We do some weird things here in South Carolina. We talk weird (but only to the rest of the world), we eat weird things (that everyone else secretly wants to eat too), and we have weird sights and places. Now, that’s not to say that these places aren’t really cool too. Here are 13 odd, strange, plain weird places that you can see in South Carolina. Got your map handy yet? How about that list of  “Places to Go in South Carolina”? Go ahead and get them because here they are!

  1. UFO Welcome Center

Trixie.in.Dixie/Flickr Down Homestead Road to number 4004, you will find the UFO Welcome Center of Bowman, SC. Jody Pendarvis is the proud owner of this uniquely handmade UFO. It’s certainly weird, but kinda cool too. Don’t you think?

  1. The giant turkeys of Edgefield, SC

Edgefield Town Square/FB

Edgefield Town Square/FB Around the town of Edgefield, you will find these giant turkeys decorating the streets. At least they are in no danger of showing up as dinner for Thanksgiving.

Mystery tree of Edisto Island.

Jesse Martinez/Flickr Down on highway 174 about 100 yards off the road, you will come upon the mystery tree of Edisto. The decor of the tree seems to change with the seasons/holidays. No one know exactly who decorates the tree…and the mystery continues.

  1. Mepkin Abbey Monastery of Moncks Corner

Mepkin Abbey Monastery/FB

PRONick/Flickr

Nick/Flickr Mepkin Abbey is a Trappist monastery that has been in Moncks Corner for a very long time. The pieces that you are seeing before you are ones that the monks have carved from fallen logs. This place definitely doesn’t fall under the bad weird. It is peaceful, spiritual, and just a little odd to be found in the middle of the lowcountry.

  1. Button King Museum

Holly/Flickr

Holly/Flickr Can you imagine that everything around you has been covered in buttons? Or, embellished in some way with buttons? That’s exactly what you are going to see if you visit The Button King Museum in Bishopville, SC. It is the work of a man who has suffered from insomnia and if you visit you may see him there. He doesn’t ask for a fee to enter, but there is a donation bucket near the door. It’s so neat to see all his work. And, a little weird too, but what else are you going to do when you can’t sleep?

  1. South of the Border

Jim/Flickr

Fuzzy Gerdes/Flickr What can one say about South of the Border? Some love it, some hate it, but all are just a bit intrigued by it. It’s on the weird side for sure. I don’t believe that I’ve ever been there when it wasn’t almost deserted except for the people who work there. I’m sure at night, it could even be just a little creepy.

  1. Tommy the World’s Largest Crab

O.Taillon/Flickr He resides upon Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant in Myrtle Beach. So, the good thing is after you have seen him, you can go get your fill of seafood!

  1. Mars Bluff Crater

Kelly Michals/Flickr In 1958 a B-47 nuclear bomb was accidentally released over the area. Fortunately, upon impact, it didn’t go off, but it did make a really HUGE crater. One that can still be seen today although nature is slowly taking care of that. *Note: This is on private land so don’t go trespassing, please.

  1. Oyotunji African Village

Oyotunji African Village/FB

Oyotunji African Village/FB Down in Sheldon, SC, you will find Oyotunji. It is said that once you enter their village you are no longer on South Carolina soil. It’s just a little weird that an African Village is here in South Carolina, but it is extremely cool. They welcome all to their village and if you call ahead of time they will tell you when they are having specific festivities.

  1. Taxidermy Paradise

Ed Schipul/Flickr Taxidermy Paradise is found at 4621 Mt. Gallant Rd, Rock Hill. You wouldn’t think that it houses what it does by the look of the outside, but you will find yourself at least a couple hours deep by the time you finish looking at all the exhibits there. I don’t know about you, but it’s just weird to have all those stuffed animals in one place looking at you.

  1. The Kazoo Museum

bobistraveling/Flickr In Beaufort you will find a museum dedicated entirely to the history of Kazoos. Seem weird to you? If you go during the weekday, you will be able to have a fully guided tour.

  1. The graveyard in the middle of I-85

Julia Frost/Flickr Yes, this is correct! There is a graveyard that is still in the median of I-85. A few of the members who rest there still have family in the area. It is a bit hard to get to due to traffic in the area, but you can get there. I believe there are a total of 8 graves in that area. *Please note that the picture is for illustrative purposes only and not a picture of an actual grave there. **Also, please, be careful if you are planning on trying to stop there to explore.

