CAYCE, S.C. — The City of Cayce is moving forward with plans to build South Carolina’s first Thomas Dambo troll sculpture, with construction expected in 2027.
Internationally known artist Thomas Dambo visited Cayce this weekend to learn more about the city, its people, and its history. His visit will help him decide where the sculpture will go and what it will look like.
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Dambo is known for making large troll sculptures from reused materials.
A towering troll made of scrap wood may soon be watching over the Congaree River, as officials in Cayce move forward with plans to bring famous art to SC. (Credit: Thomas Dambo)
His sculptures are in communities across the United States and around the world.
During his visit, Dambo said he found a spot in Cayce that he believes could be a good place for his next sculpture.
“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 Mayor, Council and I went half an hour, and we found a truly magical spot.”
Cayce Mayor Elise Partin said the project will be the first of its kind in South Carolina and only the third municipally funded Dambo troll project in the United States.
The city hopes the sculpture will bring more visitors to Cayce and encourage people to visit local restaurants, businesses and attractions.
“This project is an investment in Cayce and in the type of experiences we want to create for our community,” said Cayce Councilwoman Alice Rose. “We are looking beyond the initial excitement and toward something that can continue bringing people to Cayce, supporting our local economy and giving residents something to enjoy for years to come.”
Community members may also have a chance to help build the sculpture.
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Dambo’s projects often use volunteers and reused or locally sourced materials. The city will share more information about how people can help as the project moves forward.
The project is funded with accommodations and hospitality tax money for tourism and related economic activity.
Construction of the Thomas Dambo troll is expected to take place in 2027.