Molten Mountain Miniature Golf

North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

According to Stephen Lancaster, general manager of Molten Mountain, this mini-golf attraction was nicknamed "The Death Star" by its competitors because it was "coming in to destroy everyone else." That hasn't happened -- yet -- but the 50-foot-tall black volcano of Molten Mountain is still an ominous sight.

Molten Mountain cost over $6 million to build, a faux tropical island with "a very angry volcano" according to its scorecard. The volcano periodically rumbles and erupts flame and smoke to distract the mini-golfers. Pink "lava" waterfalls spew from its side, collecting in blood-red pools around its base.

What really sets Molten Mountain apart from its rivals is the interior of the volcano, which encloses an all-indoor 18-hole air-conditioned course that winds through fake caverns. Music pulses from hidden loudspeakers, the fairways are a magma-like red and orange, smoke swirls around cement mini-volcanos. "When it's blistering hot, or if it's pouring rain, we get everybody in town," said Stephen.

Death Star or Ark of Refuge? Either way it's an odd destination: when it's too hot in Myrtle Beach, you golf inside a volcano.