CAYCE, S.C. (WIS) - The City of Cayce hosted artist Thomas Dambo over the weekend as the city moves into the next phase of bringing South Carolina’s first Thomas Dambo troll installation to the city.
Officials say the visit helped guide the design and location of the future installation.
Cayce is partnering with SCETV to document and share the story of the troll project, highlighting its connections to local history, culture, industry and community identity.
“This project, the first of its kind in South Carolina and only the third in the U.S. to be municipally funded, will be something that we look back on as a transformational moment for our city,” said City of Cayce Mayor Elise Partin. “Our riverfront has miles and miles of breezy, shaded trails where commercial development isn’t possible. How, then, do you leverage such an asset?
Dambo is known internationally for large-scale troll sculptures constructed from reclaimed materials and integrated into the communities and natural environments where they are installed.
His work appears throughout the United States and around the world, with each installation designed specifically for its location.
“I’ve only been in Cayce for 18 hours, and I’ve already found a place that I think has so much magic; it’s a perfect fit for my next installation,” Dambo said. “It shows that if you just go looking, you don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to find magic. Sometimes it’s right under your own nose.”
The final installation will be designed specifically for Cayce, and community participation will also be part of the project as it moves towards construction.
The project is funded through accommodations and hospitality tax revenues, which are designated for tourism and related economic activity. The city approved the project as a long-term investment in tourism, community identity, and economic development.
The troll statue previously drew mixed reactions in April, with some Cayce residents in support.
“I think that it will be a great thing for us to do for our city, and it will put us on the map,” one resident said.
Others were strongly against it.
“We think that it’s an unfair use of our tax dollars, so we don’t want that troll to be built,” said Justin Terranova, who opposes the project.
The project will remain publicly accessible at no cost. The artist owns the troll, and Cayce will have a display license for 10 years with an option to extend for another 10.
Critics argued the city isn’t ready, citing concerns about cost and infrastructure.
“We do not have the infrastructure to retain the tourism spending. Until Cayce has the infrastructure to keep the spending here, this project does not deliver the returns being presented,” said another resident in April.
The estimated cost of the project is around $400,000; construction is expected to begin in 2027.
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