South of the Border

by IrishGuard, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 07:46 (139 days ago) @ Jay
edited by IrishGuard, Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 12:41

a 1950s-era Mexican-themed truck stop/tchotchke emporium/novelty adventure park on the south side of the Carolinas border along interstate 95. Imagine crumbling googie architecture with a healthy dollop of cringey stereotyping. Various bits of the rotting complex are still open.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_of_the_Border_(attraction)

My family used to have a grading system for roadside attractions that went something like:

Grade A: Top national parks, famous places (e.g., The Vegas Strip, The Louvre, Westminster Abbey) or Disneyworld-type destinations. These are the reasons people go places.

Grade B: Good state parks, (quality) amusement parks, fun cities (e.g., Asheville or Memphis). Not "destination"-level places, per se, but worthy of weekend trips.

Grade C: Kitchy, themed attractions of some interest and a modicum of capital investment--at least at one point. Roadside zoos, alpine coasters, "Drive through a tree!" forests, big, but not huge waterfalls, etc. (e.g, Carhenge, Wisconsin Dells pyramid waterskiing ladies, all the shit in Gatlinburg and Pidgeon Forge). Often drawn by the economy of nearby Grade A attractions.

Grade D: Assorted grotty, poorly-financed hangers-on scrounging on the outskirts of more legitimate attractions. Tchotchke-peddling, old timey "General Stores," vertigo houses, Stan Pines-level mystery spots, dilapidated putt putt courses with crumbling concrete or fiberglass statuary. Pathetic places functioning as shitty alternatives for poor families. ("Why pay park prices?! Buy your (generic, off brand) Disney attire here!")

Grade F: Stores that are about themselves, e.g., Bucky's or Wall Drug. Not even going through the motions of offering you an attraction of any kind, it's just calculated manipulation. Fuck these places.