Atlas Obscura - Curious and Wondrous Travel Destinations

Thelma and Louise

Hardeeville, South Carolina

A pink and gray pair of pachyderms advertise a fireworks shop. 

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Driving along the highways of the southeast, all the souvenir shops, truck stops, and fireworks stands you see will start to blend together. Outside Hardeeville, South Carolina though, you might do a double-take for two life-sized elephants outside Papa Joe’s Fireworks.

They are nicknamed Thelma and Louise (their original names were Al and Lizzy) and they’re a well-known landmark on US 17. Papa Joe himself purchased the pair in Alabama in 1974 and had them shipped all the way to South Carolina. The two matching elephants, one pink, the other gray, regularly receive new coats of paint so they can beckon road trippers to Papa Joe’s wares. 

Know Before You Go

Take exit 5 off I-95 to Route 17 South.


Update: Thelma and Louise has been moved to the other Crazy Joe's Fireworks other side of I-95 1116 Hummingbird Ln, Hardeeville, SC.

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