UFO Welcome Center
- Admission
- Donations accepted
- Hours
- By appointment or by chance (during daylight hours)
- Duration
- 15-30 minutes
- Parking
- Free driveway and roadside parking available
- Access
- Not wheelchair accessible; features narrow, steep homemade steps and ladders to access the upper deck
Built by resident Jody Pendarvis, this quirky, handmade multi-level flying saucer is designed to welcome extraterrestrials to Earth. Constructed from wood, plastic, and salvaged materials, it even features basic amenities for weary space travelers. Visitors can often get a tour of the eccentric interior from Jody himself for a small donation.
Read more
Tucked away in a residential backyard in Bowman, South Carolina, the UFO Welcome Center is one of the East Coast's most eccentric roadside oddities. Built by local resident Jody Pendarvis starting in 1994, this homemade, double-decker spaceship was designed to provide a comfortable resting spot for weary extraterrestrial travelers.
The ramshackle structure is cobbled together from wood, plastic, metal scrap, and salvaged materials, measuring roughly 46 feet wide. Visitors who find Pendarvis at home may be treated to a personal tour of the cluttered, low-ceilinged interior, which is equipped with basic amenities like a bed, satellite television, and air conditioning for the future alien guests.
While it may not meet standard building codes, the site has earned a cult following among road-trippers and lovers of outsider art. It stands as a testament to singular creative vision, offering a delightfully strange, purely analog slice of classic Americana.
Ratings
attractionVisitor Tips
- ◆ Keep a few dollars cash handy, as the creator often requests a small donation for tours.
- ◆ Look closely at the structure's exterior to appreciate the creative use of salvaged materials like satellite dishes and old toys.
- ◆ Be highly respectful of the property, as this attraction is located in a private residential yard.
- ◆ Visit during daylight hours to capture the best photographs of the complex, chaotic construction.
Heads Up
- ◆ The structure is visually unstable and does not meet modern building codes; enter at your own risk if offered a tour.
- ◆ The interior features extremely low ceilings, narrow walkways, and cluttered spaces that may trigger claustrophobia.
- ◆ The owner's availability is unpredictable, so be prepared for the possibility of only viewing the structure from the street.
Common questions
Can you go inside the UFO Welcome Center?
Yes, you can tour the inside if the creator, Jody Pendarvis, is home and available to show you around. He typically requests a small cash donation for entry.
Is the UFO Welcome Center still open to visitors?
Yes, the structure is still standing and can be viewed from the road at any time. However, entering the structure is entirely dependent on whether the owner is there to greet you.
Where do you park when visiting the UFO Welcome Center?
There is no dedicated parking lot, so visitors must park on the shoulder of the road in front of the residential property.