Just north of Kibbutz Gadot, after crossing the Jordan River via the Daughters of Jacob Bridge, travelers enter the Golan Heights, a region marked by lingering minefield warnings and "do not enter" signs decades after its annexation by Israel. A short distance uphill from the bridge, two historic stone structures, known as the Lower Customs House, stand as silent reminders of the area's complex past, though they often go unnoticed by visitors.
The site includes two contrasting buildings that reflect different historical eras. At the northern end of the compound lies a 15th-century Mamluk rest house constructed primarily of black basalt stones. This building once provided shelter to travelers using the key river crossing for centuries. To the south, a two-story white nari stone rest house was added by Ottoman authorities in the 19th century. These structures illustrate the strategic and commercial importance of this route, historically connecting Haifa to Damascus.
Customs houses in this region served multiple functions—as border checkpoints, tax collection points, and symbols of governance. Their presence underscored the influence of successive ruling powers, including the Mamluks, who governed Egypt and Syria between the 13th and 16th centuries, the Ottoman Empire, and later the French Mandate authorities after World War I. The French converted one of the rest houses into a formal customs station before Syrian forces took control of the buildings in 1946.
Following Israel’s capture of the Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967, these structures fell into neglect. Despite their historical significance, no extensive preservation efforts have been undertaken. Proposals to transform the Lower Customs House into a hostel have yet to materialize. Today, the site is reportedly in poor condition and less accessible than nearby landmarks.
Approximately two kilometers along Route 91, which cuts through the Golan Highlands, lies Mitzpeh Gadot, a memorial and observation point overlooking the region. Formerly a Syrian military outpost complete with trenches and bunkers, the site now features a monument honoring the Alexandroni Brigade, a reserve unit linked to the Golani Brigade. The memorial was designed by former brigade reconnaissance commander Ezra Orion (1934–2015), whose legacy endures in part through his artistic contributions.
Just beyond Mitzpeh Gadot stands the Upper Customs House, a well-preserved building that contrasts sharply with the condition of the Lower Customs House. This structure, now operating as the Pereh Hotel, showcases Bauhaus architectural style and offers modern accommodations. Due to hotel policy, visitors must book a room to tour the building’s interior.
The history embedded in these sites reflects the shifting sovereignties and strategic importance of the Golan Heights over centuries, from Mamluk and Ottoman rule through the mandates of French and Syrian control, to present-day Israeli administration. While some locations along the historic route remain accessible and maintained, others await conservation, preserving the tangible connections to a layered and contested past.