599:"History"
483:193911014
451:Carowinds
433:Wall Drug
373:American
343:sombreros
267:motocross
260:Ed Ruscha
133:(I-95),
718:July 18,
639:June 12,
417:See also
351:bellboys
224:sombrero
167:New York
50:Location
347:serapes
305:Nearby
300:go-kart
281:History
235:Mimetic
228:reptile
222:with a
184:bandido
163:Florida
111: (
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337:Mascot
307:Dillon
295:kitsch
190:Design
176:mascot
125:is an
103:Opened
360:camp.
196:campy
165:from
873:2017
809:Vibe
739:ISBN
720:2017
641:2009
479:OCLC
345:and
241:. A
214:and
202:and
200:I-95
157:and
113:1950
106:1950
439:in
398:In
291:dry
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