South of the Border

[doubletrouble_vb]

But is it in any more of a prime location than any other exit 40 miles north or south of South of the Border? Why would you pay anything for this dump more than you would pay for land at any of those exits?

I suppose Disney could build some sort of stopover, but they closed the Ocala welcome center.

Yes and no. I haven't driven through there since 2002 when my Dad died. I do recall seeing some outlet type stops that I always intended to stop at but never did. What SOTB has going for it is that it lives on in the memories of a lot of people in its billboards. That makes the real estate it sits on a bit more prime than any stray property around it.

The other thing that MAY make it prime is that I-74 is supposed to be going through that area some day. In theory I think it was supposed to go all the way to Iowa but in practice it would be a suprise if it were complete through Virginia into SC...although I do believe the Virginians are working on their piece and some parts exist in the midwest. This all ties back to my fabulous notion of cross marketing to beach goers and golfers.

 

[freakylick]

Sorry so late on replying as I haven't been on for a couple of days...but yes, it is from Camp Minnie-Mickey in AK.

 

[mitros]

Sorry so late on replying as I haven't been on for a couple of days...but yes, it is from Camp Minnie-Mickey in AK.

Ah yes, now I remember, but we hadn't been there in a while, and the old mind just slipped a gear trying to recall . Thanks for the reply......

 

[ohanaMAMA]

As a Dillon resident.. I have to say.. even now. after all this time There is still a rumor that Disney will/is/was buying SOTB. Personally Id LOVE to see it happen. Imagine getting to be a CM and still live in my own home town? LOL Id be so happy!

 

[yitbos96bb]

If anyone is wondering this is the place they are talking about.

http://www.pedroland.com

It really is a "jewel" of a place.



I do now see where some of Disney's ideas come from though.

Chester and Hester's DinoRama is based on concepts like this.

 

[CanadianGuy]

We stopped here on a drive down to Orlando in June of 2006. I remember when I was in elementary school and my classmates would go to Disney.. they'd all talk about stopping at "South of the Border."

While at the cash register to ring up a sombrero ashtray and a few other 'signature' items.. at about 6am ... I said to the woman running the cash "Well the guy who owns this place has made an o-k living.... "

And she says (without skipping a beat)... "Yeah, but he dead".

I didn't understand right away and I says, "Pardon?"

"The man MADE an o-k living.. but now [she slowed down alot for this and emphasized every letter] ... he ... dead.."

She then went on and on about what a cheap so-and-so he was and there "weren't nobody sad to see him go.. not even the missus.."

It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing til we were out the door.. after that we were doubled over..

"He dead.."

Knox

 

[yitbos96bb]

Given how well known a tourist trap this is... you'd think the current owners would wise up, clean it up and treat it right.

Just shows the difference between idiots who luck into something and drive it into the ground (South of the Border) and smart people who take it and make it better (Wall Drug).

Sad.

We stopped here on a drive down to Orlando in June of 2006. I remember when I was in elementary school and my classmates would go to Disney.. they'd all talk about stopping at "South of the Border."

While at the cash register to ring up a sombrero ashtray and a few other 'signature' items.. at about 6am ... I said to the woman running the cash "Well the guy who owns this place has made an o-k living.... "

And she says (without skipping a beat)... "Yeah, but he dead".

I didn't understand right away and I says, "Pardon?"

"The man MADE an o-k living.. but now [she slowed down alot for this and emphasized every letter] ... he ... dead.."

She then went on and on about what a cheap so-and-so he was and there "weren't nobody sad to see him go.. not even the missus.."

It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing til we were out the door.. after that we were doubled over..

"He dead.."

Knox

 

[CanadianGuy]

Given how well known a tourist trap this is... you'd think the current owners would wise up, clean it up and treat it right.

Just shows the difference between idiots who luck into something and drive it into the ground (South of the Border) and smart people who take it and make it better (Wall Drug).

Sad.

I forgot to mention that she also went on to say the original owner's kids were all fighting for control & ownership since apparently his will was being contested and the whole thing was a giant legal mess.

How much of what she said was true -- is anyone's guess.

Knox

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

I have been watching this board for a while now. Waiting to see if something was posted about Disney doing something in S.C. Two different land developers have told my husband (we own a surveying co.) that disney is coming here. A few months ago we bought land to build a new home. At closing for the mortgage even our attorney was telling us Disney was coming. Everything we have heard about whatever Disney is doing will be near I-95.

Disney has purchased several hundred acres near Summerville, SC. It's out in the middle of nowhere! I'm not sure why they'd pick that area....it's a ways from the beach and a good drive from downtown Charleston. Strange place for a resort. Hard Rock Park just opened in Myrtle Beach and Dollywood is adding a park in the next few years so who knows? An I 95 area would make better sense in SC but Summerville!? I don't get it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Can anyone point to any public records to show that Disney has infact purchased land?

If they have, they can't keep it out of the public records too long..

That's the ultimate test to see if any such rumor is true.

Knox

PS> And remember, sometimes such a purchase can be for something very unsexy like a Radio Disney transmitter or a warehouse ...

 

[kristytru]

If anyone finds out, please post. Anyone know which Summerville...there is one in richland county and one in dorchester county. this is of great interest for hubby and I as we bought property in Richland County's Cobblestone development, but with the housing market being what it is, we were going to let it go. If Disney is doing something there, maybe we'll hang on a little longer.

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

If anyone finds out, please post. Anyone know which Summerville...there is one in richland county and one in dorchester county. this is of great interest for hubby and I as we bought property in Richland County's Cobblestone development, but with the housing market being what it is, we were going to let it go. If Disney is doing something there, maybe we'll hang on a little longer.

Dh isn't home right now and I'm not familiar with the area in great detail but....my in laws live in a fairly new gated community way out in the middle of nowhere. I know when we go to their hpuse we come to these crossroads....I think it's the old "Cooper Store". There's like three really old stores/gas stations there!? Well, coming up to that area from Moncks Corner (Like you're sitting there and the thing you see in front is now a T shirt shop or something and the windows have bars all over them!?) Well take a right there.....it's down that road from what I was told. His dad is an engineer down there so he knows a lot of stuff that's going on in the area. Being that it was fairly close to their neighborhood he looked into it. This was about 18 months ago when they first said something about it. Maybe they're planning some sort of DVC thing but it sure is a strange place to start someting up. Wouldn't you think?

 

[Sosai X]

Man.. it begs the question.. why would Disney take interest in something as ghetto as this place?? They could pack the whole thing up, and ship it to Epcot.. I can see it now... "Ellen's South Of The Border Adventure".. Ellen eats some bad tomales and dreams that she ends up in jail in Tijuana, with no one to bail her out..