Reptile Lagoon @ South of the Border - Hamer, SC (3 out of 5 stars) If you're visiting South of the Border, one of the more unusual attractions on-site is the Reptile Lagoon--it's advertised as one of the largest indoor reptile exhibits in the U.S., and it definitely has a wide variety of snakes, lizards, turtles, and of course... alligators and crocodiles. My husband, daughter, and I checked it out during our stop (we also spent over an hour in Pedro's Mexican Shop West--another quirky and fun spot here). But unfortunately, just like much of the South of the Border compound, the Reptile Lagoon desperately needs a fresh coat of paint. It's looking dingy inside and out, and that really takes away from the experience. Here's my biggest concern: While the smaller reptiles seem to be in okay enclosures for now, the alligators and crocodiles are kept in spaces that are far too small for their size and needs. It was honestly upsetting. These are large, powerful animals that deserve much more space, proper enrichment, and better conditions. I strongly believe they should be relocated to a proper sanctuary where they can thrive. The baby gators might be okay temporarily, but once they grow, they'll need a better environment too. The exhibit itself could be great if given some attention--cleaner enclosures, updated paint, better lighting, and more naturalistic habitats would go a long way. It's still worth checking out if you're already at South of the Border, but I'd love to see some major improvements before I could recommend it fully. South of the Border Overview: This place has a lot of fun, nostalgic roadside charm, dating back to 1949. But it's clear that the entire compound--from shops to attractions--needs upkeep. With the right care, it could be a truly great destination again. read more

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Sad little place. Small pools in tiny enclosures....the whole place was like a run down dystopia. Maybe it was nice in its heyday but it needs some work! read more

bit dated but very clean enclosures, animals are very chunky, they din't miss meals. the south of the border is super dated but all in all we were very happy we stopped. read more

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South of the Border screams tourist trap! They practically lasso you in with their 50+ signs lining I-95. Am I complaining? No. I fell for it and loved the kitschy-ness of it all. I hadn't expected to find anything like reptile lagoon in this area. It was an unexpected but more than pleasant surprise. As soon as I learned about their conservation efforts, I was sold. Paid a very modest fee of $8 and bolted straight into the exhibit area. They have a variety of crocs, gators, and reptiles. All of which are housed comfortably in clean and natural habitats. The design of the space was well thought out and made very easy to navigate. I understand that SOB isn't exactly the kind of place you make special plans to see or travel to. However, if you happen to be driving I-95, definitely make this a rest stop! You can stretch and spend roughly 20-30 minutes learning more about our gator neighbors here in the south. Pssst! Did I mention your money supports conservation causes? Because, well it does. That's a major positive. read more

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Look, I'm no "Karen", and I usually never leave negative reviews because it's not worth my time and effort to type out and post something negative, but this place screams neglect of their animals...It's smelly, dark, dank, and depressing...Of course I thought, well reptiles like it dark, right? But then I saw all the alligators(10-15 of them) piled on top of each other just to get a portion of themselves under the heat lamp, which was the only light in the place! The price was fair at $8.00 person and I heard it went towards conservation, so I thought ok, let's stop there! I'm only glad I did so I could write this review and also contact someone that helps neglected animals, such as these critters. The enclosures definitely need to be more spacious and overall, upgraded. The size of the animal should depend on the size of the enclosure, it's not brain surgery to know that! The worst of the worst though, was a large snapping turtle that looked dead. He wasn't though because he opened his mouth, but he didn't move anything else, and he had tons of algae and other stuff growing on his shell and his body. He wasn't even completely submerged, the water was dirty, and it seemed he know his enclosure was too small for him to move around, so he just stayed put.It's like he accepted his tragic fate of being stuck there until he dies. Almost all enclosures seemed way too small except for the main enclosure that held btween 12-15 alligators! The experience was sad, upsetting, and I had tears in my eyes when I left! Thanks so much South of the Border! read more

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This reptile lagoon caught me by surprised. From Alligators, to Crocodiles, to Tortoises, to poisonous frogs and all kinds of Snakes- this reptile lagoon was very active with life. I didn't expect much by the outside of the building and signage but inside was well kept, wry clean and safe for people of all ages to enjoy. All species were very active and look to be in good health. It is a self guided tour with safe walking space for people with strollers. You cannot feed the reptiles nor touch them. I recommend anyone stop here on the or road trip. The gift shop is fun to also check out to include a talking parrot who's free to roam the store. Outside is free parking and tons of other things to see and do. read more

I would rate the reptile lagoon zero stars but that wasn't an option. Overall the environment was very depressing none of the animals were moving and if they were they were banging against the glass. One turtle was pressing against the glass and the water was very foggy and I couldn't even tell there was something in there. Another turtle was covered in algae. The alligators and crocodiles weren't moving at all or even blinking I couldn't even tell if they were alive or not. The signs say "endangered and threatened" but SOB isn't helping the situation. My children and I were very disappointed they were crying because the reptiles looked sad. I just wanted to give an honest opinion of the South of the Border Reptile Lagoon in South Carolina. So please reconsider going to this place in particular, I know I won't be returning. read more

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I'm sure if you asked them they would insist all the gators are real but some were laughable fake looking to the point you wondered if you ever saw a real one at all (although some did actually get in the water and swim and I doubt they invested that much money in the tech. I guess I got my $8 out of it but would advise just skipping over it read more

This place is enormous, They have a lot of nice exhibits, large amount of snakes to view. Extremely clean, large exhibits for most of the reptiles. They have a lot of exotic species. Great day trip. read more

