Myrtle Beach Visitors Center, 3717 or 3721 US-76 Marion SC: 2012-ish 3 comments
This decrepit trailer is on the south side of US-76 (the right side if you are heading to the beach) somewhere in the area of Marion not too far past the intersection with US-301. I found it on Google Maps, and set the map icon below with lat/lon coordinates. I never stopped here when it was in business, which it has not been for some years now, but always wondered what services they offered.
Normally, in this sort of situation, I might get up on the deck and try to get some pictures of the interior, but there was no way I was going to have anything to do with *that* deck. It does appear that people have probably been going in from the back, so I suppose it is all stripped.
Looking at Google Streetview suggests that this trailer replaced a small building hosting a fireworks stand around 2008, and shut down sometime after 2012.
The question of what replaced this location is not entirely clear. It could be here:
here:
or even here:
The first option has a similar "I" logo, but the second location has the "gator" character from the sign in the trailer parking lot. The third option looks a bit more upscale.
3 Responses to 'Myrtle Beach Visitors Center, 3717 or 3721 US-76 Marion SC: 2012-ish'
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Payne
4 Jun 24 at 5:39 pm
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Payne, that sounds creepy!
Robin
4 Jun 24 at 7:48 pm
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Before the larger and fancier Welcome Center (the third option shown above) was built there were several of the smaller blue and yellow welcome centers along the routes to Myrtle Beach. Most of them offered free popcorn and a free fountain drink, often had pet runs and a small playground for children, as well as the usual clean restrooms and various brochures for hotels, restaurants, things to do, etc. One of them had a live gator on the premises as well. From time to time someone would be there offering time shares and such, but they were usually easily dismissed with a simple "No thanks, I'm not interested." The thought behind these centers was that they would provide families traveling with kids and/or pets a chance to get out the car, stretch, potty and play, and maybe drum up some business while they were at it. Once the new and nicer Welcome Center was built people didn't tend to stop by the smaller ones anymore and most of them have either closed up long ago or soon will.
Gypsie
6 Jun 24 at 10:56 am
If my memory serves me correctly, this place, or one very similar, lured me in with its promises of clean restrooms and refreshments, only to be attacked by a very aggressive time share salesperson. I barely escaped and swore never to stop there again.