UFO-inspired tourist attraction destroyed in fire

BOWMAN, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) - An out-of-this-world tourist attraction in South Carolina was destroyed Thursday morning.

The UFO Welcome Center caught fire and burned to the ground, according to The Times and Democrat. Firefighters from several fire departments responded to the scene and were seen putting out hot spots at around 9 a.m.

The UFO Welcome Center was built by Jody Pendarvis, a resident of Bowman and is based on the classic silver “flying saucer” designs from the 1950s. Constructed from about eight tons of plywood and boards, the structure was two stories, 16 feet tall and 39 feet in diameter, according to T&D.

It quickly became a tourist curiosity, appearing on the Comedy Central Daily Show several times as well as the Roseanne Barr talk show.

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