  1. The ruins of Heritage USA

Heritage USA/FB

Heritage USA/FB Heritage USA is located in Fort Mill SC about 2 miles from Carowinds. It was open from 1978-1989 and was a Christian theme park (based on Disney World) run by the PTL (Praise The Lord) club. Today, it is forbidden for you to go through the gates and explore. It is private property, but you can still see the buildings and park from the driveway.

Do we have a few winners for you? Did you get to add one or two new things to your “must see” list in South Carolina? I do hope so! They may be weird, but all are worth seeing. Just be sure not to break any laws in the viewing and be careful on your trips. Oh, and if you know of any other “weird” places in South Carolina, please be sure to share them in the comments below!

Trixie.in.Dixie/Flickr

Down Homestead Road to number 4004, you will find the UFO Welcome Center of Bowman, SC. Jody Pendarvis is the proud owner of this uniquely handmade UFO. It’s certainly weird, but kinda cool too. Don’t you think?

Edgefield Town Square/FB

Around the town of Edgefield, you will find these giant turkeys decorating the streets. At least they are in no danger of showing up as dinner for Thanksgiving.

Jesse Martinez/Flickr

Down on highway 174 about 100 yards off the road, you will come upon the mystery tree of Edisto. The decor of the tree seems to change with the seasons/holidays. No one know exactly who decorates the tree…and the mystery continues.

Mepkin Abbey Monastery/FB

PRONick/Flickr

Nick/Flickr

Mepkin Abbey is a Trappist monastery that has been in Moncks Corner for a very long time. The pieces that you are seeing before you are ones that the monks have carved from fallen logs. This place definitely doesn’t fall under the bad weird. It is peaceful, spiritual, and just a little odd to be found in the middle of the lowcountry.

Holly/Flickr

Can you imagine that everything around you has been covered in buttons? Or, embellished in some way with buttons? That’s exactly what you are going to see if you visit The Button King Museum in Bishopville, SC. It is the work of a man who has suffered from insomnia and if you visit you may see him there. He doesn’t ask for a fee to enter, but there is a donation bucket near the door. It’s so neat to see all his work. And, a little weird too, but what else are you going to do when you can’t sleep?

Jim/Flickr

Fuzzy Gerdes/Flickr

What can one say about South of the Border? Some love it, some hate it, but all are just a bit intrigued by it. It’s on the weird side for sure. I don’t believe that I’ve ever been there when it wasn’t almost deserted except for the people who work there. I’m sure at night, it could even be just a little creepy.

O.Taillon/Flickr

He resides upon Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant in Myrtle Beach. So, the good thing is after you have seen him, you can go get your fill of seafood!

Kelly Michals/Flickr

In 1958 a B-47 nuclear bomb was accidentally released over the area. Fortunately, upon impact, it didn’t go off, but it did make a really HUGE crater. One that can still be seen today although nature is slowly taking care of that. *Note: This is on private land so don’t go trespassing, please.

Oyotunji African Village/FB

Down in Sheldon, SC, you will find Oyotunji. It is said that once you enter their village you are no longer on South Carolina soil. It’s just a little weird that an African Village is here in South Carolina, but it is extremely cool. They welcome all to their village and if you call ahead of time they will tell you when they are having specific festivities.

Ed Schipul/Flickr

Taxidermy Paradise is found at 4621 Mt. Gallant Rd, Rock Hill. You wouldn’t think that it houses what it does by the look of the outside, but you will find yourself at least a couple hours deep by the time you finish looking at all the exhibits there. I don’t know about you, but it’s just weird to have all those stuffed animals in one place looking at you.

bobistraveling/Flickr

In Beaufort you will find a museum dedicated entirely to the history of Kazoos. Seem weird to you? If you go during the weekday, you will be able to have a fully guided tour.

Julia Frost/Flickr

Yes, this is correct! There is a graveyard that is still in the median of I-85. A few of the members who rest there still have family in the area. It is a bit hard to get to due to traffic in the area, but you can get there. I believe there are a total of 8 graves in that area. *Please note that the picture is for illustrative purposes only and not a picture of an actual grave there. **Also, please, be careful if you are planning on trying to stop there to explore.

Heritage USA/FB

Heritage USA is located in Fort Mill SC about 2 miles from Carowinds. It was open from 1978-1989 and was a Christian theme park (based on Disney World) run by the PTL (Praise The Lord) club. Today, it is forbidden for you to go through the gates and explore. It is private property, but you can still see the buildings and park from the driveway.

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