We’re not trolling you — South Carolina is finally getting a Thomas Dambo troll. The City of Cayce has approved negotiations to bring one of the larger-than-life troll sculptures to the Cayce Riverwalk, about a 14-minute drive from downtown Columbia. So, who’s Thomas Dambo? He’s a Danish artist and upcycling advocate known for building massive trolls out of recycled wood. Dambo has created more than 100 worldwide — and they’ve developed a serious cult following. There’s even a virtual map where fans track which trolls they’ve visited. And these gentle giants don’t just charm locals — they bring in tourists, too. Communities similar in size to Cayce have reported that a new troll can lead to:
- A 30–60% increase in park visitation
- Tens of thousands of new visitors each year
- An estimated economic impact of $1.5 million–$5 million over three to five years
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