“42-foot-wide flying saucer”
The UFO Welcome Center is a tourist curiosity located in Bowman, South Carolina, built in the back yard of Jody Pendarvis. It consists of a 42-foot-wide flying saucer (13 m) built out of wood, fiberglass, and plastic. The structure, entered by a powered ramp, is mounted on four columns, designed to raise and lower with motors. In addition to a labyrinth of mechanical and electronic salvage parts, the saucer is furnished with a bed, satellite television, air conditioning, toilet, and a shower. Pendarvis envisioned himself as being an ambassador to aliens and wanted to provide a facility where they could rest after a long journey on UFOs. The saucer had begun to be built in 1994 and became a local tourist attraction, with a $1 entry fee. The center was the subject of a 2001 segment in The Daily Show, in which Stephen Colbert presented a caricatured tour of the attraction.
We drove the 15 minute drive off of I-95 to check this out. We were there for all of 5 minutes. Really nothing to see. Looked like a 7th grader science project on space ships. Some guy sitting on his porch across the street was staring HARD at us. The drive there, in the middle of nowhere, was actually pretty interesting.
If I could give zero, I would. Don't believe anyone saying this place is worth stopping at. It's quite a deviation from 95, and in a tiny creepy town. When I got there, there were two terrifying men sitting in the front lawn working in 1 of about 6 junk lawn mowers, and the actual UFO was literally falling apart... Not to mention the living room sofa sitting in the front yard. I didn't even get out of my car, I just kept driving.
It was probably something in its day, but now it's just the broken remains of a UFO.
I went here last year, and loved it! Jody was very friendly, welcoming, and had a great sense of humor. The place is run down, and even though it probably wasn't safe, we went inside, and I climbed to the send floor. If you're into offbeat attractions, this is perfect!
i do not understand what the other reviews are talking about.
we went out of our way to visit the UFO. it was deserted and falling apart. there is no way anyone has been inside it anytime recently.
it still kind of neat to see if you happen to be passing by but definately not worth a detour.
The Welcome Center was a little run down. We did not go inside or poke around other then to take a picture. It was about 15 minutes off 95 and provided a nice break.
Admittedly we went in the dead of night, which was a little creepy, but this place looked very rundown compared to the pictures here. We wouldn't even get out of the car to take a picture. There was a lot of junk/hoarding going on in the yard. Next to a gas station.
Fun photo op but can't go inside anymore
Definitely looking rundown and not really worth the photo op
This place is awesome! It's totally worth going out of the way for. Jody does a fine job running the place and giving tours!!
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UFO Welcome Center
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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