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Really cool exhibits, family and kid friendly. My autistic brother loved it! It's very inexpensive, $8 for adults, $6 for kids and you can stay inside as long as you want! Gift shop has some pretty cool toys and souvenirs, a little pricey though. Exhibit is really safe too and snakes are kept in these darker tunnels and are avoidable, so those who can't stand them can easily avoid going through their exhibits. Lots of cool turtles and gators from all over the world! Really educational and they help fund protection for gators and other wildlife! read more

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Went to south of the border just to see what the billboards were about despite what a couple people had told me. I loved the nostalgia of the place, looks like it was a place that would've been hoppin back in the 70's before people and kids had so many electronics to keep themselves occupied. I only went to the gator farm out of pity because I thought it was a place whose glory days were gone 40 years ago and I wanted to help keep the place from shutting down. When I walked in it didn't look like a whole lot, one alligator in a sand pit and some birds but when you walk past that it's pretty amazing. The guy that said "the gators weren't real ", they hold their mouth open and don't move. I seen a worker throw a piece of meat to one that was dead still and you'll know they're real then. I never was a reptile freak or anything and I was amazed. Ugly gators and crocs and snakes that I never even knew existed. I told a friend that had passed it up many times and never stopped, don't know if he ever did but he sounded interested. I never knew how big a king cobra really is until that day. I stayed there for hours in awe looking at snakes and the staff let me stay past closing while they were tending to them, not telling everyone to do the same. If I'm ever down that way again, they're open, and I have the time I will go back. read more

Reptile Lagoon - Horned viper I think. - Zoos Near Me - Hamer, South Carolina

i feel like the price could be cheaper. They did have more species of alligator then i expected. The snake exhibit was super nice too!

I love reptiles! This place has the best collection of snakes and crocodiles I've ever seen. Watch out for the black and white cobra, he bites! Idk about the rest of this creepy tourist trap, but the reptile lagoon is a great diversion if you are passing by. Only $8. read more

Reptile Lagoon - Zoos Near Me - Hamer, South Carolina

Great animals, very well-kept. Was pleasantly surprised... originally going to take our younger ones in but decided to pay for the whole family and it kept everyone's interest. read more

Good value for the entire family. We all had fun seeing so many alligators and crocodiles and snakes. We saw a feeding which was fantastic.

South of the Border is usually a stop, and not a destination, but if you have time, Reptile Lagoon is definately worth checking out. You can easily spend an hour here. Mid May afternoon, and not busy at all. Good way to break up drives on a roadtrip. read more

They're an absolute tourist trap! Most specimens were very clearly fakes, and the one who were real clearly look like they're underweight to say the least or even evacuated in one case! I even saw stuck pieces of shed on the snakes where their should be no excuse at all. As someone who adores reptiles I'd prefer being scammed over seeing animals with shell rot, obviously protruding spines, stuck shed, and many other issues that come from neglect. Either care for the animals you have properly or don't keep them at all at the very least! I would not stop here if you love reptiles as even someone with basic knowledge of keeping reptiles would know these very rookie mistakes on species worth hundreds or thousands of dollars for unclean cages and sickly animals. Save your money for actual reptile zoos or expos if you want your reptile fix. read more

Friendly staff a d beat bag for your buck. There's so many exotic creatures to see, highly recommended

Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for kids. It was a very well kept place and had lots of gators, crocks and snakes! I would say it's your typical road side attraction. You if you are at SOB it's worth stopping in. Oh and Milo, the talking bird is pretty cool in the gift shop. read more

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Wow, was very surprised to find such a great exhibit of crocodiles, alligators and snakes at this location. Was on our way home from Disney and stopped to take a break and wow, we had another great experience before we returned home. We loved it. We saw more here then we ever saw in Florida. Worth the stop and 15 to 20 min's to view the exhibit. Look forward to stopping again some time. read more

I walked in excited to see the reptiles. When I got to the doors, the stench made me gag. The staff members looked at me funny. The bird they have there looked like it was molting (I hope it was just molting) and it needed new $1 toys from the pet store. I couldn't even bring myself to go inside because it smelled so horrible in the gifts shop area. When we got outside my boyfriend (who is very tall) looked inside where he could and said he didn't think it would've been worth it. You can smell the reptiles outside of the building almost as well as you can in the gift shop. I'm pretty sure if it was cleaned like it should be...it wouldn't smell like that. I hope it is better off than I anticipate it is.... read more

Extensive crocodile and snake exhibits from around the world. Numerous threatened and endangered species. More than we've seen at most zoos. The place is not the typical place at Pedro South of the border. Well run. Clean. Very educational. Well worth the stop to see. Cost is eight dollars for adults. It was well worth it. read more

I visited today and thought I would be there about an hour. Well, I stayed three hours. The crocodile/alligators were great and there were some really unusual species, but the snakes were just fantastic. First of all, the display cases were clean and the glass was spotless. There was a variety of species from around the world. Generally snakes at serpentariums are sort of listless, but not here. The 14 foot long King Cobra hooded up fairly quickly and when I moved my camera he flew across the enclosure and went through a biting sequence that without the glass would have hit me in the neck. I have never had that happen before. The spitting SE Asian cobras were alert and hooded. The SA Urutu was just exquisite. There were a pair of Gaboon adders that had some of the most vibrant coloration I have seen. Some of the upper display cases were hard to see. Overall the price was right and if you love reptiles this is perfect. It is also a great introduction for people who aren't sure about snakes. Great additions would be the black mamba, coastal taipan and bushmaster. I absolutely will return. read more

Doesn't look like much from outside, but has a really extensive crocodilian collection. Neat walk through, well worth few dollar admission. Best thing at SOB read more